Hurt Boa

persephone · 02-14-17, 01:24 AM

Our red tail boa has a bad habit of rubbing her nose to the roof of her enclosure. The roof in question is a metal grid, really fine metal wires. this was never an issue until recently when we found her nose was bleeding a little. not dripping blood, but enough to rub off. There was a large wound on the tip of her nose. obviously we took her out and cleaned it with water as best we could, and separated her from the metal grid with a cloth. The wound stopped bleeding eventually, and it has scabbed over. Now the tissue over the wound is blackened, and the scab consists of red and yellowish green fluids that have since dried out. The scab softens when we spray her.

We can't tell if the wound is infected, or if it's just a part of the natural healing process. we are hesitant to introduce any anti biotics or ointments because it is so close to her mouth and nose.

Thank you for any advice given.

Cyclops · 02-14-17, 10:29 AM

if pus is coming out it is an infection. pus is a fluid that comes out of white blood cells when they are fighting the infection. try do get as muc of the fluid out as possible becuase the infection is in it.

bigsnakegirl785 · 02-14-17, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclops

if pus is coming out it is an infection. pus is a fluid that comes out of white blood cells when they are fighting the infection. try do get as muc of the fluid out as possible becuase the infection is in it.

Snakes don't make pus, they form abscesses/cysts, which are solid objects that have to be surgically removed.

I would advise a vet if the condition doesn't clear up.

PatrickV · 02-14-17, 11:45 PM

i have a similar problem with by boa. she had metal mesh top to her enclosure and rubbed up on it til she bled and her nose had the same problem. i didnt do anything to it, i just switched her to a new enclosure in a plastic bin racking system with no metal mesh to hurt herself on and it seems to be getting better in the last few weeks. i was told by a breeder than it should go away after a few sheds and that metal mesh/screen top enclosures are a faux-pas when it comes to large constrictors. also, he mentioned that topical antiseptic's like Polysporin are okay to apply if your worried about infection and stuff like that (i haven't personally tried to apply it). for anything serious, consult a vet.