My pet snake got bit by a hamster. How do I clean and treat the wound?

Thanks for reaching out about Smores. Cat bites and scratches can often lead to significant infections, as both carry bacteria that can contaminate wounds. Providing water through a syringe if Smores is not drinking, can provide well needed hydration until an appointment can be made with a veterinarian. A bite or scratch wound will often need to be treated with systemic antibiotics. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Peanut. You need to be careful with the antiseptic getting into the eye as they are not meant for ophthalmic use. Many topical antibiotics can also be detrimental if groomed and ingested. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess the eye and other wound care. Good luck.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that another hamster attacked Sugar. I recommend bringing him to your veterinarian to have him examined, have the wounds cleaned, and he can be given medication for pain and antibiotics. Any bite wound has the potential to become grossly infected and abscessed, which is very painful and can require surgery to resolve. In the meantime, you can try gently wiping any discharge away from the wounds with a damp cloth. I hope this is helpful!

If the snake has wounds on its body I would recommend a veterinary exam to be sure antibiotic treatment isn't necessary. You can clean off the wounds with a mild warm soapy water for now and schedule an appointment with your vet when they open tomorrow. The topical antibiotic I have used in snakes is called silvadene, but it is a prescription only medication so if that is what is required, you will need to get a prescription from your veterinarian for this medication.

Thanks for reaching out about Galya. You can clean the abscess are with a warm, moistened cloth or cotton tipped applicator. Topical medications are often ingested and can cause gastrointestinal upset, so not recommended. Try clipping the fur around the open lesion to lessen contamination. Continue with the oral antibiotics if hamster appropriate. Providing heat support in the 75 F range could give some aid, not letting it get too cold. If this veterinarian can't help you, find one who can. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Hamsy and Shamcey? Abscesses usually require systemic antibiotics to cure, so a veterinary visit is needed. Trying to keep clean with a dilute betadyne will help. Monitor appetite and water intake. good luck.

Cat bites can be very nasty so I always recommend antibiotic therapy and pain management to animals (and to people) who fall victim to their feline. If you decide to hold off and take a wait & see approach, rodents often hide their illnesses until they are very sick - this is a defense mechanism as they are prey animals. They will stop eating, become highly lethargic, and may develop a high fever. As for your cat and the hamster bite, I am less concerned about this but would need to see photograph of the affected area to render an official opinion on the matter. Hope this makes sense.