[Eyes/Mouth] Boa bite on its eye

[jamesb987]

Shoot the terrible happened. So on the second feeding, now that my Dumeril is finally striking, the mouse was in a position to bite at the snake, even though i was there with tongs to block most of it I wasn't quick enough. the snake got bit on its eye it looks and has a crease or s split in the scale over its eye. The snake appears unaffected by it, and you can see its eyeball still moving around under the bite mark. since snakes eyes have scales over them, it is possible this is just a superficial thing and the scale will be replaced at the next shedding?

[acephantom903]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

The scales over their eyes are the strongest scales so you might have gotten lucky and it might go away in the next shed or 2. Like we said before, it is best to switch to pre killed. How we feed snakes is pretty much a gladiator match which the big guy will eventually lose.

The only way to know if permanent damage was done is to see it.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

I wouldn't take a chance (with or without pics posted here): I'd get her to the vet ASAP. Bite wounds on the head can cause life-threatening infection that could result in even more pain, suffering &/or death for
your snake. There's no way any of us, even standing right there with tongs, can be fast enough to prevent accidents with live rodents...pity your snake had to learn from your mistake. And you should be putting
Neosporin ointment (ONLY the kind WITHOUT "pain relief") on that wound immediately.

BTW, as a veteran of several corneal abrasions myself, I can tell you that (at least in humans) eyes get infected rather easily...but with proper care, they also heal fast. Good luck.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

Even the most attentive person can't stop a live rodent from biting a snake once it's been coiled. Those rodents are fighting to stay alive. That's why when it comes to prey items, deader is better.

s and has a crease or s split in the scale over its eye.

For clarification, do you mean to the brow ridge, or to the eye cap itself? The difference would be huge. If it's the eye cap, a vet visit would then be vital.

For the brow ridge, non pain relieving Neosporin is the remedy, but be extra careful to keep it out of your snake's eye. Use the absolute smallest amount necessary. I don't know that I'd rush to the vet just yet, but pay very close attention to the area and your snake's behavior for a while. That brow ridge is a pretty easy spot as there's nothing vital there, but if an infection sets in, like @Noelle7206 noted, it can quickly turn fatal.

[jamesb987]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

I readily admit its my mistake. I had the understanding it was easier to get a baby to eat with live, and she hadn't been eating. I should have been more patient/creative. i have an appointment with the vet tomorrow morning and will let you all know what happens.

[jamesb987]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

Its the eye itself, like the eye looks to have a crease or fold in the middle of it. but you can still see the snakes actual eye moving around underneath.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

Its the eye itself, like the eye looks to have a crease or fold in the middle of it.

Snakes have an eye cap. It's a modified scale. If it wasn't pierced, you're good.

[jamesb987]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

Got back from the doctor. he checked her out pretty thoroughly and said she was in great shape. he thinks the scale on the eye got drug back just a bit and that the next shed will clear it all up. whew. thawed only from now on.

[acephantom903]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

Good news. The reason the scale over the eye is the one of the thickest is to stop injuries like this and from sharp branches, but there is only so much the scale can do. At least this was a somewhat happy ending.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Boa bite on its eye

Got back from the doctor. he checked her out pretty thoroughly and said she was in great shape. he thinks the scale on the eye got drug back just a bit and that the next shed will clear it all up. whew. thawed only from now on.

I'm really glad you had the vet check her out...it's very hard for you (or us) to see close-up & exactly what's going on, especially for such a critical area. My fingers are still crossed for her, but it sounds like you
get a second chance, hooray! And now you understand why we seem to 'nag' on the issue of feeding only dead prey...prevention is better than trying to fix...& some things can never be fixed.