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Rescued- injured corn

Kokopelli

Kokopelli

Resident Boa Fanatic
Hey all,
I guess I got a bit of reputation back home... a keeper contacted me and asked that I take care of a baby cornsnake he has who managed to escape, and was found being toyed with by the house's pet cat.
The little baby corn(she, so he says) is classic, unknown hets... and roughly 15-20% of her lower body is limp and disabled- I suspect nerve/spine injury... the tip of her tail can still move, but it wiggles helplessly.
She hasn't eaten since the injury, which happened around a week ago.

I tried to convince him that I really couldn't do anything that he couldn't- that I was no magician... but he felt uncomfortable with keeping her and thought I could do a better job.

I couldn't bring myself to refuse- I simply told him that if I get her established, I can't guarantee I will keep her- but rather, hand her to someone whom I will consider as a good loving home for her- naturally, she will be given with no strings/money requests attached.

So she got here today... she is very active, but seriously scared- the transition wasn't too smooth, he brought her with her water dish which spilled over, drenching her- add to that the AC working in the car and you've got a little frozen corn.
She is well now though, warming up in the reptile room- on a separate shelf.

I don't think she will make a -full- recovery. But she might make some, the bottom that is injured includes her cloaca and I have no idea if she can even pass urine/stools...
If God wants her alive, and she wants to live- she will make it...
If not, at least she is in a "good place", I guess....

I will try and take pics of her at a later stage... now is not the time to stress her out.
I put a pinkie(f/t)- I don't know how long she hasn't eaten... worse case I'll throw it tomorrow and leave her be for the next 10 days or so.

wish me luck, or rather, the little girl.

Oren
 
Thank you, I am kind of sorry that there aren't really much better options over here than myself.
I mean... there -are- more experienced keepers but none is really as celebrated as Kathy Love for instance in the states.
We'll see how it goes.
 
Hopefully she'll be okay enough. I have one snake that is "not right" quite a bit of the way down, but she still eats, sheds, poops, swims and climbs!
 
Well, she's in capable hands. I hope she does make it, but if not, at least she had a friend in you who cared enough to try. Bless you, brother.
 
Goldtop said:
Well, she's in capable hands. I hope she does make it, but if not, at least she had a friend in you who cared enough to try. Bless you, brother.
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Zulu3 said:
Good thoughts your way <3
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Daenerys said:
Aww the poor thing. Good luck!
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Thank you all,
Unsurprisingly enough, she did not eat. I removed the pinkie...
She seems to be in a great deal of pain if touched in that area, I honestly don't know if it would be kinder to euthanize her :/
She moves and all but I tried to examine her and she tried to escape so I pressed on her slightly, she bolted with what can only be pain...
I don't want to prolong her sufferring needlessly...
She is now coiled and quiet enough... but I can't know if she's well or not...
It's not easy for me to see her like this :(
 
Could you not take her to a reptile vet and get her xrayed or something? Maybe there is something a vet could do, like give her meds or maybe something surgically, I dunno.
 
Since she is so tiny, I don't think an X-ray will show anything... she is simply too small to actually be able to understand much from an X-ray.
She needs time, beyond that... I can't even put antibiotics into her because, again, she is so small and vulnerable right now.
I have a vet friend whom I will be talking with naturally, but there's a big risk in giving antibiotics when you do know what's her condition.

We'll have to wait a bit and see how she does.

Oren
 
Yeah, I suppose size is a pretty limiting factor, but I know vets can attend to small rodents and stuff so maybe there is at least a little something you can do. I know of an exotic veterinarian here who does small animals like that. But yes, time is the best medicine....IF she's not going to die.
 
Daenerys said:
Yeah, I suppose size is a pretty limiting factor, but I know vets can attend to small rodents and stuff so maybe there is at least a little something you can do. I know of an exotic veterinarian here who does small animals like that. But yes, time is the best medicine....IF she's not going to die.
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It's all true, but you need to realize that Israel is very limited in regards to reptile medicine.
I have a good friend who is a vet, but we don't really have easy access to the facilities and technology that is available abroad. We're not in the stone age or anything... but it is slightly harder to deal with such cases
 
At this point I would just keep any wounds clean and I wouldn't even try to feed her until she starts to heal a bit. Babies can go a surprisingly long time without food even if they've never eaten. If she has taken meals before this she could probably go months before losing appreciable weight. I'd give her at least 2 weeks before even trying to feed her. Make sure she stays clean and dry. A small amount of antibiotic ointment on any bites would be helpful. You never know what might happen and I'd at least give her a chance.
 
There are no teeth marks, but obvious internal injuries.
She currently went into shed, which I feel is a good sign.
We will see how things go for the little corn
 
She's lucky to have found you. I do hope things work out for the best, and I know you will do what's best for her no matter what happens.
 
If no external injuries, then I would just put in a lot of aspen shavings for her to burrow in and feel safe, provide proper temperatures and water and wait a while. I'd definitely wait at least a couple of weeks before making her internal organs have to process solid food. You might want to make a bunch of cuts in the skin of the pinky (f/t of course) before feeding to help facilitate digestion. Then wait until defication before trying another one.
 
Thanks for the advice,
She is in no condition to be put on Aspen bedding, she is in pain when touched there, and I feel that aspen bedding will only trigger pain in her.
She is in a clouded tub, and is hiding under the towel paper.
Once she sheds and enough time had passed, I will offer a meal.
Thanks for the concern Meg, I've got it :)

Oren.
 
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