Help for wild garter

[RedSidedSPR]

I'd post pictures before you do any anti-snake moves. But yeah, if it's as bad as it sounds....

[crittermom]

Thanks for the replies everyone! As of tonight, the snake is still alive. I've been putting neosporin on his oozing wound, and now it seems to have dried out for the most part and the swelling seems to be going down. I got a better look at it tonight and it seems to be in the muscle, but I don't see anything else (hard to know for sure though). The wound is probably 3-4 mm deep or so. I gave him a drink (out of my hand, he doesn't seem to be able to figure out that there is water in his cage) and he drank a bunch and excreted some urates. He is definately moving the end of his tail, and the tip has pretty much dried up and fallen off. His tongue is flicking a lot, so I'm hopeful. If he seems to continue going downhill, I'll definately euthanize him, but if he's able to recover and be released (or kept if he is permenantly handicapped i guess, boy will the hubby love that!) I'm gonna give him a shot. I havent looked into what kind it is, but I'm in Colorado, north of Denver. Here's a pic of the little guy. I'll try to post pics of the wound, but I remembered tonight after I had already put the neosporin on it, so you couldnt see it well. Here's the little fellah!

[guidofatherof5]

Looks like T.radix(Plains garter snake). Green heads are awesome. Good looking snake.
Sounds like you have a handle on what to look for if this thing goes South.
From your description I think the wounds are at least not getting worse.
Tongue flicking is a good sign of overall health. In my opinion.
Activity is another.
From what I can see the snake looks alert and bright-eyed.
Keep us posted, please.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, that's a Plains Garter Snake. Tough as a garter snakes get, too. They're tough as nails. Well heck, if he's not limp as a noodle, can hold himself up a little, flicking his tongue, and still alive after this time has passed...



What do you think guys? He doesn't look so bad after all.

If you can get some povidone iodine on a cotton swab and clean his wounds really good with that, (of course he won't like this) that would be really good. Drying up is a good sign. Especially if the raw skin appears to "shrivel". That's a really good sign. Keep him hydrated but don't offer him food for a week or two. Give him time to heal first. Keep him warm, (75-85 F is fine) dry, and clean.

[crittermom]

My little garter friend seemed to be improving a lot, but I found him dead yesterday. Poor guy. Thanks for all the replies!

[Hornets23]

Bummer that is sad but at least you did what you could

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear the bad news.
Thanks for doing what you could and taking the time to care.
R.I.P. little Thamnophis.
I applaud your efforts.

[kibakiba]

You did a great job giving him some comfort before he died. Thank you for caring about him.

Hopefully you'll stay with us and perhaps get another little buddy. Garter snakes make great friends.

[ConcinusMan]

Sorry to hear it. maybe I should stop making predictions as to whether or not they will make it. Seems like every time I express some bit of hope for the little fellas, they drop dead.

[kibakiba]

It's the same way with me. Predict something will go good and it goes down the drain. It's always better than just telling someone it'll die, especially when you don't know. Positivity is always the best route for everyone.