Need help with wounded rat snake

Seijun · 02-10-05, 01:01 AM

Hi, I need help with a Black Rat snake that I found today. It was really cold (starting to snow) and I found the snake lying by a hole in the ground. I think it got mauled by a mink or small dog (my mom thinks mink because it was next to the mink hole). The snake is pretty beat up around the head and neck, and there is a puncture wound a little less than halfway down his length that's about 1/4" across (the snake is about 3' long). I brought him home and fixed up a terrarium for him with a heat lamp, water, and newspaper with some bark to hide under (I was going to use mulch but I didn't want it to get into his wounds). I didn't want to let him go either because it is going to get colder and there are no safe places here that he would have the strength to crawl into. He is alert and active now, but I am worried that his injuries will get worse. What can I use to help heal the snake's wounds, or at least try to keep them from getting infected? I don't have money for a vet or fancy medicine, so I was wondering if there were any remedies that were fairly cheap or that could be easily found that would help. (If it would help any, I can get pictures of where he is hurt at).

~Seij

HumphreyBoagart · 02-10-05, 01:07 AM

Use polysporin (or any other antibiotic ointment) on the wounds, and use some paper towels as substrate, they're more sterile than newspaper. Hope he gets better.
Hump.

Seijun · 02-10-05, 01:11 AM

Ok, I will switch to paper towels (if my mom doesn't kill me for it-she goes nuts when I use a WHOLE PAPER TOWEL, she always makes use only half of one if we want one).

Thanks, I had considered using medicine like that but I didn't know if what is ok for people would also be ok for a snake. Is there some sort of wrapping I should put over the wounds or do I just leave them uncovered?

~Seij

HumphreyBoagart · 02-10-05, 01:24 AM

Leave em' uncovered so the wounds can still breathe. Don't put gobs of ointment on, just a nice thin layer and once it wipes off put more on.
Don't use too many of your mom's paper towels though! LOL that's funny!

Removed_2815 · 02-10-05, 01:27 AM

Where was the snake found? Are you in Canada or the US?
Ryan

Seijun · 02-10-05, 09:36 PM

I am in the US, in Missouri. I found the snake in the grass near a mink hole and by the creek, in the yard of an old lady who will kill a snake on sight.

~Seij