Cat attacked my snake....

[endless]

My cat managed to get into the enclosure today and my poor snake suffered many puncture wounds and scratches. He's been treated by the vet, but there is no reptile specialist in my area, so I wanted to run the treatment by you to see what you think ans if you have any other suggestions.

We had him soaking in betadine solution (diluted) within 5 hours of the incident, followed by covering the worst areas with a 'BioDres' wound dressing (hydrogel) that so far seems to be staying on, amazingly enough. She also gave him an injection of antibiotic (Baytril, I think)

There doesn't seem to be any organ damage or nerve/spinal damage as far as we can tell, but I'm really concerned about infection! Is there anything else I can do?

[.derek.]

find a reptile vet.buy a proper lid.and when you buy a lid make sure it locks in place or use weights. you should have provided a secure terrarium in the first place for your and the snakes sake.

[mmichele]

grrrrrrrr thats the reason i hate cats:meddead:

[.derek.]

it was not the cats fault in any way.it wasnt the snakes fault at all either....that only leaves one person...the person you put the snake in basically a box with no where to go knowing there is a cat (aka a predator) that has access to that unsecure box. in not sorry if i sound harsh as im sure the snake didnt have much choice when it was getting attacked either.

[dannyc]

I'm always amazed at how many people go out and buy a snake and then don't have a safe and secure place to keep them. I've seen many post where the snakes escape. When using an aquarium it's so simple to get the screen lid and the locking clamps. Custom built is better but you need to have it built before you buy the snake. This was an unfortunate incident but was intirely the owners fault.

If you can't afford to house them properly you can't afford a snake.

[endless]

Yeah, thanks a lot for the help.....


Derek If you'd actually read my post, you'd have noticed that I mentioned there is no reptile specialist in my area.


As for the enclusure, it is secure and has a locking lid. It is also high off the ground. Unfortunately, the hatch was left open by error. What, you're NEVER made a mistake? I feel ****** enough about it as it is, I don't need a bunch of sanctimonious assholes making me feel worse.

I posted here for information. Obviously a bad choice.

[gonesnakee]

Your vet appears to have done what wa required. The treatments & products mentioned sound appropriate for the snake. Mark
P.S. always remember Cats are Natural Born Killers! It is always easy to come on & bash someone rather than help them out, these folks are all perfect afterall :rolleyes: . I guess some folks get off on putting others down by stating the obvious?

[gonesnakee]

Also your snake is likely to go into a shed right away & then again sooner than usual. This is how they go about healing themselves. After it sheds it may "open up" some wounds so make sure it is kept in a sterile enviroment (paper towels) & offered lots of fresh water. It may require additional soaks in the Betadine solution & polysporin also works great for healing up wounds too. Mark

[stano40]

Mark,

Your vet did exactly what an ARAV qualified vet wouldhave done. Baytril is like an antibiotic and the betadine solution will helpthe healing process. Just like gonesnakee wrote, keep it in a sterile enviroment and plenty of fresh water.

Good Luck and I'm sorry to hear your snake was hurt.

Bob

[.derek.]

clearly i did read the post.most people have acces to a car to be able to drive to one out of your area.if your snake ever got sick what where you going to do with it ? luckily the vet you did bring him to seemed to know what to do.but if it ever has an infection that that vet doesnt know, you will let it die because you dont have a reptile vet? and no when it comes to having a secure terrarium i have not "made a mistake" that very nearly cost my snakes life.sorry to disapoint you. im glad to see you have now resorted to cursing at me.it really makes you look intellegant. and i never saw where i was trying to be self righteous for you to call me "sanctimonious" especially as i was talking to you and not about me.but in the end it comes down to me not really caring one way or the other.if you want to sit on a computer and get offened at people saying you should provide a secure enclouser thats your problem.and gonesnakee i promise you i dont "get off" on bashing people. if that where the case i would post on alot more of the threads around here that are absurd.the only reason i said anything is mabye my posts will anger him enough that he does not make a "mistake" again.in which case i will have succeded.

[sadpanda]

people are dicks
and people make mistakes...


hope you snake recovers!
good luck..

[geckoguy157]

well its good to see you foudn a vet who seamed to have treated. and as for derek why dont you give the guy a break i dont understand people like you im sure there are tons of people on here who have made mistakes not evryone is perfect like you obviously though.

[.derek.]

again when did i say i was perfect?i do make many mistakes.doing things like long hand division, mabye i burn foods sometimes mabye sometimes im even late for meetings but i dont understand how people cant seem to comprehend how i dont make mistake to secure an enclouser.is it that common?i have owned more than 5 snakes for more than 4 years and open each cage every day and have yet to leave on open.

[endless]

Mark and Bob,
Thank you for the input, I really appreciate it. Luckily my vet has an expert whom she can consult by phone as well as being a reptile enthusiast herself so I feel better about her course of treament, especially after getting some feedback. Today we did another injection of Baytril and switched from the wound dressing to a silver sulfadiazine cream to be applied after the betadine baths to keep the punctures protected and soft.

She also suggested I switch from underneath heating to an infrared heat lamp, and to up the humidity in the enclosure with betadine soaked paper towels. Any thoughts on this? I bought the heatlamp anyway, but up until this point have been usng a heating pad underneath. Anyone have a preference for heating from above?

Thanks again for your help.
Krista

[djcoreyd]

Just want to add my $.02 about DEREKS comments!!!!!!!!!!


I feel that Derek has a point and none of you see what he is getting at. Yes the vet did his/her best to solve this problem, but that does not excuse what happened! If you cannot be responsible enough to take care or your animal then don't have one!!!! I don't have a cat, but lots of snakes, and I never ever, ever would leave my snake room without checking(and double checking) each cage so obviuously if you have a cat you would be even more cautious. Now forums is not only "for your information benifet" but also for us herpers to talk about these situations and Derek is only expressing his opinion(our Country's god given right!) alot of you decided to turn this into bash the basher contest, when the first couple posts answered the kids question.

Owning a Cat and a Snake in the same house is stupidity in the first place! I hope you learned a lesson!
Last but not least Endless if you don't want positive and negative feedback don't post!

Cheers!

[.derek.]

WOW.the whole reason i left this site a year or so back after being here over 2 years was that if someone said something to "hurt someones feelings" it was like a lynch mob to like the poster above said bash the basher.i am glad to see at least one other person agrees with me.i think the original posters feeling should be the last thing to worry about here.the safety of the snake and any other animals that they own should be paramount.let us not forget that if this "mistake" happened and it could have been a 10 foot burm the cat is also in grave danger.it is both the cats instinct to see what is going on in every part of the house and the snakes instinct that the snake will defend its self. luckily neither animal has died (yet).i personally have 2 cats and i know if there is even one thing that the cat should nt do unless it is secured or blocked (like closing the snake room door all together or securing the enclouser properly) the cat can and will find that thing so it is the owners responsibilty to make sure the cat does'nt have the means to get it.like i said if my posts angered them to the point they will think about my posts when closing lids and they dont make the mistake again them i was succseful.im not sorry and if i am unpopular on an internet forum but if it saves either a snakes or a cats life then i hope i am the most hated.at least one other person gets my point. im sure they are upset that there snake got hurt but it was no one else fault but theres, so if i have sharp words then tough luck.there is no point in jaunting over what some says might hurt someones feeling the most important thing is my point clearly got across.and for the people who say im rude who was the one that is swearing at people calling them a$$holes?sure wasnt me. normal people find cursing more disrespectful than someone speaking there mind.but i guess since THERE snake got attacked by THERE cat from THEM leaving it unsecure somehow that makes THEM the victim. sorry but mabye my mind is clouded from my love of animals but isnt the snake and cat more of a victim than that person is?i sure think so.in fact the person is not a victim in any way so i am not going to just say "oh poor you ,better luck next time".no im the type of person to say "oh poor snake mabye next you should be more careful and dont let yourself make a mistake".if people find that rude than crown me king if rudeness.BUT i am sure it was not intentional in which case i would have left it to my original post but then people come on here swearing at me and calling me rude so now i post to defend my self.if you dont like it then dont come on here making posts about me and i wont have to come back to defend my position.this is my last post on this thread unless someone comes on and posts about me or my position then i will make as many posts as it takes to defend myself because i am not in the wrong in anyway.if you are going to dislike me then do it but dont come on here to tell me i am rude because i dont care. if you are to take away anything from my posts let it be to double mabye even triple check everything is secure before you leave it. and dont get me wrong i would rather not be hated but if that is what it takes to get my point across i will GLADLY take it.if i offened anyone who is a responsible herper then for that i am sorry but if i offended anyone who will think twice and avert another "mistake" then i am very glad indeed. i didnt expect everyone to agree with my harsh post but i must say i am surprised only 2 other people agreed that the safety of animals should go before the emotional feelings of a person. so thank you dannyc and djcoreyd for seeing my point.

[ottawaguy]

I think derek that we've all seen your point....repeatedly....
I think it is time to let it rest....it happened...it cost him alot of money and i'm sure that it won't happen again.
I also have 2 cats and they have never gotten at my snakes because...yes, I double check to make sure that the lids are secure and now most of them are in a rack anyway...
I think we can move on...
:hammer:

[gonesnakee]

Its kinda sad to watch a simple question about a vet trip turn into "flame war". We all know that the Cat shouldn't have got at the snake, that is pretty obvious to everyone, but to keep continually pointing it out doesn't make you an internet hero, it just makes you look like a more of an immature Tool with each post. The person knew they screwed up long before posting here, they posted to ask if the treatment recv. was the best it could have got & if not what else could be done. To keep throwing it in their face doesn't help or change anything. Except maybe to discourage someone from seeking help from others here & possibly not be informed of something that could help save their snake. I for one think much more of them to be able to admit their mistake on open forum & be subject to attacks from folks stating the blatantly obvious, then I do of those that have nothing better to contribute other than "you screwed up dummy", but hey lets do our best to just put folks down & just keep reminding them they screwed up when they ask for help. That will help the herp world become a much better place now won't it LOL Lets go out of our way to try & make it so no one asks for help or info for fear of being scorned & riddiculed. :rolleyes: Flame On though if thats what does it for ya! Mark

[.derek.]

im really getting tired of repeating myself. if you can properly read i said i was happy to leave it at my original post until people come on here talking about me and my opionions.it seems its you people you cant let it go.so i will say it again for the mentally slow.dont post about me or my opinions and i wont post on this thread again.i dont know how many times i have to keep saying the same things over and over before people realize.you dont want me to keep going on about the subject then why do you people keep making posts about me???hopefully it wont take much longer for you people to see i could not care less about your opinions about me.this is an internet forum which is a shadow of what this site used to be so you people are honestly wasting your time.if they didnt want positive and negative feedback they shouldnt have posted on a public forum in a country that promots free speech.its not my fault if people get offended by people on the internet like some people clearly have.if all you people want me to stop writing about this then dont make more posts on here about me or my posts.its as simple as that. this thread is a waste of my time so i would apreciate you people stop posting about me so i can forget about it and stop forcing me to come back and defend myself for excersising my right to free speech.like i said before but apparently i need to repeat my self. if you dont like what i said then tough luck its not my problem and a could not care less.i dont know what else i need to say.dont make posts of my posts and i will have no need or want to make more posts on this thread.period.

[gonesnakee]

So its OK for you to post about someone being a fool, but not OK for others to post pointing you out to be a Tool? LMAO Better post again to make sure you get the last word in ;) Mark
P.S. freedom of speech works for everyone there Lad if you don't want to hear opinions back, quit spewing them up :p Nuff Said!

[reptiles4me]

Good points in both your posts gone...couldn't have said it better.

[geckoguy157]

ya i dont think you can understand either sure he shoudl have checked the cage evryone makes mistakes its unavoidable i think your just being ridculous saying you will never acidentaly leave a cage door open. thats liek saying you will never forget to wear your seat belt whiel driving or something liek that evryone is boudn to forget or make a slip up. Ive been keeping reptiles for proably 10 years now and have had many reptiles and have worked for very highly respected breeders and they have made mistakes left a cage open by acident and it wasnt because they didnt care about there animals. it was just an acident.

[Ash19]

[QUOTE=djcoreyd]

Owning a Cat and a Snake in the same house is stupidity in the first place! QUOTE]

I don't agree with this at all. As long as you are a responsible owner there is no reason why you can't or shouldn't own both of these lovely animals. I own 4 CATS and a snake and neither have been hurt by the other or even come into close contact. So maybe think twice before you go telling ppl they are stupid for owning 2 different animals in the same house.
endless, that's too bad about your snake. Yes, ppl do make mistakes. I know you realize you made one. Good for you. I do see derek's opinion. But you came on here for information to help rectify that mistake. Luckily some ppl understand that.

[djcoreyd]

ASH19-So maybe think twice before you go telling ppl they are stupid for owning 2 different animals in the same house.

I did not call anyone stupid for keeping cats and reptiles! I said it was stupidity! Thats my OPINION, but I do agree with you in a sense.....if you are extremely resposible and cautious(not in this case); but still like sleeping with a loaded gun under your pillow!

So I will re-phrase it "It is plain stupidity to house cats and reptiles in the same house if you are a unresponsible person!"

And because of Derek I feel that this topic has reached MANY people and these people will check there cages twice tonight and hopefully from now on! So in a sense Derek has possibly saved some animals from a fatality!

cheers

[tonyj]

Holy smokes!

I'm really pleased for **** Cheney's sake that he didn't didn't post here asking us for advice.

"There are two kinds of snake owners, those that have had a snake escape, and those that will have a snake escape..... "(Anon.)

[geckoguy157]

all derek has made me realize is why i havnt come on this site for a while before now. and tony j that quote is very true

[.derek.]

i never said "you dont have a right to post here" i said if you people are so eager that i dont post as you all apperantly are then dont post messages about me. is my writing so hard to understand.i was the one being told to leave it alone and move on thats why i said if you dont want me to post then dont post about me. im more than happy to carry on this debate for months because i have done nothing morally or legally wrong so i have no problem arguing my point for like i said as long as it takes to defend myself.not one person here is going to make me change my opionion of who was at fault in the "mistake". if you guys want to sit around this forum feeling sorry for yourselves and each other when it was no else's fault but themselves is naive.so if you peole are going to post about something i said, dont keep crying when i keep posting to defend myself.it just makes you look like an idiot.i am not posting personal comments of people but thats what you people are doing about me . WHEN WILL YOU REALIZE I DONT CARE WHAT YOU THINK OF ME???so save everyones time by stop posting what you think about me or i will start making personal attacks on anyone who does it to me.i have given fair warning to leave me from your posts if you dont want me to post.so anyone else who posts about me personally will get the favour returned so you can see how little someone on the internets opinion matters to you.mabye then you will realize its a waste of my time to even read on through your post when you start talking about me.talk about the original post or dont complain when i keep posting about you.i am still yet to see where any of you have proved that it was anyone else fault but the original poster.unless you can do that save your time.and to all the idiots saying "i cant believ you've never made a mistake and left a cage open" well im sorry to dissapiont you but no i am not an idiot.i can in fact have the brain function and motor skills to close a clasp.it really isnt that hard.i have infact made many mistakes through life but never has one ever almost cost a life and never have i been forgivin so easily.so before any else posts think a few minutes so you dont post another useless post in a long line it seems.and who ever said i need to get the last word in clearly has'nt read my posts.if you dont post about me then i wont post about this stupid thread.you people want to debate the original post then be my guest i will leave this thread for you people to waste your time with.i would love nothing more for either the thread to be locked so i dont have to take the time to come to the crummy site to defend my self or people stoped posting of me and i will be glad to leave. ever since jeff sold this site a while back it has turned to absolute crap.both in the quality of the posts and the quality of the posters.leave me out of your thread and i will gladly use the other 3 herp forums that actually have people that can read proprerly on it.

[Leolord]

It sounds like your vet did a adiquet job considering he has almost no expierience with herps so it sounds like your snake will be fine.

--Matt--

[Ash19]

derek, I think everyone is reading your posts fine. The thing is, they're not saying that the person wasn't at fault. Clearly they are. And they realize that, as does everyone else. They're just saying that the person came on for advice to help the snake. Not to help them realize their mistake. Everyone is just saying you don't need to attack the person, as I'm sure it was not your original intent :) I have never made the mistake of leaving my tank open. And I never willl because I KNOW I have cats and I KNOW a couple will try to get to the snake.
djcoreyd, calm down lol You did not call anyone stupid DIRECTLY. I realize that.
What you did say was that owning both animals under the same roof was stupidity, which is like saying the person's choice was stupid. You also never mentioned it being stupidity if the person is irresponsible, so how could I have known what you meant? It's fine that that's your opinion. I agree. For irresponsible ppl, it is a bad choice. Some ppl however, know they can handle it. Like me :thumbsup:

[.derek.]

of course it was'nt my intent.i just get devensive when people attack me verbally.i think we all need to calm down because the tempers are definatly flaring.lets just all agree it was a mistake.it should'nt have happened.i did what i thought would leave the biggest impression to try and avoid any mistakes.lets just leave it at that.i really dont feel like arguing a moot point.we all love herps or else we would not be here.

[endless]

Wow.
I'm somewhat surprised by the debate this has brought on here, but hey....whatever. Just wanted to post with an update. Fidel seems to be doing well on his current treatment regime, and the cat has gotten the point too...when I walk towards him carrying my snake he takes off immediately. I just want to clarify to the people who are so rabid about snake safety here that yes, this was my fault, I clarified that in my initial post, and this post was not a debate on whether or not I am responsible or not to own a snake. I made a costly mistake, and paid for it, as did my snake. I cannot take that back. I hope that this thread does point out to others that it's really better to offer help and advice in a similar situation instead of to flame immediately. If you knew me you would not be repeatedly attacking me for negligence. It was a mistake. Period. Let it go.

I'd like to thank everyone who gave actual feedback and advice on this situation...it was very helpful and I think we are doing ok here....I'm feeling better about his condition, and hoping for a full recovery.

Thanks again,

Endless

[geckoguy157]

well that’s good to know your snake is recovering.

and Derek no one is posting saying he isn’t responsible for making a mistake were posting to say everyone makes mistakes why cant you get that through your thick skull and by saying only idiots would accidentally leave a cage open your basically calling 99% of reptile keepers idiots cause either they have done it or will do it people get caught up in things and forget. its not a matter of being and irresponsible idiot as you are calling everyone who has made a mistake its just making a mistake if we didn’t make mistakes everyone makes mistakes everyone in awhile. and when this does happen to you which I bet it will I hope you are lucky enough not to be put in the same situation that endless was.

[.derek.]

geckoguy you cant leave it alone can you?.i said i would make personal attacks for people who keep talking and disagreeing about the same thing over and over like people attack me personally. seeing your HORRIBLE spelling and seeing as how it says you are 22 you definatly have enough problems in life. so im not going to waste my time.no one has perfect spelling and this isnt a grammer or spell check forum but your post is an embaressment.you cant even write one sentence without making numerous absurd mistakes. look at your spelling and you are saying i have a thick skull?unless your teachers where none existant you seem to be the one who cant pick up the concept of grammer.learn how to spell at least well enough that people can at least somewhat understand what you are saying without having to read it over.you whole post was crammed in 3 sentences that made so many spelling errors i was going to count them to post the number to make you look even dumber but there are actually to many to count.i would like to see the research that says 99% of owners have let there animals escape but of course i know that is non-existant.and if this situation does ever happen to me and i am put in the same position i will expect to be critisized if i post on a public forum.deal with it.so i will say again.to anyone who personally critizes me expect to have it returned.if you want to post then post of the original post not about me or you will get a post right back at you.like i said before just let it go.no one is going to change my opinion or apologize for anything i have or will have to say.it is a waste of your time and more importantly my time.but if you feel you need to keep the argument going at least have the courtesy to try and spell words some what the way they are supposed to be spelled.reading a stupid post saying the same thing that has been said over and over is a horrbile waste of time.having to read it twice is a tragedy.I believe we are all dumber for reading that.thank you geckoguy.im more than happy to leave this thread alone like i have said in many posts but if people keep talking **** then they will get **** on.you people need to grow up and move on your not changing anything except making this thread longer of arguments.i am saying now i am done with this thread unless people continue about me.its out of my hands i have done the responsible thing by walking away so dont keep calling me back.i have done my part.so anything else i will be forced to say by people posting about me is not my problem whether it is horribly offensive or not.

[Jeromerules]

hmmm.. good to hear your snake is doing fine endless. You did the right thing my friend.... I have a question for those who have been in this thread for a while.... ANy of you actually read what Derek has written. I just found it extremely boring and long so I skipped all his posts. But that's just me....

[geckoguy157]

Derek if you would have actually read what I said and not assumed it was completely negative I was trying to end on a positive not I was saying everyone masks mistakes and when you make one I hope you don’t have the bad luck endless had and that your reptiles will make it though with out injuries.

o and on another note because you are actually that pathetic you had to bring my spelling into this I went through and edited them for you so you know you wouldn’t have to use some common sense and figure out what I was trying to spell. O and sorry for not writing enough for you if your going to slam me find something good ok.

you just another one of those it will never happen to me

o and just to let you know you made 33 errors in your last post.

[.derek.]

so you call me thick skulled and then say everyone makes mistakes and that is ending on a good note and you expect me to say nothing?regardless if i made 133 mistakes at least every word was if not perfect it was close enough you only need to read it once.geckoguy i have no need to slam you.i will repeat my self yet again.dont post about me and i wont post about you.how hard is that?i guess extremely hard since you people keep talking to me.i dont need you to hope for my animals to be ok when they escape because they wont so dont worry about me.lets see if this is the end or if someone will have something else to say to drag this boring thread on longer.

[geckoguy157]

ah ic so I cant spell words wrong but you can your just pathetic good bye ive had enough of this there really is no talking to you lack the ability to understand anything more comprehensive then how to close the clasp or your snake cage doors. good luck in life i hope you stick with youll never make a mistake.

[.derek.]

thank you for your best wishes geckoguy

[Jeromerules]

hmmm... Ohhh derek how i hate you already..

[.derek.]

then i guess its a good thing i could not care less what you think.

[DragnDrop]

This has gone beyond useful discussion and advice, thread is closed. Attacks aren't allowed here. You can give advice without degrading anyone. And yes, we all make mistakes, none of us is perfect. If you haven't made any yet, it's just a matter of time.


Certain people posting here have gone overboard as far as the TOS go. Please take a moment to read and understand the General Forum Rules at General Discussion Forums Rules: Read First! (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49227)


Ignorance is no excuse! Failure to make an effort to understand and adhere to the rules
will result in a ban. A maximum of 3 strikes will be tolerated (3 for minor offenses, as little
as 1 for more severe).


No abusive/threatening/disrespectful language towards to moderators (we are just doing our job),
or other members.


I suggest all you flame-throwers sit back and re-think any future posts before you type a word.