Treatment for cut on ball python

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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Jacquesvw » Thu Feb 14, 2013 12:31 pm

Everyone I called so far suggested Baytril, but as usual nobody has any stock, so I had to order. Hope it will arrive soon.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Davidc » Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:24 pm

Please just keep a eye on that wound. Those CF lights have nasty powder in them that could cause problems.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Jacquesvw » Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:43 pm

Davidc wrote:Please just keep a eye on that wound. Those CF lights have nasty powder in them that could cause problems.


Yep, rinsed the cut with sterile water to make sure there is nothing in there.

Just got some sutures and the cut is now nicely stitched up. Now only the meds and then it's waiting for the wound to heal.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Davidc » Thu Feb 14, 2013 3:26 pm

Best of luck bud. Hope he makes a 100% recovery
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby brentraf » Thu Feb 14, 2013 7:38 pm

Hey Jacques,

Hows you BP looking tonight? Does the cut seem to be affecting his movement at all? Great job with the mending by the way you did a professional looking job!
How did you manage to stitch him up? Did you knock him out (Sound really wrong but you know what I mean :) ) first? If not how did it react to the stitching?
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Serpent » Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:01 am

Excellent work. Am sure it will heal ok, it will leave a scar though, snakes seem to be quite resilient when it comes to flesh wounds. I just find it a little amusing to see a snake with a bandage on.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby LAMB Pythons » Fri Feb 15, 2013 10:21 am

Forgot to mention, when he feeds again offer him smaller prey items. Great job so far.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Blet » Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:27 pm

When suturing skin in reptiles, make sure an everting pattern is used to avoid inverting (rolling in) of the wound edges. Also leave the sutures in for +-3mths as apposed to the usual 10-14d in mammals and birds. Instead of Baytril (requires daily injections), consider Amikacin or Ceftazidime...injected only every 72h and a lot less stressful. I must admit, fresh clean, relatively uncontaminated wounds less than 6h old, I would suture. Anything soiled or older and then classed as dirty/contaminated, I dont. These I would treat as open wounds (clean daily with Chlorhexidine or Povodine Iodine) and pack afterwards with Silbecor or similar cream. Close with dry swabs and anything non-sticky (Vetflex or Vetrap) thereafter. The swab will remove any loose debris and necrotic tissue every time you change it. Eventually you'll have a good granulation tissue bed and this you can then safely and happily suture (or, as I often do, leave open to dry and scar). This method works well and seldom, if ever, require antibiotics. It will take time and scar, but that is certainly of minor concern.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Jacquesvw » Fri Feb 15, 2013 5:25 pm

Blet wrote:When suturing skin in reptiles, make sure an everting pattern is used to avoid inverting (rolling in) of the wound edges. Also leave the sutures in for +-3mths as apposed to the usual 10-14d in mammals and birds. Instead of Baytril (requires daily injections), consider Amikacin or Ceftazidime...injected only every 72h and a lot less stressful. I must admit, fresh clean, relatively uncontaminated wounds less than 6h old, I would suture. Anything soiled or older and then classed as dirty/contaminated, I dont. These I would treat as open wounds (clean daily with Chlorhexidine or Povodine Iodine) and pack afterwards with Silbecor or similar cream. Close with dry swabs and anything non-sticky (Vetflex or Vetrap) thereafter. The swab will remove any loose debris and necrotic tissue every time you change it. Eventually you'll have a good granulation tissue bed and this you can then safely and happily suture (or, as I often do, leave open to dry and scar). This method works well and seldom, if ever, require antibiotics. It will take time and scar, but that is certainly of minor concern.


Thanks for the great advice, much appreciated.

The wound is looking pretty good at this stage and I'm rather happy with how it turned out. Now only a slow road to recovery.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby brentraf » Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:37 pm

Great to hear man! Keep us posted :)
1.1.0 Corn Snake (Pantherophis (Elaphe) guttata)
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Blet » Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:31 pm

Good to hear. Keep us posted on the progress. I'd love to follow the process over the next few months. Remember to assist in shedding around the sutures
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Snakesitter » Fri Feb 15, 2013 11:35 pm

I'll be fascinated to see how this turns out. Again, great work on your part.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Jacquesvw » Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:50 pm

She is recovering well and ate yesterday. Also drinking plenty of water.

We fed her a small mouse that we also injected with some vitamins and minerals.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Kuro » Tue Feb 19, 2013 3:34 pm

I read on an american snake forum that the one guy used ,Chlorhexidine to treat the area before the procedure for sterility and used saline to flush the wound.

Hope your ballpython gets well soon.
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Re: Treatment for cut on ball python

Postby Serpent » Tue Feb 19, 2013 7:45 pm

How's the patient? Any new pics for us to see?
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