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Horribly Neglected BP

K

Kmay571

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So I work at a LPS. We had someone drop off a pied, and I was a few hours until I got in and saw it. There was a nasty rat bite up hear it's throat, and pretty severe burns on his belly. There are spots that are just black and crispy.

Here's the problem. We don't have a reptile vet within an hours drive. Being at the pet store, we don't have the means to transport a snake any farther than that.

I do have vet supplies at the store, medications, ointments, bandages, syringes, etc.

I have removed all the pine shavings that were stuck in the wound and let him soak for 15 minutes in dechlorinated water. I cleaned out the wound completely and checked for debris or infection and it was clear. We have an aloe plant and I applied some to his belly burns, hoping that might soothe the pain. He is in a sterilized tank with paper towels, a hide, and a water bowl.

He will spend a lot of time on his back, which I assume is to try and stop the pain.

What ointments can I apply to the wound and the burns? And how often?
Can I bandage the rat bite at all?
Would soaking him help or hurt?
When should I try to feed him? (He appears at a healthy weight)
What can I do to help alleviate the pain?

I will post pictures before I clean out the wound tomorrow. This poor snake breaks my heart.


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That's absolutely disgusting (of the previous keeper). Poor thing. First off, you should be 100% positive that it's indeed a burn on its belly and not scale rot. Two completely different treatments for things that can, depending on severity, look similar. As far as treatment goes, if the snake is truly that rough I'd do the vet drive. All you need for transport is a styrofoam insulated box, a small heat pack (like the gel kind that you can warm in the microwave will work -- of course, you don't want it piping hot. If it feels too hot for you, it's definitely too hot for the snake), and a pillowcase (put the snake in the pillowcase in the box with the small heatpack near it in the box). It will make the drive fine and it will get the medical attention it desperately needs. If you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT do that, then there's always google. I just searched "how treat ball python burns" and "how treat ball python scale rot" and quite a few vids, etc. popped up. But please, PLEASE try the vet.
 
I am trying hard to push for the vet trip. I know he needs it. But being the property of the pet store, I can't just take him and go. And it would be my responsibility to drive him, and can't afford to miss work to take him, so it would be a few days at least.
Scale rot didn't even cross my mind. The burns, if that's what they are, are down most of his belly. If it is scale rot, it would be the most severe case I've ever seen. I'm about to head to work now, and I'll take pictures.


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Kmay571 said:
I am trying hard to push for the vet trip. I know he needs it. But being the property of the pet store, I can't just take him and go.
Click to expand...

I'll try to help you out here the best I can, but I really don't know what to tell you. Your store is a business; I get that. Clearly they've paid SOMETHING for this snake; I get that. Here's what they need to understand: this will kill the snake. They will lose every penny of that investment without treatment, which includes antibiotics, which have to be prescribed. They are injections, which means that someone at the store would have to administer them even if you got them.

NO ONE will buy that snake as it is. Not for a penny. The vet bills themselves wouldn't be that much, but you're still looking at at least about... $200. So. You have a ~$350 snake with a $200 problem in AWFUL condition. You see where I'm going with this, right? The two most humane options, if they aren't willing to take it to a vet are:

1) -GIVE- it to someone that will, and that person can just foot all the bills.
2) Don't let it sit there and suffer.*

* You can take that how you will. If you're 100% positive you can mend it, go for it. If you're unsure or don't think you can, you know what that means.

Find out this information today too, please: Who the Hell is providing your shop with snakes? This one in particular, who dropped it off? People here sure would like to know so they can avoid business with this person.
 
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Before recommending any treatment options - especially based on youtube videos - it makes sense to wait for GOOD photos. Some things can be treated at home with fairly basic techniques; some things cannot, no matter how good the intentions. Using the wrong treatment can have a variety of results - the best case is that the problem improves by itself, despite the efforts (which sounds unlikely in this case); the worst case would be that the animal dies. Obviously, there are several steps in between...

The reality is that, if the description is accurate, this animal may never be sale-worthy. If that is the shops goal, they'll likely not invest much in it's care. Since this was a drop off, they may well give it to somebody with the interest in saving it. My advice would be to take a realistic look at whether this is something you want to mess with. If you want prelimary advice to help you with that decision - post clear images of the problem areas, including some close-ups.
 
Couldn't agree more. I didn't mean to seem like I was trivializing the issues this snake is going though by posting "proper care" videos. Just wanted to give her a light at the end of the tunnel. I have before and still do HEAVILY recommend the vet visit for this poor snake.
 
I didn't misunderstand your post, and I understand that you are trying to help....but the "proper" part of the care in the videos could be debated, which was part of my point. Even if one accepts that the information in them is correct, as provided, it isn't necessarily applicable to this case.
 
Here are some pictures. He was brought in in a box by a stranger and said it was our problem now, we didn't order him.

Here are some pictures:
114797d6d7df96c305f9e34d639fe6a6.jpg
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17d2e3c56f513fd4eaf3c994d02be949.jpg
ea0fe8e3ed271cad4c8c36c52e2b826c.jpg
4752384608c2b1fbe0123072628813cc.jpg
63dc69623bcb2fa86a4f4ce72e3f02bd.jpg



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Got good news, brought him to the vet! They said to cleanse it with diluted iodine, put neomycin in the open wounds, and use mineral oil on the burns.


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Wonderful news! I'm glad you got the little guy to the vet. I wish him a speedy recovery and a much, MUCH more competent, equally happy owner in the near future.
 
Kmay571 said:
Got good news, brought him to the vet! They said to cleanse it with diluted iodine, put neomycin in the open wounds, and use mineral oil on the burns.
Click to expand...
The cleansing with iodine/betadine is fine. Mix it so it looks like a weak tea and you can either soak the burned and rat-chewed areas in it, or apply it using sterile gauze pad.

Personally I would avoid using both neomycin and mineral oil long-term as these products cause scale damage - not that there's much in the way of scales left to damage on those burns, and yes, those are burns. The oils will also stick to any paper substate. If you have Vetericyn in the store that is a better product for reptiles as it's a water-based gel that doesn't damage scales, and once it dries it's not goopy so nothing sticks to it.

This guy's environment must be as clean as possible - keep it on paper towels, remove messes quickly and sanitize with F10 or chlorhexadine.

I also wouldn't be surprised if a future vet trip for antibiotics is needed if those burns get infected.

Kudos to the shop owner for taking in the animal, most understandably will not. At best neglected animals can cost more in vet bills than they are worth, at worst they harbor diseases or mites that run through everything in the store without strict quarantine measures. If the store owner is smart that animal will be rehomed or sent to a rescue ASAP.
 
It will be put up for adoption once the wounds have closed up. And he is well on the way to healing.


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He is being quarantined permanently. No sign of mites or any disease yet, but we aren't taking any chances.

The store owner is more of an absentee owner, but still makes all financial decisions. The snake is now strictly in my care. No idea if it is male or female. And I won't even attempt to check until I can finally feed him.

Speaking of feeding, at what point should I try feeding him? I don't know the last time he was fed.


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Kmay571 said:
Speaking of feeding, at what point should I try feeding him? I don't know the last time he was fed.
Click to expand...
From the pictures it doesn't look like he's thin or underweight, but it's hard to tell without any of his back. These guys can go for quite a while without eating, so I would give it at least a month and then offer a half-sized feeder so he doesn't stretch that burned skin if he does eat.
 
Agreed - and, you may want to take it slow after that, as well. If the next shed happens too early in the healing process, it will just tear wounds open again. The shed is going to happen anyway; but it would be nice to delay it.
 
His backbone isn't visible and he doesn't seem thin. I'll wait the month then see if he will take a mouse.


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Unfortunately, we cannot ship him. I wouldn't even attempt to in his state. However, if you wanted to take the trip to Greensboro, NC in a couple months.


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Well keep us posted on his condition. When he's fully healed, if someone there doesn't snatch him up (despite those burns he's a pretty snake) -- or if you don't fall too in love with him and keep him yourself -- I live in Raleigh. Greensboro is only about an hour drive and I'd make it.
 
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