As most of you have probably read, Talyn seriously injured herself the night after Christmas. Talyn torn up It's a bad injury: one major cut with the skin torn off to the muscle and another big slice as well as smaller puncture wounds, so don't look if you have a weak stomach!
She seems to be handling it better than me: she is alert, active and she ate a good-sized rat shortly after the injury. My husband (a people doctor) checks the wounds daily as we wash them out and apply antibiotic creams:

Question: does anyone have any experience with wound-healing with their snakes? Will this wound scab? Will the skin and scales grow back? How long does it take for snake wounds to heal?
I've heard they go through several sheds rapidly after injury... my vet is hopelessly unhelpful here...
I just want to know what to expect.. Thanks!

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Andrea

Reptiles are very slow to heal. It is going to take time. With each shed you will probably see improvement. However I have seen many snakes that had obviously had some large wounds at one time and have healed up but retained a scar. The normal skin pattern did not return. The smaller wounds will most likely all but disappear with successive sheds. Due to the size of the larger wound I suspect that Talyn will carry the marks of this for a very long time.
I know that this is not what you wanted to hear and hopefully she will prove me wrong.
However the fact that her behavior is normal and she is eating is a good sign. I'll take a scarred snake over a dead one any day!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

So sorry to hear this. Lenore, Hannah's red tail boa had serious burns to her nose when she was found and since I have taken her in she has shed 3 times. The burn is gine and there is no noticable scarring. However, her injury was no where near as severe as this. Snakes are amazing animals though, time will tell.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

I have read snakes shed there skin more frequently to speed up healing, not sure of the actual process tho, scabbing over ECT, heres a web page I found, it doesn't have much, its for sick or injured snakes, and basically just says to treat it just as you are doing already. CLICK HERE

Actually I don't really expect her skin to grow back in that spot and I agree completely with you Merlin: I'd rather have her alive and scarred than not at all.
Talyn is still an extremely beautiful animal and no amount of scarring will change that! I love her more and more and will do everything to make sure nothing like this ever happens to her again!!

I was just curious as to the healing process, time-line, etc. I guess I'll find out eventually. Thanks for all the responses.

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Andrea

And thats exactly why Talyn is one VERY lucky snake!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

when my Frosty had his surgery the vet gave me this stuff called "Collasate" which is a postoperative dressing. Pretty much like liquid bandaid.

It creates an artificial scab over the wound until the skin repairs and heals underneath. It says it can be used on a fairly large area....and because it's water proof.....there was no need to constantly cleanse the wound (an act which could prolong the healing process)

Thanks, HerpMom, I'll ask my vet about that... I just want to do the right things to help her heal now.

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Andrea

you're doing an awesome job....keep it up and good luck with your baby.

Well, I called the vet clinic and they're not familiar with Collasate here in Switzerland... I ordered it online from the States but then, suddenly, felt unsure about using it on such a large deep wound. I was hoping to get a telephone consultation or e-mail the vet about it, but that's apparently not possible. I was hoping to spare Talyn a trip in a pillowcase across town in freezing weather inside my sweater... but, in spite of my doubts about this vet (the "local reptile expert")'s competence, I decided to take her in tomorrow.

My sister "Baxter" says it's a waste of money, she's doing fine and I should just be patient, but the neurotic snake mommy in me feels the need "to do something" and to get some sort of second or third opinion on how the healing process is progressing.

I'll let you know if the vet has any useful advice.

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Andrea