Rat Snake Rehabilitation

On 4/12/16 my dad ran over a poor Grey Rat Snake (Pantherophis spiloides)

Here is the initial damage
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...4f7ed16a92.jpg

He (assuming male here) has a broken spine and the body was split open close to the liver area, if there is internal bleeding we will not know for some time unless a blood test is done.

Treating with a once a day application
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...b320d76910.jpg

And a betadine spray

4/15

Some swelling and necrosis
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...b4c3a3bdae.jpg

4/18

More bruising and necrosis plus rotting smell, so changed method of application.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...a25a82beb9.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...01d1b3e2dc.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...518bc1ee01.jpg

4/21

Swelling is almost gone and so is smell, also got a bath today with a betadin bath to clean off old medicine and wound.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...4ad51c0f46.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...8aae0f4613.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...a9cd8e866e.jpg

Unhappy noodle
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...5da7d4993a.jpg

Also this was in the tank, have it preserved in formaldehyde and am taking it to my reptile vet friend at the vet school so we can try and figure out what it is.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...241a7f6aa6.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...5914f0bfdf.jpg

The snake is coming with for a physical and possible blood test, results will determine if he can keep living or if the humane thing will be euthanization.

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Kudos to you for all of your time and kind effort! :colbert2:

Externally the pictures look like progress is happening. Hoping for the same internally.

Hopefully that green goo is some waste or something disposable rather than something important.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Kudos to you for all of your time and kind effort! :colbert2:

Externally the pictures look like progress is happening. Hoping for the same internally.

Hopefully that green goo is some waste or something disposable rather than something important.

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Thank you and same here to both the internal stuff and the green thing.

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I am sad to say I found him dead today.

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I'm so sorry for your loss. You did all you could. At least he was in your care when he passed.

You can't win every battle, but at least you tried.

I am amazed that you kept him alive as long as you did. Seems like you gave it one heck of a try.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CourtneyG01

I am sad to say I found him dead today.

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So sorry! I know how caring for an animal allows one to become really attached. :(

After preforming a necropsy I have ruled the ultimate cause of death from internal hemorrhaging caused by a partial crushed stomach.

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[QUOTE=CourtneyG01;2434902]After preforming a necropsy I have ruled the ultimate cause of death from internal hemorrhaging caused by a partial crushed stomach.

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I'm not surprised. After all, a snake getting rolled over by a car would be like us getting rolled on by a building.

[QUOTE=Reinz;2434945]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CourtneyG01

After preforming a necropsy I have ruled the ultimate cause of death from internal hemorrhaging caused by a partial crushed stomach.

Sent from my SM-G928V using Tapatalk[/QUOTE

I'm not surprised. After all, a snake getting rolled over by a car would be like us getting rolled on by a building.

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Not really. Since snakes bodies can compress really well a small car would not do that much damage, but my dad has a big f250 of a truck and that is why there was an alright bit of damage. During the necropsy not a single rib was broken and the spinal break was clean in two parts, no crushed bones at all, and the stomach was only partially crushed, the bleeding is what caused the death. If the bleeding had stopped quicker he would have most likely survived. Comparing a building on the other hand to us really would not work since we cannot compress at all like a snake can, if we could compress like them getting run over by a car would not be too bad since the weight on the tires is spread out broadly.

Our Ecology preserve has a rat snake who was run over very badly and had his spine broken in 3 different spots and is doing fine and living a nice comfy life.

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Did you find out what the green stuff was?

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Originally Posted by Fraido

Did you find out what the green stuff was?

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I did not

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[QUOTE=CourtneyG01;2435207]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Not really. Since snakes bodies can compress really well a small car would not do that much damage, but my dad has a big f250 of a truck and that is why there was an alright bit of damage. During the necropsy not a single rib was broken and the spinal break was clean in two parts, no crushed bones at all, and the stomach was only partially crushed, the bleeding is what caused the death. If the bleeding had stopped quicker he would have most likely survived. Comparing a building on the other hand to us really would not work since we cannot compress at all like a snake can, if we could compress like them getting run over by a car would not be too bad since the weight on the tires is spread out broadly.

Our Ecology preserve has a rat snake who was run over very badly and had his spine broken in 3 different spots and is doing fine and living a nice comfy life.

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Thank you for that information and explanation, evidenced based, I appreciate that.