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Please help my Dekays.

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salvadorian said:
Yes, I'm not saying that you're wrong, Ashley, I also work with many zoological veterinarians, two of which specialize in snakes. I am saying, however, that it's unwise to instruct someone to perfom a medical procedure on an animal when they have no experience doing so and when the animal is stressed - just like you wouldn't want a newbie probing a snake.
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Well, even before I was a tech at the hospital, this was recommended for me to do by a veterinarian over the phone since I couldn't bring my lizard in until the weekend was up. I had no experience then. I just want to help in whatever way possible. He's already stated that he can't go to the vet, so this is an option that has worked for me and many others.

The prolapse is a lot larger than I first thought. I still wouldn't change anything I said to do, and it's nice to see some living tissue on there.
 
Update: We just tried the sugar water bath.. That's definitely a no-go. Not only did he thrash around violently, but he flipped himself over and looked as though he was dying. When we picked him up out of the water, he was rigid (rigor mortis-like) and wasn't breathing. Once he was taken out, he perked right back up. Is this because it hurt like hell to soak? The water was luke warm and hardly any depth at all. He's usually a little over zealous and swims like no tomorrow in a little regular water at about room temperature. This water was just slightly warmer and contained sugar. What is the most likely cause of such a radically different reaction? I'm assuming it's the increase in temperature or the sugar, but I am not sure which. Was he just..playing dead because it hurt, or..?
 
Roy Munson said:
Let us know when he's dead.
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Wow. Just wow. Do you really have nothing better to do than be cruel to people? That's incredibly uncalled for.

Anyways, the prolapse looks pretty bad, and the wound is starting to look rather dark (not good). I wouldn't soak anymore because of the violent reaction and obvious pain. Also, soaking any more could cause more swelling. I'd let him dry for about a half an hour, then spritz the snake and wound with warm, distilled water, and do what others have said. Your resources are limited, so have someone restrain the snake very gently and attempt to slowly press the prolapse in to the snake. I don't know how much luck you'll have, but the only other choice is to allow the snake to die.
 
Just curious... how did you measure the temperature of the water? Using your hand as a thermometer is a bad idea, as we already run high, so what feels "warm" to use would most likely be scorching to a snake...
 
Thanks, Salvadorian.. I'm actually pretending I didn't read that comment to begin with. I'm an animal lover..and the idea of setting him free with an open wound that I'm sure a couple of ants would just love to chew on is not my idea of humane. I'm giving it my all in an attempt to help him and if he is able to recover, so be it - I will set him free.

I'll give that a shot, as well and see how it goes, though I am hesitant to try to guide it back inside. It's over 24 hours old and has dried out once. If it's dead tissue, will he get sick? Again, we'll give it a try and see and if it doesn't go back in, then time will tell. Another suggestion I was given was to allow it to dry completely and self-amputate. This is just a big mess and I'm really sad about it. But I will not sit back and let him die, knowing I'm the only thing that might be able to save him.
 
If the tissue is in fact dead, it will cause an infection if you try to invert it back inside.
 
Well, the structure appears to be part of his internal organs, possibly with the hemipene as well. It's hard to tell. Luckily, it doesn't look too infected. If the tissue is dead (which it doesn't appear to be), it will kill the snake to have it back inside it's body. If it's not dead, it could still kill the snake simply due to the trauma. However, the snake surviving for so long is a relatively good sign. I would attempt to carefully guide it back in to the snake. However, if it seems to painful, I would just leave it. It would be aweful for it to have to go through so much pain and then die. I hope all works out well though! The tissue appears to be relatively healthy still.
 
You grab a healthy animal from the wild-- it develops a life-threatening condition in your "care," and I'm the bad guy. Why not cover the prolapse with a carebear sticker and we can all pretend we're good guys?
 
Roy Munson said:
You grab a healthy animal from the wild-- it develops a life-threatening condition in your "care," and I'm the bad guy. Why not cover the prolapse with a carebear sticker and we can all pretend we're good guys?
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You are right to say that it's wrong to take an animal from the wild when it is perfectly healthy. You are wrong to respond to the situation in such an immature and cruel manner. Being a moderator of this forum, I think you are expected to act in a mature, helpful manner, rather than being crude and blunt to a possibly ill-advised person.
 
Roy Munson said:
You grab a healthy animal from the wild-- it develops a life-threatening condition in your "care," and I'm the bad guy. Why not cover the prolapse with a carebear sticker and we can all pretend we're good guys?
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Even so, what's done is done, and it's unnecessary to be so callous to someone who is trying to help it- "if you don't have something nice (or in this case, helpful) to say, don't say anything at all".
 
RowanRR said:
"if you don't have something nice (or in this case, helpful) to say, don't say anything at all".
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Haha I just said this exact same thing in another forum on here. I just really can't stand the hostility!!


But yes, please keep us updated.
 
Animal lovers don't yank animals from their natural habitats for the sole purpose of holding them captive, so spare me the shocked and indignant routine. Let the poor thing go. I love Northern browns. I don't want to see this one die because someone wants to play Florence Snakindale. If it was healthy, eating, etc., that would be one thing. It's developed a serious condition. There are two right ways to go: find a vet, or let it go. Don't make me out to be the monster while you stress this thing to death with your baths and b.s..
 
We did not capture this wild creature and steal him away from his natural habitat. He was curled up, drenched and scared to death in the middle of a busy church parking lot. This night had very bad weather, as we were caught in smaller storms from the recent hurricane. In the time that we tried to capture him, two separate people walked by, commenting that it should be killed. If you think my taking him home was wrong, I have no idea what to say to you. And just to give you a little more information, on getting him home we researched what sort of habitat he should have in his terrarium, gave him what was suggested and went to sleep, as it was late. We woke up six hours later to see the injury. To assume we caused this is just downright silly.

It would be more logical to think he got flooded out of his home and some jerk intentionally, or accidentally harmed him, as he was in a high traffic area. It wouldn't be too unlikely that it took a little while for the injury to be visibly noticeable. Unless, of course, you think he injured himself due to our misconduct in a plastic terrarium, on some wet paper towels.

But it's okay, I forgive you because you weren't really here to see it anyway. :)
 
salvadorian said:
You are right to say that it's wrong to take an animal from the wild when it is perfectly healthy. You are wrong to respond to the situation in such an immature and cruel manner. Being a moderator of this forum, I think you are expected to act in a mature, helpful manner, rather than being crude and blunt to a possibly ill-advised person.
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I don't have to post as a mod in every post, so maybe you're expectations are uninformed. I have the snake's best interest at heart. You and the OP's feewings don't matter as much to me.
 
Gonna have to take Roy's side here, as unpopular as it is. That tissue looks AWFULLY dark. No matter how this ends, it won't be well for anyone involved.
 
salvadorian said:
You are right to say that it's wrong to take an animal from the wild when it is perfectly healthy. You are wrong to respond to the situation in such an immature and cruel manner. Being a moderator of this forum, I think you are expected to act in a mature, helpful manner, rather than being crude and blunt to a possibly ill-advised person.
Click to expand...

Margulis said:
We did not capture this wild creature and steal him away from his natural habitat. He was curled up, drenched and scared to death in the middle of a busy church parking lot. This night had very bad weather, as we were caught in smaller storms from the recent hurricane. In the time that we tried to capture him, two separate people walked by, commenting that it should be killed. If you think my taking him home was wrong, I have no idea what to say to you. And just to give you a little more information, on getting him home we researched what sort Uof habitat he should have in his terrarium, gave him what was suggested and went to sleep, as it was late. We woke up six hours later to see the injury. To assume we caused this is just downright silly.

It would be more logical to think he got flooded out of his home and some jerk intentionally, or accidentally harmed him, as he was in a high traffic area. It wouldn't be too unlikely that it took a little while for the injury to be visibly noticeable. Unless, of course, you think he injured himself due to our misconduct in a plastic terrarium, on some wet paper towels.

But it's okay, I forgive you because you weren't really here to see it anyway. :)
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No forgiveness is necessary! I just wonder how these snakes survived before rescuers like you came along. :grin01:

But seriously... I think your heart was in the right place, but you're not going to help this one. But I'll defer to these experts. Best of luck!
 
Margulis said:
We did not capture this wild creature and steal him away from his natural habitat. He was curled up, drenched and scared to death in the middle of a busy church parking lot. This night had very bad weather, as we were caught in smaller storms from the recent hurricane. In the time that we tried to capture him, two separate people walked by, commenting that it should be killed. If you think my taking him home was wrong, I have no idea what to say to you. And just to give you a little more information, on getting him home we researched what sort of habitat he should have in his terrarium, gave him what was suggested and went to sleep, as it was late. We woke up six hours later to see the injury. To assume we caused this is just downright silly.

It would be more logical to think he got flooded out of his home and some jerk intentionally, or accidentally harmed him, as he was in a high traffic area. It wouldn't be too unlikely that it took a little while for the injury to be visibly noticeable. Unless, of course, you think he injured himself due to our misconduct in a plastic terrarium, on some wet paper towels.

But it's okay, I forgive you because you weren't really here to see it anyway. :)
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Considering most other people would have just moved him from the parking lot to the nearby woods, I've gotta agree with Munson, here. DeKay's are known for being rather difficult to keep in captivity, anyways. If you really want help, find a vet. If you really care, you won't mind shelling out $200+ for a visit.
 
Well I just know that I work at a wildlife rehabilitation center, and we get things like this all the time. The snake was already in an unnatural habitat, ie, a parking lot, which we at Wildcare incourage people to address. Secondly, the snake was given the proper conditions and this injury came about. If the snake had been brought to a wildlife rehabilitation center, this situation would be seen in a different light. For one thing, at least at Wildcare, we would have been happy to take in the animal and heal it. Another, this person came HERE asking for help, and like other people in this forum, almost immediately, someone was trying to make her feel bad.

Being knowledgable about a subject when someone else is not gives you the responsibility to guide them in the correct direction. I would say, when encountering an injured wild animal, if you injured it or not, your duty is to do the best you can to keep it alive and healthy so it may be released back in to the wild. This person came here wanting help knowing how to do that. If you don't like their decision to help the snake in the first place, either don't say anything, or at least provide some good information about why AND tell them how it can be released in proper condition!!

Seriously. Hostility is absolutely useless in this world. Just do the best you can with other people. Don't intentionally be cruel and crass.
 
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