Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My milk snake escaped a few weeks ago and I found him today with what looks like his stomach hanging out. He is small, about a year old, maybe a little over a foot long. I have two cats so I suspect one of them got to him. He does not look like he is in a critical state, he is capable of moving around and trying to bite me still. I cannot find a vet around that will deal with herps.... What should I do?

If you have no vet capable of performing the needed surgery on this poor snake, then go ahead and put it out of its misery. Euthanize it in a quick, painless way. The fastest would be to cut its head off. Sounds macabre, but it is better than lanquishing in pain or getting stuck in a freezer to die a slow painful death!!!

If it were me, the cats would be right behind the snake!!
Brian

>>My milk snake escaped a few weeks ago and I found him today with what looks like his stomach hanging out. He is small, about a year old, maybe a little over a foot long. I have two cats so I suspect one of them got to him. He does not look like he is in a critical state, he is capable of moving around and trying to bite me still. I cannot find a vet around that will deal with herps.... What should I do?
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath"(KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Great plains rat snake "Reign Fire" (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

Yep, if you have no possible way of getting it medical attention hotshot's advice would be the best route.

Man I cant stand cats! Especially feral one!!!

>>If you have no vet capable of performing the needed surgery on this poor snake, then go ahead and put it out of its misery. Euthanize it in a quick, painless way. The fastest would be to cut its head off. Sounds macabre, but it is better than lanquishing in pain or getting stuck in a freezer to die a slow painful death!!!
>>

See http://www.anapsid.org/euth.html for info on the euthanization of reptiles. From that article - "the brain of a decapitated reptile may remain active for up to an hour, so decapitation by itself is inhumane."

deg

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

Decapitation alone not being sufficient as to cause a quick death is some good info to know. I had not heard that. Makes sense when you think about it. How many times have you seen a snake that was hit severely by a car and still moving much later. I once found a black rat snake that was DOR and was stuck to the hot pavement. Its head was smashed and when I went to pick it up, its body moved where it wasnt stuck to the pavement. Reptiles are some hardy creatures!!!
Brian

>>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
>>-----
>>Jeff Snodgres
>>University of Arkansas
>>snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
>>501.603.1947
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath"(KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Great plains rat snake "Reign Fire" (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian