Update - Black Rat Snake Rehab

[MelissaFlipski]

The black rat snake seems to be healing well. The infection between the two layers of skin seems to have cleared up. Also, the lump inside the internal skin seems to be drying from the inside. It's looser when I press on it.

Here is a before and after picture of the injured area:
March 23rd


March 31st


I still have not seen him tongue flicking. We offered him a live mouse, but he was not interested... yet. We'll wait for him to shed and offer food again.

[Monty]

Good luck

[Mindibun]

I was wondering how he was coming along. Did the vet slice the pocket open for you or did you have to do it?

Maybe it's just me, but the second photo actually looks worse. Has he been on any medication?

[Thor26]

man i hope it gets better soon =[ i love rat snakes

[littleindiangirl]

Looks better Melissa! I'm quite glad to see that it's healing for you. Snakes are resilient creatures, hopefully he will prove to us just what a little help can do for a wild creature.

[MelissaFlipski]

I was wondering how he was coming along. Did the vet slice the pocket open for you or did you have to do it?

Maybe it's just me, but the second photo actually looks worse. Has he been on any medication?

In the original photo, you can see that the area is puffy and moist with puss. In the second photo, the skin is dry - no more puss! The discoloration is due to treating the area with betadine, a disinfectant, 2x a day for 5 days after I pierced the area myself with a sterile needle to get out the puss. The tear in the middle (revealing the lump underneath) happened during the struggle of getting the puss out - I did not pierce or cut that area; it just tore when he tried to reject my advances!

I gave him Zithromax for 3 days initially, but stopped b/c it was mixed 12/31/07 and, according to may sources, "no good anymore."

You can see the lump inside is smaller and drying up, too. There is also scar tissue on the internal skin - more than I think would be caused by treatment. I think it was an infection due an injury, most likely a bite. I'm glad he wasn't someone's dinner!

Yes, we have come to love this big guy (5' and 610 grams). He has such a great personality. Parting will be such sweet sorrow, but I hope to see him around the yard all summer.

Thanks, y'all!

[MelissaFlipski]

I took him outside the other day for a "walk," since it was sunny and 73 degrees! He did not tongue flick once! Nor when he came back in. I am still concerned about that.

But he did do a huge pee - there were urates every where. I will post the picture tomorrow. Just wondering if this is normal for black rat snakes - it was not in one little globule like my other snakes do. At least I know he's hydrated!

The skin and internal lump continue to dry out. I think with two sheds he will be back to complete health - barring a little scarring.

Overall, he's doing good!

[MelissaFlipski]

He's in blue and started tongue flicking yesterday!!

[BrucenBruce]

It sounds like he's doing much better for you, Melissa. Congratulations!

Releasing him may be a little sad - but it'll also be a heck of a high!

~Bruce

[littleindiangirl]

Great new Melissa! I'm glad to hear he is starting to perk up some