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Boa Lost tip of Tail from old sheds

jrphd Jun 01, 2009 08:33 PM

I acquired a boa (guessing about 1.5-2 years old) that had some retained shed on the tip of it's tail. Just soaked him and the very tip of the tail fell off (about 2mm or a half a piece of a pencil tip in size) with minimal provocation leaving a bloody stump. Not bleeding much at all. What's the standard Tx for this? I have immediate access to neosporin, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide. Should he go on a dry aspen bedding free enclosure for now?
Thoughts?
J

Replies (4)

Joel_Thomas Jun 01, 2009 08:49 PM

Neosporin and newspaper until it scabs over, just keep an eye on it for any infection.
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Joel Thomas

Don't tread on me!

symetryexotics Jun 02, 2009 12:58 AM

Go to RatRaceSolutions.com in the next couple days. There is a
raffle for a nice snake! Have a good one, and remember to mention
me when you do!! Have a good one!!!
-----
Kenny Bowman

"Symetry Exotics"
Honesty is the only route to TRUE respect, anything else is unacceptable....

Treeserpent Jun 02, 2009 05:49 AM

I agree with the neosporin. Hydrogen peroxide kills cells.

AbsoluteApril Jun 02, 2009 10:04 AM

I had the same thing happen with a Brazillian Rainbow Boa that I adopted, finally got the 6-8 old sheds off the tail tip and a small area was exposed, only bled a little bit. Let your boa soak in a shallow bath of diluted betadine (diluted so it looks like weak tea). It's been a while but I think I did that two or three times in the course of a week for about 15-30 min at a time. Followed up with some neosporin (not the pain killing kind, just use normal neosporin). After another shed (or two?) the wound was covered by small black scales and was all healed.

Good luck!
-April
(ps. I am not a vet, don't know how your boa's tail looks or how bad it appears, just sharing what I did in a similar situation. If you see the tail start to swell or get otherwise discolored, I'd suggest a vet visit)
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'There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."' -Rainshadow

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