Dog bit wild garter

[guidofatherof5]

You sound like you know what to look for if things start going bad. Offer her warmth, water and food at some point.
I don't think there is much more you can do.
Most Vets. won't even look at garter snakes let alone treat an injured one.
Please keep us posted about her.
Prayers headed your way.

[ConcinusMan]

I just hope that the trauma to the spinal cord is resulting in only temporary paralysis. Permanent damage could cause the digestive system from that point on down, to stop working. I hope that's not the case. I have seen way worse broken backs and once the snake healed, they were crooked, but functional.

This snake probably needs to fast for quite some time until that heals a bit. Hopefully she has enough body mass to spare some. Warmth is definitely needed. It will speed healing and fight infection but it will also cause a fasting snake to lose weight.

[dieselbaby]

Im in tears as i write this, Sally stole our hearts the short time she was here with us in our home, she was such a brave good little snake. I dont know how but in the short time she was here i fell in love with her, and its breaking my heart to say she is gone.

She was doing so good yesterday, and enjoying life and today it was totally different, she wasnt doing well at all. I guess all her activity yesterday finalized the severing of her spinal cord and now i feel just aweful that it could have been the climbing things i added, and the fact it was my dog that did this to her.

She started having difficulty breathing and i knew there was no saving her no matter what. I ended her misery. She is now gone. She passed away at 11:05pm eastern time. She will be buried under the rocks where my dog found her.

Thank you all for your help. You are wonderful people.

[guidofatherof5]

I'm so sorry to hear about her passing. She must have sustained a serious injury.
Thanks for giving her your best and caring for her. At least she died being loved.
I hope you will get another garter snake sometime in the future.
It was nice talking with you tonight.

[dieselbaby]

Thank You, and she had to of she went downhill so quickly, just an hour ago she was breathing fine and then the gasping started. It was all too much for me.

We will definately get another garter in the near future, im sure my kids wouldnt have it any other way, they fell in love with her too.

I wish we could adopt one from you, but i am sure the border import requirements would be intensive, but we will look for a canadian breeder i think. I think the wild ones should stay that way, unless they need our help.

I would love to find one of those blue ones, the puget sound ones. Those are stunning.

Anyhow, i should go check on the rest of my animals and call it a night, its been a rough one, and looking at that empty tank isnt helping matters.

Thank you again, and good night all

[ConcinusMan]

So sorry! You did your best but her injuries were apparently just too severe. Their little diaphragms are rather delicate. Maybe a rib or something compromised it and it took a while to fill with fluid. At least that's what it sounds like from your description. We have two lungs and can survive the collapsing of one of them. They only have one working lung. There is nothing you could have done besides make her comfortable and you did that.

[Mrs N1ntndo]

i am so so sorry about your snake. I ve been watching this thread and hoping shed get better. I am so sorry this had to happen. Thank goodness that she was with a loving and caring family that did there best for her. She probably loved the company. Again Im sorry.

[katach]

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I' started crying too, when I read your post. You are a wonderful person and I too hope you stay on the forum and get another garter.

[kibakiba]

You did good giving her a comfortable life before she died. Thank you for taking the time to help her and take care of her. As Kat said, I hope you stay also. Garters are great snakes to have.

[RedSidedSPR]

So sorry!!

you did good. Thanks for caring.