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#2267530 Lyonface View Profile	Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? Hello everyone, I’m new here! I’ve been looking around the internet for a place that could help me with a question about my snake. She is about 2 years old and I took her in from a friend who was no longer able to take care of her. She was fine and healthy when I got her a little over a month ago and aside from adjusting to me and my house, she has been fine. Earlier today I took her out of her cage to play with her and noticed that her scales are separated close to her tail. It looks like her skin has been split, and the exposed part is a very very light pink color and is really wet. There is no blood to speak of, and she doesn’t flinch or react when I touch that part. She hasn’t shed in a little over a week, and doesn’t seem like she will be soon, which is odd. She’s always had trouble shedding, but this wasn’t there when I last took her out of her cage about 2 days ago to feed her. Thoughts? Should I take her to a vet or is this something that happens sometimes?
05/24/12  06:21pm
#2267541 Edf View Profile	Message To: Lyonface   In reference to Message Id: 2267530  Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? if you are seeing pink- thats the snakes muscle. I had an incedent with a baby snake that ripped part of its skin off on leftover sticky stuff on a water dish. Without a pic I cant be sure- but what you described- pinky stuff- made me thing of my pastels damage. Now- just to be sure- and I am not askjing this b/c i think you dont know stuff- but you arent talking about her vent ( aka- poopchute) On the bottrom of the snake ( its white belly) you will see a slit that has spurs on it. If your snake prolapse- you will see pink too. I just want to make sure this is not it b/c its 2 different treatments. If its the first one- split skin and muscle is showing- you need to keep that cag eclean- and try to figure out what caused it. You need to clean it daily with a betadine solution ( 50% betadine, 50% water) and put neosporin w/o painkiller on it. If the wound gets infected- you are risking the snake getting septic and the wounmd getting just plain worse. Id keep the snake on papertowels and items in the cag enminimal. You also want to not stress it much- my snakes injury was close to her neck- so I had to feed her very VERY small food items fo r abit to not stretch the wound. It soon scabbed over- and when sher shed the scab came off. I kept treating the wound, and eventuallyu it closed up leaving an ugly black scar. If you dont think that is it- you may want to seek vet treatment. You just really gotta keep it clean and find out what caused it. I knew mine was from leftover sticky stuff- I am not sure if sheds bad enough can cause that- however, bad sheds can easily be fixed by keeping the correect hgumidity. if oyu can get a pic,m it would help. Any doubt- go to the vet. I can only give certian information on th etopic. good luck!
05/24/12  07:16pm
#2267595 Lyonface View Profile	Message To: Edf   In reference to Message Id: 2267541  Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? I had trouble getting an image from my phone, but here’s one to help put what I’m talking about into a bit of perspective: Link The spot on her that looks like it could be mulch is the tear. It’s not a great picture, but it can give you an idea as to what exactly it could be. I’m not sure what she could have torn herself on, perhaps her log or something since she’s been more active in the tank lately. I checked her this morning and the cut looks like it might be getting a little pigment back.
05/25/12  11:48am
#2267672 Edf View Profile	Message To: Lyonface   In reference to Message Id: 2267595  Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? the pic dont work unfortunatly
05/25/12  08:14pm
#2267699 Lyonface View Profile	Message To: Edf   In reference to Message Id: 2267672  Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? Sorry, I suppose it was linked to my email account. Here’s a different link. Thanks for all your help. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/205/skinsnake.jpg/
05/25/12  11:35pm
#2267707 Edf View Profile	Message To: Lyonface   In reference to Message Id: 2267699  Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? Yeah, it looks like the snakes scales were ripped off. Check your waterdish for any hints of sticvky stuff where the label was. If you didnt take the label off- that could have done it. Check the hides for any sharp edges along with any decoration. I never heard of a bad shed taking skin off- unles the owner ripped the shed off- that could do it. But you really want to check the cage for sharp items that could have shaved it off, or anything sticky thast the snake would have had to pull itself off of- which is how my snake damaged the skin. Keep it clean- i used a betadine solution- 50% betadine and water to clean th ewound, and then neosporin without painkiller. What to expect- it will scab over. The next shed- may rip it off. Mine did- but th efolowing shed it stayed on. You will just have to make sure the skin oveer that sheds fine. Just dont mess with it too much, if you arent sure, just bump humidity up for the next shed. If you see the scar looking angry or any swollen or discoloration- you’ll have to take the snake to the vet. But if you keep it clean, it sho8ld heal up fine on its own. The damage will scar. it can lighten as the snake ages, but will be there forever. Good luck
05/26/12  06:02am
#2267976 Lyonface View Profile	Message To: Edf   In reference to Message Id: 2267707  Help - Skin Condtion/Wound? Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it! :)
05/28/12  12:47pm

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