Need help with 2 questions PLEASE

[snakelady96]

#1: I have a coastal carpet python and he has badly burnt himself on the heat mat, he has about an 8cm burn on his belly like blistering and little black spots.. I was wondering if there is anything i can put on it like aloe vera because it is natural? Or is there anything i can get from the vets for him?
#2: While driving to Boulia i found an olive python that looks like it has been hit but now im starting to think it may be a stroke victim? Are strokes possible in snakes? He has not very much muscle control especially in his head and his left jaw is always dropped.. He looks like he is getting a bit better because now when i open the door of the enclosure he tries to strike. Should i be trying to feed him? Or would that just make it worse, i tried once but he didn't seem too impressed :|

Any help would be greatly appreciated Thank You.

 

[abnrmal91]

Take the coastal to the vet. It will need to be looked at so they can treat it and prevent it getting infected.

 

[FusionMorelia]

dont get it wet!

 

[fugawi]

With the burn I think I have heard that aloe vera is good. They heal pretty quick. Make sure it can't burn itself again though.
With the Olive, as a native, all vets should help it for free (well not charge you), so I would get it to a vet ASAP. You will probably get flamed on here for taking it out of the wild, so put your flame suit on. LOL

 

[abnrmal91]

Take the olive to a wires carer. As a private keeper you can't really keep it to try and rehabilate it. It would be in better care of someone trained to care for injured animals.

 

[snakelady96]

Thanks guys for the help, i know it is illegal to help them from the wild but we have NO wildlife carers here where i live. (Mount Isa) We have two vetinary clinics but neither specialise in reptiles, i took the olive to the vet when i found it and he gave me chest infection needles... I used them how he said every 2 days but he hasn't really improved much. With the olive since we have no carers is there any other places i can take him??

 

[Bez84]

Aloe's good for burns and tea tree oil.
I had a bottle of reptile wound aid and its main ingredient was tea tree..

 

[souldoubt]

Thanks guys for the help, i know it is illegal to help them from the wild but we have NO wildlife carers here where i live. (Mount Isa) We have two vetinary clinics but neither specialise in reptiles, i took the olive to the vet when i found it and he gave me chest infection needles... I used them how he said every 2 days but he hasn't really improved much. With the olive since we have no carers is there any other places i can take him??

It's not illegal to remove injured animals from the wild, but they are meant to go to a wildlife carer within 72hours. You did a good thing by rescuing it and if you can get it to someone who is a registered wildlife carer that would be great, if not and you want to rehabilitate the olive you should register as a wildlife carer, there should be some wildlife carer organisations near you.

I would hold off on the feeding for a fair while and add some calcium powder to the drinking water in case there are fractures, if the lower jaw is dropped due to a fracture then it will require stabilising

 

[Jen]

From the sounds of this thread, you need to take the animal (well, both of them) to a reptile vet. Not having one near you isn't an excuse, if you want to take care of an injured animal, you need to have an idea of what is wrong with it, and clearly you don't. Take it to a vet who knows about reptiles. Also, I really hope (but somehow know you didn't) you quarantined the wild one away from your captive....

 

[kawasakirider]

From the sounds of this thread, you need to take the animal (well, both of them) to a reptile vet. Not having one near you isn't an excuse, if you want to take care of an injured animal, you need to have an idea of what is wrong with it, and clearly you don't. Take it to a vet who knows about reptiles. Also, I really hope (but somehow know you didn't) you quarantined the wild one away from your captive....

Mt Isa is a long way from anywhere, so I think it's a valid enough excuse. Little bit presumptuous to say you know the OP didn't quarantine the snake.

This frustrates me on this website. All this person has tried to do is help an animal and people try to get their superiority complex fix by putting them down.

OP, good luck with both your snake, and the one you're trying to help. As someone said, don't get the burn wet because infection will set in quickly. If I had no access to anything, I'd be inclined (after researching the possible effects on snakes) to try to apply a small amount of zinc cream to the burn, making sure you change the substrate to paper so no loose particles could get stuck on the wound.

There is a bloke on here by the name of longqi, he has a reticulated python from the wild that had a load of skin missing from its head, and he got it sorted. I know burns and cuts are different, but applying some form of topical cream should help.

Make sure the enclosure is kept really clean, so no feces can infect the wound. Also make sure the water is fresh and I'd make sure the enclosure isn't humid.

Sorry I can't offer any definitive ways to cure the snake, but I'm sure what I've mentioned would be the best option until you can get to a vet.

 

[snakelady-viper]

Silverzine cream is the best cream for any reptile wound can be optained through your doctor or at the vets as you require a script its not cheap. Also some bedadine will help but please water it down as it can sting them pat dry and aply the silverzine cream
Yes snakes can have a stroke.
I have also read that tree tree can be toxic to snakes depends on the strength in the cream or spray

 

[Jazzz]

without sounding cruel if no one can come get him and the vet wont treat it and the jaw stays dropped then i'd recommend crushing it's head with a brick, i know it's not ideal but it's better then suffering.

crushing its head with a brick?? are you serious?? why not take it to the vet they have already gone to to get it euthanized.

what a disgusting thought...

i once had a coastal carpet with a broken jaw and its lower jaw drooped considerably. It took about 2 weeks but it clicked itself back in place and we gave it a feed and sent it on its way. How long have you had the olive?

 

[Crystal..Discus]

crushing its head with a brick?? are you serious?? why not take it to the vet they have already gone to to get it euthanized.

what a disgusting thought...

Sometimes there are no other means to put an animal down; a vet that doesn't know how to give a reptile injections properly isn't going to be any better.

 

[mysnakesau]

For your coastal I recommend Silvazene Cream. I think someone has already mentioned it here. It is an antibiotic cream so a consult with your vet may be necessary, unless you know your vet and he will sell it to you over the counter. otherwise, at Coles, chemist, a cream called Bepanthum is another good cream. It contains chlorhexadine which is a soothing agent and a very popular ingredient for treating burns. I've used both. While the bepathum (nappy rash cream) did well, nothing beats silvazine, IMO. Don't let the wounds get wet so you may need to remove his water bowl or give him a small one that he cannot soak in. The biggest killer with burn issues is the wounds getting wet. The moisture cannot get back out from under the scales and causes infections which will kill him. The injury he has received will cause him to go into shed more often than he normally would. Over the injuries you may find the skin will stick to it. Don't attempt to peel the skin off. As he heals it will come off on its own with future sheds.

For your injured olive python, I reccomend taking him to a wildlife park near you if you cannot get hold of a wild life carer. They will surely take him off your hands and move him on to where he needs to be.

 

[Jazzz]

Sometimes there are no other means to put an animal down; a vet that doesn't know how to give a reptile injections properly isn't going to be any better.

there is always a better way. Crushing its head with a brick is not the quickest way

if the op made the effort to get the olive off the road and care for it i think they would make the effort to drive somewhere that could euthanize it if needed.

 

[souldoubt]

there is always a better way. Crushing its head with a brick is not the quickest way

if the op made the effort to get the olive off the road and care for it i think they would make the effort to drive somewhere that could euthanize it if needed.

Actually crushing its head with a brick is a very humane and quick method of euthanising an animal. Provided a hard surface is underneath the head and the brain is destroyed (ie. the impact must be hard) this is an acceptable method of euthanasia and in my opinion is much more humane than giving lethabarb orally (which I have seen some vets do, but it is extremely basic - pH of about 13, and could be likened to drinking drain cleaner). Even some injections of lethabarb into the abdominal cavity appear to cause some animals extreme pain.

Whilst it may not be the nicest method visually, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that suggestion as a euthanasia method. Although I think euthanasia of the animal at this stage would be a bit hasty

 

[prettypython]

Good on ya for helping the olive, maybe ring your state reptile licence peoples and let them know your trying to help but can't find a carer in your area, or send an email. Regarding your coastal, I read somewhere about beterdine 1 part to 10 parts water, that may help if it starts looking sesty. I'm sure the barier creams will work well to prevent this hopefully though, good luck with both,

 

[Jen]

Mt Isa may be in the middle of nowhere, but if you are willing to take a snake from the wild - or any injured animal, you should be willing to do what is necessary for the animal. This means taking it to a vet who knows what to do. 'Chest infection needles' for a stroke or run over animal? I am not trying to put the OP down, but the animal obviously needs care, and if it means driving a long way, maybe it should be done. Pretty much every one who has replied has said take it to a vet, so take it to a vet.

 

[abnrmal91]

crushing its head with a brick?? are you serious?? why not take it to the vet they have already gone to to get it euthanized.

what a disgusting thought...

i once had a coastal carpet with a broken jaw and its lower jaw drooped considerably. It took about 2 weeks but it clicked itself back in place and we gave it a feed and sent it on its way. How long have you had the olive?

Have you ever seen a snake euthanized? Look at this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_O-i78jAOEA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It's one of ssssnakeman videos. In it a snake needed to by euthanized due to injuries. The way they do it is much more prolonged then a brick. I don't like killing anything unless I really have to.

 

[nicmorris]

you could give the closest carer a ring and ask them what too do and if your lucky they may say they will come and pick it up or you could meet half way?