Injured wild-caught Pale-head- plz help.

[Colletts]

Yes i know it sounds very stressed, but i still want to give it a chance. I would rather it be euthed than release it and have it die slowly from infection, predators, heat/sun exposure etc. It would probably only be a cat or fox that would eat it anyway. And even if it were a native animal, i'm sure they're prefer a nice fresh juicy road kill to a measly half rotten venomous snake.

I do understand that the vet will most likely want to euthanise it but at least i've tried. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if i decided to kill it when i knew it could have had a chance. I do think though that the wounds are too bad for it to be released.

My opinion of the food chain: the food chain became non-existant when white man settled here. All the animals killed on roads, habitat loss, pollution and rubbish, crops and livestock, hunting/sport(yes fishing included!) etc etc- all of this is not natural so the food chain is unbalanced anyway. So, compared to all of that, this one little snakey means squat.

 

[BlindSnake]

Sure she can. It's then the Vets decision to treat, advise or otherwise.

There is no reason that pics couldnt be sent to a herp vet, and a phone consult set up, but a vet who decides to treat a ven with no exp or lic, is putting themselves at great risk.
Even if it was colletts who copped a scratch or bite while in his office, HE is liable.

Now if the vet is unaware of this, or just dosnt care, well that might be a different story..

 

[Colletts]

I'm with Gordo if you can't get it to a vet let it go, keeping it in a box without treatment is unlikely to help, and it has more chance being released then it does being euthed.

It is only in a box without treatment because im one hour from the closest vet and three and a half from a vet that has a BIT more experience than the first. It's not practicle or safe for me to drive into town with it now and im sure the vet wont be happy to be woken for an injured wild elapid that would bring no money to the business (i get wildlife visits for free- just pay for drugs). I will take it into town tomorrow asap, which still will have to be after work.

I can only do so much.

So please don't make me feel as if im not doing enough. It's more than what the average person would do.

 

[smacdonald]

Hi Colletts,

You're doing the right thing. We (as humans) have a moral obligation to right the wrongs we cause in the world. The snake you have might not make it, but at least you're trying.


Stewart

 

[BlindSnake]

It is only in a box without treatment because im one hour from the closest vet and three and a half from a vet that has a BIT more experience than the first. It's not practicle or safe for me to drive into town with it now and im sure the vet wont be happy to be woken for an injured wild elapid that would bring no money to the business (i get wildlife visits for free- just pay for drugs). I will take it into town tomorrow asap, which still will have to be after work.

I can only do so much.

So please don't make me feel as if im not doing enough. It's more than what the average person would do.

Im sure you will anyway, but just make sure the vet is aware of exactly what he/she will be seeing b4 you leave home.. You dont want to make the trip, then have both you and the snake further stressed if the vet dosnt want to see it. Just speaking from experience..

I think you are doing the best you can for it, you cant always aviod them, and at least it was hit by someone who gives a damn, is able to handle it, and attempt to help it.
Even if it dosnt make it, you will know you did the best you could.

 

[waruikazi]

It is only in a box without treatment because im one hour from the closest vet and three and a half from a vet that has a BIT more experience than the first. It's not practicle or safe for me to drive into town with it now and im sure the vet wont be happy to be woken for an injured wild elapid that would bring no money to the business (i get wildlife visits for free- just pay for drugs). I will take it into town tomorrow asap, which still will have to be after work.

I can only do so much.

So please don't make me feel as if im not doing enough. It's more than what the average person would do.

You are doing the right thing. What i might do in your situation might be different but that doesn't mean that your actions are any better or worse just different. You should do what you feel is best for the snake.

 

[redbellybite]

If you have to kill a reptile, crushing its brain instantly with something like a hammer is preferable to the fridge//freezer method.

Stewart

well that was the way I was told to do it ...crushing with a hammer wouldnt be an option for me ...couldnt do that type of Euth:|

 

[smacdonald]

well that was the way I was told to do it ...crushing with a hammer wouldnt be an option for me ...couldnt do that type of Euth:|

Yeah, it's not for everyone. If you go with the blunt trauma method you need to commit to it and ensure you kill the animal on the first hit. It's certainly not pleasant, especially with larger animals like kangaroos.


Stewart

 

[redbellybite]

Yeah, it's not for everyone. If you go with the blunt trauma method you need to commit to it and ensure you kill the animal on the first hit. It's certainly not pleasant, especially with larger animals like kangaroos.


Stewart

yeah stew I know I couldnt do it ,and the fridge/freezer method is only for cold blooded too, so anyone reading DO NOT PLACE A WARM BLOODED ANIMAL IN THE FRIDGE/FREEZER ....warm blooded injured animals that need to be euthd I get my hubby to do that :lol:...his aim is more accurate ....but he wouldnt do reps especially vens ,he doesnt like them and thinks I am crazy for catching them ...

 

[elapid@]

Might have a jaw fracture and may be infected and need op and anitbiotics, though unfortunatly not many vets will touch vens and that includes my area where there are several reptile vets, if the snake is opening its mouth it may be just slightly fractured and will heel over in some time with some TLC . The biggest thing for it is to stop any infection. hope all goes well and keep us posted on the results.
Its great that you are careing for something that most people turn away from.
cheer steve

 

[junglepython2]

It is only in a box without treatment because im one hour from the closest vet and three and a half from a vet that has a BIT more experience than the first. It's not practicle or safe for me to drive into town with it now and im sure the vet wont be happy to be woken for an injured wild elapid that would bring no money to the business (i get wildlife visits for free- just pay for drugs). I will take it into town tomorrow asap, which still will have to be after work.

I can only do so much.

So please don't make me feel as if im not doing enough. It's more than what the average person would do.

Don't get me wrong Collets, its obvious you care or you wouldn't have taken the animal in and created this thread, and no one can expect you to drive all that way to the vets who will likely euth the animal anyway. I just think that under the circumstances releasing the animal is the best option.

 

[-Peter]

I cant open the images, seems to be taking ages. If you are going to care for it and you dont have vet who will treat it then at least have it X-rayed. You can then see if the wound to the mouth is superficial.
As a rescuer you are obliged to release it in good health. Despite what wonderful advice our collector friends have to offer. As such your options are to euthanaise or rehabilitate. You need to seek vet advice before your proceed with the latter.
A covered enclosure is preferable to a bag as this allows the snake to move and self regulate its body temps. If the jaw is damaged and you still want to rehabiltate a feeding tube wil need to be inserted surgically. You can then tube feed till the bones and muscles have mended.
What you end up with though my not be able to survive naturally.
Sometimes the hard choice isthe right one.
I just opened the pics. I dont think it looks to good.

 

[TrueBlue]

Freezing any animal is very cruel even reptiles, it used to be thought that it was the right thing to do with herps but has been found it is not. It is infact VERY painfull as at a certain stage when the blood starts to freeze the animal will come to in excrusiating pain. Much like needles traveling thru you veins.
reptilesdownunders method is by far the most humane.

Im with gordo on this one, really the animal should of been released back into its habitat straight after it was hit as captive stress can and will help to kill it.

 

[DanTheMan]

I agree with most opinions, although I know your trying to help, its probably going to die any way, not a much a vet can do for something that has been run over the head, I had a carpet with the same thing seemed ok but died during the night.
Itl be better to die in its stress free natural habitat. Keeping it in a click clack isn't going to help it. Nor will taking it to the vet. I rekon make its last moments comfortable, in the wild. I couldn't bring myself to crushing a reptiles head.

 

[gonsnaken]

I have rehabilitated many vens with some very bad injuries if you cant get to a vet you need to work out if the snake can drink and eat on its own before any decision is made wether to release or euthanaise it.
to give the herp the best chance of survival you will need to replicate its natural environment as close as possible but with a higher level of heat say maybe 2 degrees more than it P.B.T to help with the healing process.(Keep in mind the more you interact with the animal the more it will stress and the longer the healing will take)
after placing a water bowl in the enclosure I would leave the herp alone for at least a week and then offer it its natural food supply and if it eats then let it go, if not try again a week later if the herp has not eaten within a 4 weeks of being in care then its unlikely it will & you will have to make the decision about the way it should be dealt with.
I can suggest the options you have

1. Release it into the wild & it will in time become part of the chain of life.

2. Gassing the herp with co2

3. removing the head completely form the body with a sharp blow and the crushing the skull

 

[Colletts]

Ok, i rang the vet and she said that she is unable to examine the snake as they have had no experience and it would be too risky- like Blindsnake said. So she said to start him on antibiotics today and just to leave him be for a few days to let the wound heal. After i feel it has healed i can then try to have a look at the extent of the damage. If it doesn't look good i will euthanize it because as Peter said, i am obliged to release it in good health.

It's not in a click clack it's in an enclosure with hides, branches, water, covered glass and room to move.

If i euth i will remove it's head and then destroy it's skull.

I understand fully that captive stress can help to kill it- i've been a wildlife carer specialising in birds for nearly 10 years and IMO they suffer from stress a lot worse than what reptiles do because they are more intelligent and more active than most reptiles. But as already mentioned, i will not release this animal in the state that it's in so you're wasting your time telling me to. Thank you for your concern and advice but that is not what i want to do, and i would probably say that as a wildlife carer it would be illegal to knowingly release an animal that is sick/injured/orphaned.

The swelling has gone down considerably and the snake is still very alert.

I will try and get some photo's of the inside of it's mouth after it has had a few days to heal, but im not familiar with these parts of the snake so really wont know what im looking at. So i will post them up here hoping that you call all have a squizzy for me and let me know what you think.

Thanks

 

[LullabyLizard]

Good luck! I hope al goes well

 

[cement]

Taking the photos will be a stressfull exertion on the animal. If you won't let it go then do nothing but give a shot of antibiotics and leave alone. Don't worry about the photos.
Good luck.

 

[redbellybite]

Freezing any animal is very cruel even reptiles, it used to be thought that it was the right thing to do with herps but has been found it is not. It is infact VERY painfull as at a certain stage when the blood starts to freeze the animal will come to in excrusiating pain. Much like needles traveling thru you veins.
reptilesdownunders method is by far the most humane.

Im with gordo on this one, really the animal should of been released back into its habitat straight after it was hit as captive stress can and will help to kill it.

that is why you put it in the refrigerator first as to allow the body temp to drop down ,I did say fridge first 24hrs then freezer to finish off, and I know not freezer first true , ....

 

[TrueBlue]

It still dosnt matter, as said once the blood starts to freeze the animal will come to in excrusiating pain.