Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am baby sitting a friends corn snake and while holding it my cat ran in and got her claws in her. she can still eat fine and it isn’t extremely bad but the scales in that area(two spots near the head and neck area) are pulled up. WHat should I do I am trying to keep the scales down and keep petrolium jelly on it what do I do?
-----
1vine snake
2 turtles
1 greek tortoise
1ball python
1 corn snake
1 childrens python
1 het for albino san diego gopher snake
1 tarantula
some mice
and what ever lizards my vine snake hasn't eaten yet

>>I am baby sitting a friends corn snake and while holding it my cat ran in and got her claws in her. she can still eat fine and it isn’t extremely bad but the scales in that area(two spots near the head and neck area) are pulled up. WHat should I do I am trying to keep the scales down and keep petrolium jelly on it what do I do?

I wouldn't use petroleum as some snakes react badly to it and drop scales. I would apply a neosporin CREAM, keep a close eye on it and be prepared to go to a vet for systemic antibiotics if anything looks fishy. Cat claws being the unsanitary things they are I would really be preparing a vet visit.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Good advice, Sonya. Also, watch the snake for odd red marks between scales or streaks on light colored belly scales. This is an indicator of sepsis; or a systemic infection which is serious and needs to be treated with antibiotics. Cat claws create punctures and transfer bacteria into the breaks in the skin. Good luck, and be sure to tell the snake's owner exactly what happened.

regards,
althea