Please Help: Snake with Possible Broken Vertebrae

Hello all...
Im at a loss here and any and all advice would be extremely welcome. The day before yesterday I noticed a bi-lateral swelling about one half down the length of my snakes body (snake is a 6 foot long rat snake hybrid, about 13 years old, Ive had him since he was a baby). Yesterday it was still there, so I took him to my vet, who is a reptile specialist. X Rays show a possible broken or dislocated vertebrae. My veterinarian is not a radiologist so he is sending the films to one so they can be properly interpreted. I dont know when the results will be in.

I have no idea how this happened. To the best of my knowledge he did not fall, nor did anything fall on him, and he certainly hasnt been mishandled. He does work with a belly dancer and she did use him in a show before I noted this, but he was NOT mishandled during the event.

Hes in his aquarium, a 135 gallon enclosure, all curled up, quite still, barely moves when I check to make sure if he is OK (alive). Of course Im not moving him.

Has anyone ever had this happen? What will his prognosis be? Any advice or help here will be VERY welcome; (should he be splinted? CAN a snake be splinted? Should he be in that large cage but I dont want to move him considering the possible dx of a fractured vertebrae) I love all my pets and Im horrified that he was injured so inexplicably. I cant prevent in the future if I dont know what happened!

Thanks alot in advance,
Sincerely,
Susan
PS: he ate normally Oct 1st, (4 large mice) he is to be fed Oct 15th, we shall see what he eats or doesnt eat.

OMGosh, I haven't a shred of experience with anything like that, but I am sending you the very best wishes for the improvement/health of your poor snake. I'm wondering if there was a birth deformity in his spine that you weren't aware of? I mean, I'm sure most people don't just x-ray their snakes with a routine physical, right, so how would one know? I'm hoping the poor guy isn't in a lot of pain. How long before you'll get the radiology results back? Did the vet offer any chance of correcting the issue?

Very best of luck to you. Please keep us posted. ((((Hugs))))

Hi Lori...
Id never seen anything like that before on him; if it was congenital youd think Id would have been aware of it years ago. However, it doesnt seem to HURT him, when the vet palpated it he didnt pull away or show aggression or make any move I would call indicative of pain or discomfort. And at the vet I did see him move his body BELOW the area, so maybe he doesnt have nerve damage. Im just so upset that my snake was hurt so mysteriously. I want him to be OK, and hope he will heal completely.
Thanks for the good thoughts,
Sincerely
Susan

One of my Corns suffered some horrible crush injuries to his spine and ribs. I couldn't explain them until I came home one day and found that he was trying to jam himself in between the tiny gap of the sliding glass doors (full grown Corn -> 3 millimetre gap = you do the math!).

He still has a stomach-churningly distorted skeletal structure in his top third, but a few years on shows no sign of discomfort at all, is perfectly happy to be handled and eats like a champ (needless to say he's in a top-opening viv now!). My vet reckoned that as long as there was no sign of paralysis, then he'd be fine and would heal without intervention - and this has proven true.

They really can do the most ridiculous things to themselves.

In your case, I doubt that he could be splinted, but then he may not need to be. As long as he's able to move about and eat, then he could well be fine - just a bit lumpy from now on.

Make sure that he has nothing higher than a piece of cork bark in his tank, just in case you too have a kamikaze stunt snake!

Keep us posted on what the radiographer and vet say - good luck.

Hi Bitsy and all...
Thanks for your replies. Ive still not gotten the report from the radiologist; truthfully that annoys me. I called my vet today, they are to call me back. On the good side, when I fed him 10/16, he ate his 4 large mice and a few days later have a normal stool. However (I havent been holding him of course) he moves...odly. I dont know if there is neurological damage. I cant quite explain the oddity either. I am still worried about my guy. What if the X Rays show something that needs care? But then again, in broken ribs on a person, there is no real treatment; a snake essentially is a huge ribcage...but if its his back, I dont know what can be done, if anything. CAN a snake with a broken back have a few vertebrae fused together surgically as humans do?

I will continue the updates...
Sincerely,
Susan

Originally Posted by bitsy

They really can do the most ridiculous things to themselves.

No truer statement.... Unbelievable the things they get into or try to get out of.

Good to hear that he's eating/pooping well, a good sign for sure. I hope you hear from your vet soon....

Tonya

Although I have no direct experience like this, I have heard of snakes with spine injuries recovering. I hope things turn out well for your old guy. Keep us updated on what the vet and radiologist say.

Hello all...
An update on my poor snake. He DOES indeed have a fracture of his spine; I am really so upset at not knowing HOW he did this. He is in his cage, and of course Im not handling him or moving him at all. He, however, doesnt seem to realize he has a severe injury and is moving around his cage and scaring the heck out of me in the process.

I suppose thats a good sign. I wish hed stay still, though.

I took out many of the cage decorations (climbing sticks). I found a big box and put it in his tank and hes happily curled there, he hasnt seemed interested in his old hiding place since the injury. Maybe its too small for him now, he certainly has not coiled as tightly as once he did.

Im waiting for the X Rays; my vet said hed email me them. I will post it here of course for anyone to look at and opine as they wish.

Thats it for now...they are all due to be fed on the 31st and I will write again then with his diet or lack of it.

Sincerely,
Lyre

Well, so now what? What does the vet say you are supposed to do???

Hi Nanci....
Thats such a good question!! Part of my frustration is the total lack of anything I can DO to help him in healing.

My vet said to leave him in his cage, disturbing him as little as possible. Only touching/ moving to clean.

In 6 weeks, he will be Re X RAYed to see if healing of the bones has occured.

I know in a human, bones broken and unset will heal, in the unset position. I guess thats all I can hope for...Dr Raiti said snakes are not splinted, and as far as I know they are not operated upon like humans are if their spines are fractured (vertebral fusion). I asked about calcium supplements, he said none were needed as the mice he eats have plenty of calcium in their bones.

My vet. is a reptile specialist; I have to assume he knows what he is talking about. But if any of you have any ideas I will be more than willing to try em.

Sincerely,
Susan