What to use on a ball python who has been bitten by a rat?

Question

My sons ball python was recently bitten by a rat he put in for his meal. It has received about 4 bites on its back and one on its face. We have no vet near us, any suggestions on what to use for these wounds?

Answer 1

I just finished reading all the answers that you have waiting for you but here's my experienced opinion. First of all, the person saying take your snake to the Vet or it Will die? c'mon. I have raised snakes for over 40 years and I feed live food for the main reason, it's more natural and have a better success ratio than dead or frozen. I have had everything from small water snakes to an 19 foot python (my brothers) including a rattle snake pit where I used to milk the snakes for the making of anti venom. I've seen my share of mice, rats and other types of animal bites on snakes. The main thing is to watch the wounds and make sure they are not getting worse. Putting and keeping an anti biotic cream on the wounds after a touch of hydrogen proxide to cleanse should do the trick. Warm soap and water can and will clean the wound but I like the proxide myself. As the wounds heal, and as the snake sheds, the marks will start to go away and your snake will be as good as new. Of course if the wounds show infection or you can see that they are getting worse, well then it's time for a vet. Although there's alot of people on Yahoo questions and answers that are and want to help and it all come's from the heart, Iv'e noticed that everyone is real fast to spend money on Vets and such when just some knowlage and home treatment works real good. Oh, Snake getting bit is natural in itself but I try to lessen the odds when ever I can. Good luck.

Answer 2

This is the reason why my bf feeds dead mice...OR, you can try to knock the rat out first....Get something to knock out the rat first, so it's unconcious.

But anyways....

I would suggest you use Betadine wash, it's a surgical scrub, and quite mild. I use it on my pet's open wounds, scrubbed it into my horse's open wounds, and it doesn't sting much. I would think that peroxide might sting a lot...especially when the pet can bite back.....

Since there is not vet, all you can really do is to keep it clean and keep an eye on it. Wash it at least twice a day. If the bites are really bad, it might not be a bad idea to wrap it with gauze and vet wrap. You can try children's polysporin/neosporin. zinc oxide creams are also useful(baby rash creams).

Answer 3

All rodent bites need to be taken seriously. There is always a good chance for them to become infected. In severe cases, these usually occur when a live rodent has been left in the cage for an extended period of time, the snake may need to be euthanized. I suggest that you take your snake to the vet as soon as possible if it gets bitten or chewed on by a rodent

If there is none nearby its best to travel, Otherwise the snake could get really infected and become ill.

Jay

If you need more help please contact me on [e-mail]

Answer 4

hi there
if ur gonna feed ur ball python... rats i would advise u to give it prekill or frozen thawed rats..live are more agressive then mice or stick to lg mice... for the wounds if it's not bleeding then leave it alone a few sheds and the marks will disappear if it's still bleeding then go to a pet store and get stop bleed for reptiles... good luck

Answer 5

Unmedicated polysporin.

We understand no matter how hard you try they won't eat dead food. People just don't understand how picky some snakes are especially ball pythons. We have 11 and none eat dead. Boas are garbage cans and will usually eat anything.

Answer 6

so what if you don't have a vet near you! you have to take the poor ball python to the vet. or it will die soon.

Answer 7

1 feed him DEAD rats
2 bring him to a vet/reptile specilist@

Answer 8

take him to the vet

Answer 9

If you have to ask about this it's better to ask it to a vet instead.