How do broken ribs affect a young BP?

Well,

Here is my story.

I recieved a rescue animal from someone locally who couldn't take care of it. She was obviously older, and was visually scarred in several areas, as well as a cleft heat pit area (or lip). She also was very lumpy.

I took her to the vet, got fecals, and was told that other than her outer apperance, she was healthy and looked to be a damaged WC animal from a long time ago.

Here are some of her photos. I just recently placed her in a pet home after having her for 2 years. She ate fine, did everything fine, and although her face prevented her from breathing correctly (she breathed with her mouth open), she was an amazing animal and I am glad she will live out the rest of her days in a fabulous home.

These photos are about a year old.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/DSCN1017.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/DSCN1018.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/DSCN1015.jpg

I would think that the vet could at least give you X-rays, and point out where the exact damage is? It would not be enough for me if someone just told me that they thought it had broken ribs.
Poor snake.. I wonder if someone stepped on it or something?

Just to clarify... the snake wasn't like this when it was sold, correct? I mean, it wasn't born with the defect, right?

Wow. Sorry I haven't been answering all your great replies, but I was asleep :) You guys really do a lot late at night and early in the morning.

Ok, first off...the injury looks old rather than new, so it's assumed the poor guy got lost, or as someone else said, dropped or stepped on. That would certainly explain the guy's eagerness to drop him off. *sigh* some people...
Secondly, my friend said the little guy is moving around, so there's a good chance he's adjusted and healing. The main issues when he was dropped off were that he had a horrible dry shed stuck to him, he was dehydrated and freezing cold. They warmed him up first thing and got him into a nice warm soak, and the old shed came off completely. It was while he was soaking, I imagine, that the damage was seen and checking out. Since you can't put a cast on a snake, and he is still young, my friend isn't horribly worried.
Third, yes, he will try to feed him today, and he stated that it would be a small meal - probably a hopper mouse. The main issue now is to see if he eats, or at least shows interest in feeding.

I fully intend to take this poor snake in to my vet as soon as we see how he reacts to being offered food. I can't bring him home for a few days, anyway, because I'm still getting things together to house him. :) It was kind of a sudden thing...

Anyway, thanks for the input everyone, I really appreciate it. I'll see how he does today and give some more updates when I can. And, of course, if all ends up well I'll get plenty of pictures to post up. :D

Ah, just saw that last post: Since the snake was sold from this store about a month ago, they remember him well. And he was fine and healthy when they sold him... which just makes them angrier about the treatment he apparently received.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thunder Kat

certain colleges teach them as a kinda side course for biology. the two universities that i was checking out are catawba in nc and unlv in nv. my husband and i are planing to move to vegas when we are done with school, and i want to try to get in at unlv. as far as the broken rib i don't know if there is any thing you can do to help, maybe an antibiotic might help.

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So we're talking about an advanced first aid type class, not a veterinary class right?