Help! Wild injured garter snake

[Myssi24]

So, these worms you saw where from soaking the moss? The snake had no contact with the moss or water before you saw them?

The moss had been in her tank as a top layer of substrate. When I changed her to paper towels I put the moss in water as this is living moss and I wanted to clean the snake poop off if it. A day later is when I saw a few tiny worms.

[guidofatherof5]

To be sure you're dealing with an internal parasite issue a fecal float needs to be done.

[Myssi24]

Snakey is settling in to version 2.5 of her habitat! I got the UTH and thermostat given to us by Steve (thank you again!) installed, a new long water dish with a ramp, that hopefully will double as a hide, put in, and, after noticing she was moving herself into the indirect sunlight that hits the tank everyday, a light on a timer! There was a slight hiccup when I figured out this morning the reason the tank wasn't quite as warm as I set the thermostat was I didn't use enough tape and the UTH didn't have as good a contact with the bottom as it needs, but that was easily remedied.

I suspect Snakey has been dehydrated, even though she had water. I held her over her new dish when I put her back in, to show her what is was and encourage drinking and she gulped water down for several minutes! We could watch the water bulge move down her body! So I will probably continue reminding her about the water, till I see her drink without encouragement. It helps that I have a better visual what a dehydrated vs hydrated snake looks like now.

In the last few days she has started coiling her body, this is something new. Not super tight, but she spends a lot of time with her head resting on her body, looking alert. She is changing position in the tank a lot more often than she had been, and best of all, I am seeing more movement below her injury! I don't think she will ever recover enough to survive being released, but I'm hopeful that with time to heal, she will become the curious, some what more active snake you all describe!

[guidofatherof5]

Great update. That's for giving her a chance to recover and a new life.

[Myssi24]

Well' I'm getting concerned again. Snakey hasn't pooped much since being on paper towels. I suspect it has to do with her getting dehydrated, but the bump near her vent has gotten bigger. I have seen her trying to poop or pass something. I'm assuming she is constipated. I started soaking her yesterday. She has passed what I'm assuming are urates (bird poo looking white stuff) and the bump looks a bit smaller and softer. She isn't eating, but as you know she hasn't been a consistent eater anyway. Other than soaking, is there anything else I can try?

[guidofatherof5]

Keep a close eye on here and keep up the hydration. How about a look at the vent bump, please.

[Myssi24]

One picture is from above, the other from the side.

[guidofatherof5]

To be honest that doesn't look good. Try warm water soaks to see if it can loosen that up if it is a blockage.

[guidofatherof5]

Received an email from my friend Steve Schmidt. Thought I would post it up on the forum. Thanks for helping out Steve.

Steve,

Regarding the thread "Help! Wild injured garter snake" and the possible blockage (remember I can't see the photo).

I've had some success removing blockages by inserting some mineral oil into the cloaca with an eye dropper or small syringe (remove the needle!).
Squirting ~ several drops may help expel the contents.

Of course, there may be an existing infection too, but that would be a separate issue. The blockage must be removed to have any chance of saving the animal!

Good luck,
Steve

[Myssi24]

Snakey died last night while I was at work.

Thank you all so much for your help keeping her as long as I did.