Corn snake with torn skin

danicat83 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 05:45 PM

I feel silly asking this, because I work at an animal hospital, but the only vet here that sees reptiles is on vacation. Today Petco (might I add that I HATE petstores like Petco) brought in a baby cornsnake to be euthanized. It had gotten caught in a tape dispenser and its entire face and neck was wrapped in scotch tape. They had ripped a decent portion of the snake's skin on its neck open trying to remove it forecfully. Since I am the only tech that likes reptiles and the snake was suffering trying to breath while we waited for a doctor to be able to put it out of its misery I decided to at least try to save it. With a small pair of suture scissors, some sterile lubricating gel and warm water I was actually able to remove every portion of tape. The snake is alert and active. I am going to keep him and try to save him, the petstore said they didnt want to pay to help save him and gave me permission to keep him and try. The problem is this open area on his neck where the skin has been torn off... there is a vet here with no reptile experience that is willing to try and stitch it, but doesn't know if she even should. The other option is skin glue. Does anyone have any experience with a snake with a wound and did your vet use surgical skin glue or sutures? I have tried calling to the closest real reptile vet but no response yet so I thought Id try to get opinions on here. If the snake doesnt make it thats fine, but I really think he deserves a chance so I want to try and help him. If he lives he will be named Scotchy by the way. Wish him luck and thanks for any suggestions or any stories about similar things that you had to deal with and what you did.
Sarah

morti · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 05:59 PM

Reptiles are surprisingly resilient. Since you got the rest of the tape off, if it were me, depending on just how deep the wound is, I'd keep the wound very clean and let the snake's own healing do it's trick.

Can you take a really clear picture of the injury and post it here? That would help.

danicat83 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 07:20 PM

On my lunch break I just ran home to get the camera to do just that... but then realized that none of the computers here have a spot for an SD card. The little guy seems fine, is trying to bite anyone that goes near him, but I dont blame the poor little thing. I finally heard back from one of the other reptile vets in the area and they said on a little cornsnake that sutures would probably not hold up well. So it looks like this evening we may decide to put a little skin glue on it to hold it together. Otherwise maybe I will leave it alone, at least until I find out a bit more about what should be done. It always seems to work out that there is a reptile rescue or emergency when the only vet here that sees reptiles is gone. I will post some pics of the little guy when I get off work this evening. Still accepting any other suggestions or stories of similar events, although I am not too worried about the little guy anymore, I think the person who responded is probably right... the snake will be tough and do fine, it isn't a deep wound and I will be keeping it super clean to avoid infection. Thanks.
Sarah

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