Posted by:
epidemic
at Fri May 12 10:31:19 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by epidemic ]
I must concur with the masses; your injured charge should be promptly euthanized, as a bowel evisceration incurred by a small specimen is often inoperable, even among the most experienced of veterinarians well versed in herpetofauna. Also, if you are unsure as to when the injury was incurred, the snake will most likely succumb from infection or septicemia, even with proper treatment.
Unfortunately, there are several camps regarding the most humane form of euthanizing herpetofauna and decapitation is considered insufficient as a sole means of euthanasia, unless the brain is destroyed by pithing immediately afterwards (Cooper et al, 1984). Frye also discourages such within his book “Reptile care: An Atlas to Disease and Treatments”.
For greater information, you may wish to visit the following URL, as Melissa Kaplan has created an excellent reference on the topic: http://www.anapsid.org/decap.html.
I am sorry to hear of your situation and wish you the best,
Jeff
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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947
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RE: Sorry to hear of your situation, but - epidemic, Fri May 12 10:31:19 2006