Orange man radix

[guidofatherof5]

Came across this male yesterday while out radix wrangling. How's this for an orange dorsal? Somehow he sustained an injury and lost some skin and scales. Many people doing yard work and the injury looks fresh. Going to get him to my Vet. hopfully tomorrow. Not sure much can be done since the flap of flesh is missing. I've been treating it with triple antibiotic ointment. He has full movement behind the injury so I don't think there was any spinal damage. Hoping he'll be in shape for a little two-step:D with some of my ladies in the spring.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/orange_stripe1.jpg

[gregmonsta]

Wow :D gorgeous find. Fingers crossed for a quick recovery.

[Snake lover 3-25]

beautiful find! glad you found him!

[drache]

very nice looking guy
and that wound looks like it'll be okay

[count dewclaw]

Wow, love the orange. In your care I'm sure he will do very well.

[DrKate]

He's lucky you're the one who found him! Skin is remarkably stretchy stuff, your vet might be able to free up enough to stitch at least part of that wound if the skin flap is healthy. (Kudos on the willingness to provide veterinary care, BTW, Steve... I've noticed you mentioning going to the vet a lot. I think it's only fair if you're going to take an animal into your care that it gets medical attention when needed.)

In case you're taking suggestions, I'd be awfully tempted to name him Tang with that electric orange coloring! ;)

[guidofatherof5]

He's lucky you're the one who found him! Skin is remarkably stretchy stuff, your vet might be able to free up enough to stitch at least part of that wound if the skin flap is healthy. (Kudos on the willingness to provide veterinary care, BTW, Steve... I've noticed you mentioning going to the vet a lot. I think it's only fair if you're going to take an animal into your care that it gets medical attention when needed.)

Thanks for your comments. It's not only fair but I feel it's my responsibility. I have a great Vet. who at times doesn't charge me or reduces the charge. He understands my situation and helps when he can. I feel there's a reason they came into my care and I have to provide for them.
At times I do come up on the short end of the deal but I don't just look at the money. I look at the lessons it teaches my kids about caring for animals, even if it an injured garter snake.
A friend from my office gave me a free turtle(ha, free) Eye drops for the eye infection. A 5 day stay for ear infections and the turtle is far from free. The upside is my daughter knows I care about her pet and that money isn't everything.

I think Tang is a great name and I will use it, thanks.

[prattypus]

He's very fortunate indeed. Sheesh, how well would we function with a chunk out of us the size of our head?

[ssssnakeluvr]

nice rescue!!! very nice orange stripe!!!!

[guidofatherof5]

This afternoon I took Tang to a Vet. (Dr. Michael Boslievac). Here are some pictures. Tang did very well during the proceedure.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/stitch3.jpghttp://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/stitch2.jpg


Here's the end product. He won't win any beauty contest, but he should be on the road to recovery. Dissolving stitches were used. Silver sulfadiazine until it heals over and the little scrub should be fine. I'm very fortunate to have found Dr. B. and so are my radixes.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/stitch.jpg

[drache]

not to brag or anything, Steve, but my vet does neater stitches
other than that it looks really good

[charles parenteau]

Very orange strippe.I think you did the right thing!

[guidofatherof5]

not to brag or anything, Steve, but my vet does neater stitches
other than that it looks really good


Without seeing some work from your Vet. I'll hold my opinion.:D I'd say mine did pretty good for being blind folded and doing it with one hand tied behind his back, while doing a hand stand.:eek:

[prattypus]

What's that old saying? A stitch in time?

[brain]

What a nasty cut there ... oooouuuchh

[guidofatherof5]

What a nasty cut there ... oooouuuchh

I think it looks worse than it really is. Skin and muscle damage,only.
It will be awhile before he's back to normal but he is eating and seems to have a great attitude. I'm looking forward to spending some time with him and calming him down. I'm really hoping he'll pass that deep orange stripe onto his children.

[brain]

Yea he might throw some wonderful colors. Chooses carefully and choose well his mate.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

the stitches looks really good considering the HUGE chunk of flesh that was missing!!! Good luck Tang!!! (is that his name?! haha)

[guidofatherof5]

He's doing really well.
A lot of movement and eating good also.
He's still on the wild side but that should change in a couple of weeks.

[guidofatherof5]

*Update* The wound has scabbed over and is looking very good. Tang is eating worms but refuses pinkies at this point. The injury doesn't seem to have any affect on his mobility. Things are looking very good.:)

[guidofatherof5]

Tonight(Friday) I took Tang out for some calming down time. He's still pretty scared and jumpy. I used my usual lines on him about how I wasn't going to bite his head off and suck his guts out. How life was going to be good. Food, shelter, warmth and of course for him, the ladies. I was feeling good as he start to calm down and actually look at me while I spoke. He was now sitting perfectly still and listining(feeling) to every word. As I got ready to put him away I slowly moved him into his enclosure. I carefully set him down and thought to myself, "I'm good"
It was then I noticed the big pile of poop on my pants. I looked back at Tang and I could tell what he was thinking "I'm good"
Punk radix. Nothing but a punk radix.

[count dewclaw]

He was just letting you know how relaxed he was sitting there with you.:D:rolleyes:

[guidofatherof5]

He was just letting you know how relaxed he was sitting there with you.:D:rolleyes:

You always take their side of things. He's a punk and I know it.:mad: I'll see how he feels about me serving pinkies to the enclosure next to him. I'll wave the last pinky in front of him outside the glass and then feed it to one of the other snakes, with me laughing all the way.:D
He won't want to mess(HaHa) with me again.

[guidofatherof5]

About a week of healing time and the little guy is doing very well. He is still very jumpy but that will pass.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/better_tang.jpg

[brain]

Great ... he's looking much beter as time goes on.

[Didymus20X6]

He's looking much better. I have heard that reptiles can heal pretty quickly. How long do you think a wound like that will take to fully recover?

[brain]

On us! Like months I would guess. But I guess in the wild if you can heal fast you would be lunch for someone, right?

[guidofatherof5]

He's looking much better. I have heard that reptiles can heal pretty quickly. How long do you think a wound like that will take to fully recover?

I think it will be at least 3 shed cycles before it has scared over completely. I will have to watch the sheds for at least that long. I just applied some more cream and it must have been tender. He jumped when I touched that area. I'm not too concerned since there is no discharge from the wound and no bad smells. Yes, I have been smelling the wound. Looks only can be deceiving.

[guidofatherof5]

When I woke up and did my morning checks I saw a fresh shed in Tang's enclosure. I was surprized to find it in one piece. During the night he soaked and shed. The stitches are gone and the wound has opened up some. I will make a call to the Vet. but I doubt if they will want to put more sutures in. His orange dorsal is even nicer, now. I tried to switch him over to pinkies but he won't be fooled. So he ate a couple crawlers this morning.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/tang_shed1.jpg
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/tang_shed.jpg

[prattypus]

I still shudder thinking about that one. What a trooper. Even though it opened a bit, it looks like it's evening out- does that make sense?

[charles parenteau]

Its an amazing story! Im stunt how fast he seems to heal of the wound.
Hope for you you ll be able to reproduce this little boy.
You lucky in your bad luck!!:)

[guidofatherof5]

I think the skin is back where it should be, except for what's missing, Curse you lawnmowers, sting trimmer or whatever did the damage.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/tang_shed1.jpg

[drache]

it looks really good to me - pink, healthy, and healing
nice nursing job, Steve

[prattypus]

Yeah, but it makes me want some spicy tuna rolls though-

[guidofatherof5]

Tang is showing some real injury site stiffness. He has almost a 90 degree bend at that site. I think he was injured with more than just the laceration. I get him out daily and stretch and move that area. I can tell he has some pain there. I'm hoping this is just part of the healing process and he will have more mobility down the road. He is much more calm and allows me more freedoms than a week ago. He's a fine addition to the Ranch.

[DrKate]

Looking at that original picture I'd be surprised if some of the muscle (and the nerves feeding it) didn't get cut, too. In that case he might never be normal but there would be a possibility of some recovery.

Maybe he'd be a good candidate for the laser treatment? (I've got to admit, my inner biologist thinks that whole idea sounds like hogwash. I do hope Spot - and maybe this guy? - prove me wrong!)

[mustang]

YA BUT MY VET TKES ME HUNTING OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nothing says free check up better than dove hahahahahahahaha mmmmmmmmmmmmm

[brain]

Looking much better.
I have heard that any injury to a snake is long in the healing time. That doesn’t seem to be the case here.

I would attribute this to the TLC?

[guidofatherof5]

Unfortunately I don't think he's out of the woods yet. If I could get him to eat I would feel much better. These spasms seem to be what is focusing his life. This may be what should be happening and I need to relax. I just don't know.

[brain]

Well he’s better of now than he was. How long have you had him now? 2 months?
He'll eat as he gets hungry

[gregmonsta]

Crossing my fingers for him mate.

[Sssssnakey]

Tonight(Friday) I took Tang out for some calming down time. He's still pretty scared and jumpy. I used my usual lines on him about how I wasn't going to bite his head off and suck his guts out. How life was going to be good. Food, shelter, warmth and of course for him, the ladies. I was feeling good as he start to calm down and actually look at me while I spoke. He was now sitting perfectly still and listining(feeling) to every word. As I got ready to put him away I slowly moved him into his enclosure. I carefully set him down and thought to myself, "I'm good"
It was then I noticed the big pile of poop on my pants. I looked back at Tang and I could tell what he was thinking "I'm good"
Punk radix. Nothing but a punk radix. rotflol! Yea, he's good, but so are you!