Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my snakes had tried to escape his enclosure and he ended up damaging some of his scales. Ive been putting neosporin on him for a couple of days now and have been waiting for him to shed to see how it would go. Well today I opened up his tank and was horrified. There was a spot on top of his head (inbetween the eyes).. that was i guess healing.. it was a very dry spot of skin that i was hoping would just shed off.. well the skin did shed off but it ripped completly off - leaving half a pinkie naile size flesh wound on his head - its an open wound.. there is no bleeding. Im scared to put neosporin on it, but im wondering if anyone else has had this happend to them and what they did. Did you take the snake to the vet?? Im not sure what he/she will prescribe but im sure it will be some topical ointment... what do you guys say

This guy was my first snake - who ive had for 6 years.

If it's just a flap of skin, make sure it's totally clean and then push the flap back down. You can dab a bit of crazy glue on the outside to help hold it closed. You're right...all a vet would do is give you an antibiotic ointment and say to watch for infection. However, if the flap of skin is through a nostril or something else "important," it will need to be stitched back in place.

It's really up to you...but from what you described, I doubt a vet trip is needed. Either way, I'm sure you'll use your best judgement.

Thanks for your input. But its not that there is a flap of skin -its actually missing =( it was horrifying for me to see. Its an open flesh wound. I went ahead and put some neosporin and am going to monitor him like a hawk daily.Hopefully he will come out ok

youre done feeding live food right?

id take it to the vet just incase.

It was not from feeding live. My first post clearly states that it was an injury due to my snake trying to escape the enclosure.

theres one above from a live feeding... sorry bout that!

I wouldn't worry too much about it then. Just keep it clean, keep putting neosporin on it and watch it like a hawk, as you say. In a few months, you wont even be able to tell she was wounded. Snakes heal so well!!

You may want to keep her on newspaper so the substrait fibers don't get caught in her wound, if you find that keeping it clean and free of fibers is a problem.

Yes he is currently on newspaper - yet most of the time he is hiding in his rubbermaid which is filled with moss. Would you suggest leaving this containiner in there (humid hide) or removing this as well??

You'll need to keep his wound clean but moist with the ointment so it will heal nicely...so if the moss is sticking to his wound, that may be present a problem. You'll just have to use your judgement on this, since I can't see it myself. If you want, take a picture and email it to me. I'll help as much as I can.