Possible spine injury?

[Spirit_Scale]

I got my pastel male as a gift about a week and a half ago.

On the way back from the reptile store I was trying to wrangle him back into his bag as I got into the car and he managed to start getting up under the seat. I had him by the lower bit of his body and was trying to pull and wiggle him out as gently as I could while still keeping a firm grip on him. If I'd of let him go he would of disappeared.

He fought me pretty hard and I heard something make a pop/crunch noise . He eventually got tired and gave up so I was able to pull him out. On the surface, nothing was out of place except a few roughed up patches of scales.

At the time unfortunately my local exotics vet was closed. Once we got home I put some heal-x on the damaged scales (love this stuff btw---its made for just about every animal there is and provides pain relief as well as fighting infection and inflammation and healing the skin up faster).
But then I noticed something wasn't quite right---he still moves and flicks his tongue (and can constrict his tail end) but he's not moving as much or as fluidly as is normal. He was a bit better this morning when I checked on him---but he still moves slowly and with a lot of effort---his whole body winds and moves still just not as fluidly as his head and neck do. He just seems a bit stiff and weak on the lower half of his body especially.

I'm so scared I've had him not even two weeks and I've managed to do this to him...I feel terrible.

The vet opens up in a bit and I'll be calling to schedule---I just wanted to know if anyone had any ideas of what this could be? I'm praying for something relatively benign like a pulled muscle or broken rib vs something like spinal cord damage.

Btw, he lives in a 32 qt (he's only about 2.5 feet long and 770 g approx---will be upgrading soon) tub on paper towels. Humidity is about 70%. The warm side is about 85 air temps and 95 on the floor. The cool side is about 73.
He fed like a champ for me last friday after he'd only been home a few days (f/t small rat) and is a dream to handle---very gentle and confident snake.

I really hope he's going to be ok and yes---I've learned my lesson---I will be bagging him up before I start trying to get in the car and keep note of the fact that with my disability in factor he's quicker than I think and I'm slower than I think.

[Mike41793]

What heal x product are you using exactly? Their website says products good for all animals but that cannot be true.

Also i would take him to the vet. Do you have any pics of him so we could see if anything looks wrong?

[SRMD]

Pictures would be helpful so we can try and help you

[Spirit_Scale]

The heal-x is this stuff http://www.harrisonsbirdfoods.com/pr...EALX%20SOOTHER
I've seen case studies where it was used on herps and had some on hand that I keep around for my parrot---his scales look much better this morning.

Its difficult because nothing looks wrong, he looks physically the exact same as he did prior to the accident, its his movement---but I'll try to get some videos of him cruising around. I've felt his spine etc nothing is jutting out or kinked. I'm not uber uber familiar with snake anatomy but I'm experienced in doing a lot of head-to-toe exams in my leos and my parrot.

If I put him on his back he's able to roll his whole body over to right himself and if I touch his tail he moves it away. So hopefully he dodged a bullet.

On a happier note when I checked on him he seems to be getting strength and coordination back slowly. I'm not one to shy away from the vet, but he's due to eat on Friday and I don't want to disturb him and throw him off his food schedule if he's getting better. My vet works odd days (usually Saturdays) and I wouldn't want him to regurgitate his meal.

But I'll try to get some videos up.

[rdoyle]

Try to get a Video of his movements.

[Dracoluna]

Does he seem sensitive at all at that point on his back? It's very possible it's just a muscular strain of some form which would cause him to be moving a bit differently but if it's spinal, they tend to get very sensitive at the point of injury. They can also 'pop' their spines the way people would so it may be the popping noise you heard was just that.

If the Heal-X contains any sort of petroleum type base, it can actually erode the scales on a snake. That's why you never use human antibiotic creams and such on them and many people are wary of ones even made for animals. Betadine, a diluted version of iodine, is safer because it won't destroy healthy scales around it. Personally, unless the animal is bleeding, I don't treat with anything because within a shed or two, they will get rid of the roughed up scales with very little trouble.

[Spirit_Scale]

Nope he doesn't seem sensitive, I can touch him all over and he doesn't act like its bugging him.
The heal-x is a quaternary ammonium product with a fatty acid thats suspended in aloe vera so its not petroleum-based, but thanks for the info!
I've read about it used on a BP with skin issues (one of those vet case studies) before so wasn't too worried about using it.
I just figured it would help a bit with the skin/scale irritation and only applied it once, but will take your advice and won't apply it again.

Managed to get a hold of my vet today (last day before she's off for vacation for a bit---I hate when vets leave!) so he's going in for a check-up at 3 so I'll let you guys know how he is and get that video up then as well.

[Dracoluna]

Nope he doesn't seem sensitive, I can touch him all over and he doesn't act like its bugging him.
The heal-x is a quaternary ammonium product with a fatty acid thats suspended in aloe vera so its not petroleum-based, but thanks for the info!
I've read about it used on a BP with skin issues (one of those vet case studies) before so wasn't too worried about using it.
I just figured it would help a bit with the skin/scale irritation and only applied it once, but will take your advice and won't apply it again.

Managed to get a hold of my vet today (last day before she's off for vacation for a bit---I hate when vets leave!) so he's going in for a check-up at 3 so I'll let you guys know how he is and get that video up then as well.

Sounds good but if you or your vet feels it warrants the Heal X, by all means, keep using it. I just prefer to let an animal heal naturally when possible because I've seen too many minor problems turn into major ones due to human interference. If it starts looking infected, etc. or it looks like the skin itself was broken, then it does need something to stop bacterial growth. The vet visit is also a good idea if nothing else, for peace of mind. I've done that myself and though nothing was wrong, it made me feel better knowing.

[Spirit_Scale]

Hey everyone,

Ihsyius is back from his vet visit, and although crabby from being manhandled I'm happy to say that (200 dollars later I'm so happy the vet lets me pay in installments) he is sore, but suffered no permanent injuries.

The vet took two x-rays and his spine/ribs/organs (though he really has to poop!) were all a-ok, and nothing felt out of place on the physical exam, so thankfully this time it was just a muscle soreness issue probably from pulling it or straining himself.

He got a painkiller shot of metacam to keep him comfy so he wouldn't be put off food by discomfort (it was that or pin him down 1x daily for a week to dose him by mouth...nu-uh not happening ) and wasn't a happy camper about it but is now safely back in his tub and resting---the pain meds kicked in on the way home and when I took him out of his bag he seemed to be moving much better, not 100% his old self but better.

[Dracoluna]

Glad to hear it was nothing serious and he's doing better.