Need Some Help!

Hi,

Somebody down the street found a juvie texas rat snake, but it got hit. I can't exactly see where, but there's some guts (probably an inch or so long) coming out of the cloacae. I think this will cause its death, but do you have any advice? I'll see if I can post some photos.

I have him set up in a small tub with damp paper towels, a hide, water dish, and a fake plant thing.

Later, Matt

Well you may need to put up some pics so I can tell what's going on. And that's nice that you took the snake in, it would have possibly even gotten more hit if it was left out there.

"Hey, can someone volunteer to get bit by this snake so I can take some pics? Oh, thanks dad."

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_8592.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_8593.jpg

Later, Matt

I guess it kinda seems like guts, or a really messed up hemipene.

If it is a hemipene, he must be taking some male enlargement pills...

Later, Matt

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_8595.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_8596.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...4/DSC_8597.jpg

Later, Matt

Those are not its Hemipenes. That looks likes its lower intestines pushed out from being ran over. That will more than likely slowly kill the snake due to internal bleeding. You can try the sugar water paste on it to see if it shirnks back in. But dont look good at all.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

Those are not its Hemipenes. That looks likes its lower intestines pushed out from being ran over. That will more than likely slowly kill the snake due to internal bleeding. You can try the sugar water paste on it to see if it shirnks back in. But dont look good at all.

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Hey, the hemipenes were just a guess ;]. Matt, do what he said because I got nothin... not too experienced with snakes that got ran over really and it seems that flameethrower does lol. Hope the snake does ok.:snake:

If at all possible try to wrap up the area with a bandage, Non sticky then tape it on tightly. If you dont feel comfortable doing so you can just apply the sugar paste on and keep the snake on wet paper towels to ease the feeling of him dragging it.

I contacted Pattimus because his girl works at an animal hospital, he recommended sugar water and hemroid cream. I don't think this had an effect though, and I think the snake won't make it. I'll be releasing him tonight where I found him to give him back to the ecosystem. It's sad :(

Later, Matt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

I contacted Pattimus because his girl works at an animal hospital, he recommended sugar water and hemroid cream. I don't think this had an effect though, and I think the snake won't make it. I'll be releasing him tonight where I found him to give him back to the ecosystem. It's sad :(

Later, Matt

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No wildlife rehab center by you?

My friend's mom works at one, but they don't know much about snakes. They've never gotten one, so their knowledge must be as limited as mine. The snake is probably suffering from internal bleeding, and the intestines coming out are bloody. You think it could still be saved?

Later, Matt

Id personally would put it down which ever way your able to. The guy will suffer as intestines sticking out is never good and will cause infection internally due to not so clean air.

Im not sure if freezing them or CO2 is better as i never put a snake down.

I've only put a snake down once before, and it was a wild Nerodia clarkii. It had been hit, a lot worse than this one, and we made sure to really drive over it so that it was completely dead. I didn't like it, but I know I did a good thing.

Later, Matt

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

My friend's mom works at one, but they don't know much about snakes. They've never gotten one, so their knowledge must be as limited as mine. The snake is probably suffering from internal bleeding, and the intestines coming out are bloody. You think it could still be saved?

Later, Matt

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Probably not.

We have a rehab center about a mile from the house and I've taken several injured snakes there. Some have been rehabbed - some fed to the raptors or other snakes.

Last year one of my crews uncovered a yellow bellied racer that was hibernating in an unpaved shoulder. The blade on the grader tore him up pretty bad.

I was able to get him to the rehab center later that afternoon. The on-duty vet got a look at him and pretty much told me that while they could try to treat his injuries, they had no room to house him as a patient.

They cleaned him up and stapled some of his more serious wounds shut and sent him home with me. Every Friday for about two months I took him back to the center for evaluation. After about 10 weeks he was pronounced as officially "rehabbed".

While they could not accomodate him as a patient, they were able to house him as a captive. He still reisdes there today.

What I've learned is (1) snakes beyond help are euthanized and fed to other animals - especially raptors. (2) snakes that are healed are re-homed or kept at the center - the place doubles as a wildlife museum.

If you don't have the option of taking him to a wildlife clinic that can treat reptiles, perhaps see if they'll euthanized him for you.

My friend Tom might be able to feed it to a coral of his... I'll see, but I'm pretty sure he can't be healed because of his intestines are coming out :(

Later, Matt