Cat attacked my snake....

endless · 02-15-06, 11:44 PM

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. · 02-16-06, 07:30 AM

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 · 02-16-06, 07:42 AM

grrrrrrrr thats the reason i hate cats:meddead:

.derek. · 02-16-06, 07:47 AM

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 · 02-16-06, 09:03 AM

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 · 02-16-06, 11:56 AM

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.

geckoguy157 · 02-16-06, 11:16 PM

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. · 02-16-06, 11:23 PM

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 · 02-16-06, 11:37 PM

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 · 02-17-06, 07:27 AM

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. · 02-17-06, 08:15 AM

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 · 02-17-06, 08:41 AM

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:

geckoguy157 · 02-17-06, 06:59 PM

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 · 02-17-06, 07:49 PM

[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 · 02-17-06, 08:43 PM

ASH19-

Quote:

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