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My snake has a nose hole after a scab. How to clean and heal it?

Updated on September 23, 2025

Pet's info: Exotic | Unknown - Exotic | Male | unneutered | 5 years and 8 months old | 9.9 lbs

Lump on snakes nose, scab fell off and now theres a hole there. Vet put him on antibiotic injection once every 3 days for 6 weeks

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on September 11, 2017

Keep the area clean. You can use diluted Betadine solution on a cotton swab to gently clean it daily. A dab of Silvadene cream may also help to prevent infection along with the antibiotics. If it doesn't heal, consider a biopsy or the area to rule out neoplasia (cancer).

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on September 11, 2017
So sorry that Jedburgh is having this issue.

I think the wound looks like it is healing OK. You have to remember that snakes have a very slow metabolism - it takes them a long time to show illness and in turn, it takes a long time for them to get well when they are ill. I would just wipe it twice daily with some dilute Betadine solution. You can put the Betadine on cotton swab and wipe it on the wound.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Default-Betadine-Antiseptic-Liquid-15mL/dp/B0096R3ZDW

Make the Betadine solution into a weak "iced tea" color solution (usually achieved by a 10:1 dilution with water).

Hope this helps. Best wishes. If you have more questions feel free to post again!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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