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 #2031136


Aandfsoccr04
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 Rescue BRB

This weekend i rescued a brazilian rainbow boa from a friend. It has little rat bites all over it. he is about 3 feet long or so and I was wondering how I should treat this. I am putting neosporin without the painkillers on the snake right now and seeing how that works. i am not sure whether or not to use hydrogen peroxide or not. Please advise. Pictures attached













06/29/09  06:15pm

 #2031186


Dragon Lover
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2031136


 Rescue BRB

Hey,

Wow, that’s a skinny snake.

Make sure you’re using the neosporing cream and not the ointment. The ointment contains oils that can trap the seeping of a wound and induce infection.

What type of set up do you have for him/her. He looks very dehydrated. I would suggest running it to the vet just to make sure there is nothing else wrong.

Edel
06/29/09  07:35pm

 #2031188


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Dragon Lover   In reference to Message Id: 2031186


 Rescue BRB

That snake was eating small rats. Would you suggest going to a medium rat? I will make sure that it is the cream and not the ointment. what else do you suggest?
06/29/09  07:38pm

 #2031190


Dragon Lover
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2031188


 Rescue BRB

As long as the rat is not too much bigger than the biggest part of the body. You can feed two or three if it will take them. Start slow. Was it eating regularly? If it was, maybe keep the small for now but offer two instead of one. Then the next week offer a bigger one.

Give him a warm bath every night until he start getting some of his hydration back.

What kind of set up did they/do you have for him?

Man...he is gonna be Gorgeous!!!!!
06/29/09  07:42pm

 #2031245


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Dragon Lover   In reference to Message Id: 2031190


 Rescue BRB

I second on the trip to the vet. That’s a lot of bite wounds, poor guy. Good job on rescuing it!
Keep the hydration up, and daily baths as Edel suggested.
A bit of Pedialite ( the clear formula not flavored!) 50/50 in its bath wouldn’t go amiss. No peroxide on the wounds. I would keep it on Paper towel substrate for now til the wounds close to minimize risk of infection. Make sure you don’t bring it near your snake and wash your hands between handling the rescue and yours, just to be sure you dont spread any nasties ( of parasitic or bacterial or viral varieties)

Good luck and let us know how it goes.



06/29/09  09:12pm

 #2031344


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2031245


 Rescue BRB

all right I will start giving him a bath. I think he was kept in a glass aquarium. i don’t think the husbandry was too bad it’s just the rat bite marks. i am going to try and switch him to frozen thawed if i can. i know its usually not an easy task. i think I’m going to switch him over to paper towels for the time being too to keep substrate out of the cuts.



06/30/09  12:16am

 #2031472


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2031344


 Rescue BRB

Ooh I mean Pedialyte in its water bowl, not the big bath...that would cost way too much- and be a waste of pedialyte! Sorry bout that.

It does look a bit dehydrated and a bit on the thin side. Of course, It could be about to shed too, or just in such poor condition as to have lost most of its rainbow sheen.

I agree with Edel...once its healed up again, its going to be a beauty.



06/30/09  10:52am

 #2031520


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2031472


 Rescue BRB

I can just go to wal mart and get pedialyte? I will start bathing it with some warm water everyday for about 15 minutes. thanks for all the help.



06/30/09  01:07pm

 #2031655


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2031520


 Rescue BRB

They should have it in the Pharmacy section- like I said, clear, not flavored and 50/50 in the drinking water in its tank. It wont hurt the snake at all if it soaks in it too- but its really good to get electrolytes back if it drinks some)

Watch it close for signs of infection. Id still recommend a vet trip. I had a snake die from one bite wound on its tail years ago...that one looks as if its been a ratty chew toy.



06/30/09  04:37pm

 #2031832


SugarFox03
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2031655


 Rescue BRB

This person doesn’t take their snake to the vet. Their other BRB was in horrible condition and from my understanding never saw a vet.

Good luck to this snake...I hope the OP’s husbandry on this species is better than it was a couple months ago.
06/30/09  10:19pm

 #2032738


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: SugarFox03   In reference to Message Id: 2031832


 Rescue BRB

He has been trying to get better ( I think Andfor is a he, my apologies if you are a woman) about his husbandry with his BRB- though I havent seen any pictures to see how its doing

I hope that for the sake of this rescue you do take it in to see the Vet Andfor- or chances are this one will not make it. Vet bills suck. It can be hard to find a good one, and hard to hear mistakes you have made in the past and criticism...but keep workin on getting better, learning more and following good sound advice from folks who have experience. Edel has taken Uma to the vet many times and look what a difference it has made. You’ll have to accept that you have made past mistakes, and keep moving forward as you have been. Dont let feeling defensive about your critics stop you from continuing to learn more. Use it as a tool to fuel energy to read up more and spend more time making their habitat the best it can be- google is your friend. Continue to check multiple sites in your spare time.

I like to beleive people CAN and WILL change for the love of the animals, and thus Im willing to give advice to anyone. Yes, his snake was in bad condition. Yes, he has been a bit defensive about temperatures and other advice given, but Id like to beleive he is getting better with improvements to his husbandry. The advice may or may not fall on deaf ears, but I think he has been listening to it better and even doing his own research. Two steps in the right direction. Many more steps to get there perhaps...but who knows... Ifd he doesnt use all the advice, mabey someone else will read it and get the information they need too.

Im not perfect. I do the best I can for the critters in my care. I learn new things and people correct me all the time when Im wrong (and please keep it up! I have learned alot, and as Ive said before, the more I know, the more I know I dont know) Years of art classes helped me to learn how to take constructive criticism better. Ive put in hundreds of hours here and several other sites and books for information- enough that my posts turn into mini versions of war and peace!



07/02/09  12:29pm

 #2032975


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2032738


 Rescue BRB



He doesn’t seem to like baths and bites an awful lot while he is in the bath until i get my hands on him.



07/02/09  06:37pm

 #2033034


SugarFox03
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2032975


 Rescue BRB

Perhaps try soaking him in a large rubbermaid container with a lid? That way he cannot crawl out and will stay somewhat in the water!



07/02/09  08:42pm

 #2033680


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: SugarFox03   In reference to Message Id: 2033034


 Rescue BRB

good suggestion. Just fill the tub 1/4 full so he has plenty of air space.
Its probably not used to the bath, and has changed hands recently. Keep the humidity up in the tank, perhaps a moss box too, and soak the moss in the box in clean water every other day, or mist it really well.

Good luck



07/04/09  01:41am

 #2033681


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2033680


 Rescue BRB

ooh and water temp should be tepid...in other words, so when you put your wrist in it it does not feel hot at all or cold. Should be around the same temp as you, maybe slightly cooler.



07/04/09  01:43am

 #2034380


Bellle_foudre
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2033681


 Rescue BRB

I understand that it can be hard to find a vet. Most places wont even have any answers to your questions, let alone want to handle a snake. I second the rubbermaid tub bath. I would also wait to feed him/her until she starts to improve. I also think that a good way to clean the wound would be to dilute some rubbing alcohol(with water) in a cup and use a qtip diped it the solution and gently clean the wounds. I would use that as a last resort, if the neo does not work. You also need to give her a very large temp/humidity gradent. She needs a place where she can be in 95%+, but at the same time she needs a place where she can get dryed out if she want too. Too much humidity will keep her wound open and moist, further risking infection. So as suggested I would get a small rubbermaid tub and cut a hole in the side and fill it with moist spag moss. Also if you do find a vet and they give her some meds, raise the temp gradient a few degrees warmer, that will help her absorb the meds
07/05/09  03:57pm

 #2034924


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Bellle_foudre   In reference to Message Id: 2034380


 Rescue BRB

With all due respect...

The snake is already underweight. Waiting to feed if its eating will mean it will not getting adaquite nutrition to heal. If it is taking food, let it eat.

and OMG...Alcohol on open wounds...OUCH!!! Snakes are very sensitive to pain. Diluting it with water makes it ineffective to sanitize anything. The clean soaking baths and neosporin cream should work. If it does not, shots of antibiotics will be necessary, and this REQUIRES a Reptile vet. I would bite anyone putting straight alcohol on my wound. Stick with the neosporin cream unless the vet gives you something else is my advice.

He already keeps his BRBs at 90*, which is boardering on the too hot side. His other snake several months ago was clearly dehydrated and breathing with its mouth. He has worked to bring his humidity up.
please...DO NOT RAISE YOUR TEMPS ABOVE 90* It will cause neurological problems and probably kill your snakes. Cool side should be 75 and warm side 85. 90 is already boardering on too hot! Keep them at 70-90% humidity like you’ve been doing.. Dont change the husbandry unless a vet tells you otherwise.



07/06/09  01:43pm

 #2038504


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2034924


 Rescue BRB

190 dollars later...dang.. the vet is expensive.



07/13/09  11:41am

 #2038572


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2038504


 Rescue BRB

How is the snake? Yeah...just like doctors for humans.
What did the Vet say? And good job taking it in, despite the expense.
07/13/09  01:09pm

 #2039425


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2038572


 Rescue BRB

exotic exam 59. silver sulfadiazine 50 grams 17.87
2 panacur suspension 12.88
1 injection of amikacin 39.50
2 more injections 63
07/14/09  09:41pm

 #2039698


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2039425


 Rescue BRB

Thats actually not bad for that many injections and meds.
Wish it was just 59 bucks here from the exotic exam. Regular dog and cat exam is upwards of 70-80 bucks these days.

Think of it this way, you’re helping to save a life.

but Im curious...what did the vet SAY? Hows the snake? Good prognosis? Im sure it will take a number of sheds before its starting to look better.



07/15/09  12:10pm

 #2039740


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2039698


 Rescue BRB

He said he had a slight upper respitory infection and just to soak it twice a day and put the cream on all of the wounds. he also gave it a dewormer and im supposed to give it a second dewormer in 2 weeks just stick the syringe in the mouth. he said overall it was fine though.



07/15/09  01:20pm

 #2040262


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2039740


 Rescue BRB

Good thing you caught that respitory infection early man... otherwise youd either have a dead snake or a LOT more vet bills and a whole series of shots.
Hopefully it will enjoy baths more as it heals. It probably hurt at first, but as it starts feeling better and getting healthier, it will probably come to enjoy them.

It also will help if you can put a big bowl ( like a clean dog bowl or small (new- unused) catbox in its enclosure thats changed daily for it to soak in.

Its alot of work keeping an injured or sick reptile. Luckily, with care, it will get its glow back.
How is your other snake doing?
07/16/09  10:48am

 #2040828


Aandfsoccr04
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   Message To: Fairy Frog Mother   In reference to Message Id: 2040262


 Rescue BRB

yeah im changing substrate and water everyday. I’m switching to a tub in a few days. I just hope the snake doesnt get loose. everything else is good.



07/17/09  11:15am

 #2050184


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Aandfsoccr04   In reference to Message Id: 2040828


 Rescue BRB

How are your adventures in rescue-land going? I hope the snake is doing better now. Got any new pictures?



08/03/09  03:29pm


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