hit by car...

Starbuck · 06-03-13, 06:05 PM

One of my c oworkers brought me a fully grown eastern milk snake that he hit with his car last night. All things considered I would say she is doing well since she is still Alice! N no obvious trauma, but still doesn't seem right. She has some trouble righting herself towards the tail, but has full range of motion to the tip of the tail. I am going to treat her with some meloxicam and tlc, once I see her wat and poop normally, will probably release her bac km where she was found. Pics will follow!

Please exvuse horrible typing, I am in my phone :-P

sweatshirt · 06-03-13, 06:14 PM

Thanks for taking her in (: And good luck with her xD

smy_749 · 06-03-13, 07:22 PM

Can't imagine a space on the snake where he could have crushed him without affecting his survivorship, except the tail. Also 'hit' is not really a good term, unless the snake was reared up like a cobra and got nailed lol

TheTaipan · 06-03-13, 07:44 PM

Hope she recovers fast so she can go to her natural habitat

Starbuck · 06-03-13, 07:47 PM

lol thats what i was thinking as well smy... pretty surprised she lasted through the night to be honest.
I figure she either got run over on the lower GI or tail; though like i said there is no obvious trauma. She does feel a little flaccid in some places; and earlier as i was switching her to her new home she sounded a little gurgley (?) in the gut area, but she has a full range of motion from her head to her tail tip. Also, some obvious pain along some part of her last third, as she was running through my hands, she hissed suddenly and turned around, as if to bite.

Beyond the expected, she is a little nervous (obviously) but seems in good health. I have her in a solid plastic medication box from my work (like a cat litter tote, not see through, but long with a snap on top) about the size of a 5-7 gallon. Paper towel substrate, shallow water dish, tupperware humid hide with sphagnum moss, and regular plastic hide. Some holes poked in the sides, and a lamp suspended over the whole thing for heat (awaiting temps to get up to snuff to measure)

The plan is to give her a few doses of NSAID (0.01 mL meloxic every other day), offer her a mouse later this week, and wait out a bowel movement. after that, will give her back to the guy who ran her over to release in the woods (away form roads!!). If things start to go south, will probably bring her to the vet to be euthanized/to a wildlife clinic. Cant really spend tons of money on a wild snake right now, i'm just using what i already have on hand.

Starbuck · 06-05-13, 03:54 PM

I offered her a f/t mouse this morning, she hasnt touched it as of 4pm... but she did destroy her humid hide and waterbowl (Again!!! flooded her little viv). More important: she pooped! Kind of :/

a good deal of normal looking urates (white paste, some small yellow crystals), a small amount of normal looking poop, and an equal amount of dark (almost black?) blobs which i am assuming are blood clots. There is no fresh blood anywhere, and she isnt acting any different right now. Will keep on doing what im doing, keep trying some food, and will probably release her around the end of July. will post some pics in a bit

venom_king · 06-06-13, 07:03 AM

good luck with rearing her back up to 100% health never nice when an animal is hit by a car...never good

hope she does all good in you care until you release her (hopefully)

Jakeslither · 06-06-13, 06:38 PM

it's heartwarming that you're doing this, I hope she makes a full recovery! ;c

I'd be so tempted to keep her as a pet at that point, but I think most would do the same as yourself and release her.

I mean..a healthy snake I'd of course release..but something about saving one from possible death..is so heartwarming!!

I'd be extremely tempted to keep :c

Starbuck · 06-06-13, 06:43 PM

she isnt very nice, and definitely not the prettiest eastern milk I've seen. She is nothing but what i would have expected from a wild snake thats experienced more than it's fair share of trauma. I've decided that i am definitely going to release her by mid July, maybe sooner if she wont eat for me.
Gave her a second injection of meloxicam today, likely will give one more in 3 days, and offer her another mouse in the meantime.

sweatshirt · 06-06-13, 08:16 PM

Wow haha can't believe she let you hold her, even if reluctantly o.O

Starbuck · 06-07-13, 03:48 AM

she was pretty good to handle, its just getting her into the hand that was the problem. She also really doesnt like being restrained for injections (big surprise), and sudden movements lol.
I only handle her when giving injections or cleaning her tub.

formica · 06-07-13, 03:52 AM

poor little thing, hope she can recover, good luck!

rocknhorse76 · 06-16-13, 12:31 PM

Any updates?

Amadeus · 06-16-13, 02:07 PM

Snakes have amazing healing powers in my experience.

Good luck!!

Starbuck · 06-16-13, 07:24 PM

updates: i offered her aother mouse after 10 days in captivity, she declined after 24 hours. The person who hit her was getting concerned that she wouldnt eat, and he wanted her to be released.
I explained that 2 weeks no eating is not cause for concern etc, but since i was no longer treating her with the antiinflammatories, i agreed that there was no reason not to release her. Gave her back to him to release in her native woods the next day, and she shed her skin that night (!! maybe why she wasnt eating). He said she looked really good post shed, and released her the following day.

She eliminated urates a few times while in my care (only defecated once). Urates were a pale mint green which i attribute to possible kideny trauma... but now she is released and hopefully living her snakey life as intended