Feeding Issues

[ConcinusMan]

Cotton and Toothless get a little grouchy after food time too. You would think they would be happy with their full tummies, but noooooo.

I'm not talking about grouchiness. This is a very old and large snake who dang near lost her life to a bacterial respiratory infection last winter. Not only that, she's been wild her entire life until two years ago. She's old and vulerable. She needs TLC. I try not to disturb her much. I make sure she has clean water, clean tank, comfort, and eats enough, but for the most part she just needs to be left alone.

A thorough vet exam and any necessary care would be ideal for me to give her the longest life possible but without getting into explanations, she cant get that in this State. Katach, try going to a vet and telling them what you have. See what happens. You're screwed.

[katach]

Ah, I see. Good idea.

[ConcinusMan]

Sorry, i edited.

[katach]

I'm so thankful for our vet. They are very helpful and know a lot about garters. They are very reasonably priced as well. A full exam for $63.

[ConcinusMan]

No vet in WA will treat or even look at your garter snakes. The only reason Big Bertha is still alive is because I acquired the Baytril (antibiotics) illegally from out of state and treated her myself. The only reason my snakes aren't infested with internal parasites is because, again, I got the meds and treated them myself. As much as a vet would like to, for the love of animals, they cannot treat garter snakes here. It's against the law. They cannot treat wildlife and this State pretty much considers all garter snakes, native wildlife.

[katach]

Any time I've ever called with a question, they have been very helpful and offered a visit to look it over. Luckily the advise they gave over the phone has always worked out well.

[ConcinusMan]

Well of course. I didn't learn what drugs are needed and how to administer them without first consulting with a vet. Well, actually, a professor of zoology. But when a prescription is needed requiring a vet visit, their hands are tied by the law. They cannot treat native wildlife. As far the law in WA is concerned, garter snakes are native wildlife.

[d_virginiana]

We've run into similar issues with some of the animals we've had over the years. Nothing that a state wildlife official will even consider picking up and rehabbing in an actual facility, but nothing that a vet can legally treat since you're not supposed to have them. Luckily, we were friends with our vet at the time, and he gave us a lot of unofficial advice.

It's pretty impressive that you went to all that trouble and risked getting those meds for your snakes though.