Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Unbelievable, I go to get something out of my husbands truck (8:30 PM) and this car goes by. Sounds like they hit something, so I shine my flashlight out in the road and see this poor guy in a flat spin. The injuries look pretty superficial, but want to know what you guys thought I should do. Just let him go, or does he need treatment?

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Jenea

2:3 Tricolor Hognose
2:1 Eastern Hognose
1:2 Western Hognose
2:2 Southern Hognose
0:0:2 Florida Redbelly Snakes
0:1 Gulf Coast Box Turtle
1:1 Red-eared Slider
1:2:2 Mediterranean Geckos
2:0 Cats
1:1 Kids
1:0 Spouse

I tend to be a hard nosed overly cautious type of pet and turtle keeper because I've heard/seen too many people say hey that doesn't look bad, I'll ignore it because it'll be ok, then the pet or animal gets worse and worse until it dies. That's what causes me to be so hard nosed about these things.
I see some raw redness in a couple of spots in your pictures... if it were me I'd get that treated and healed before I would release. If there is an opening for bacterial infection to get into the system then that will happen.
I know it's true that in the wild they have accidents all the time and they do survive but when they show up at my feet the way this one did you I feel like that's a sign that I am supposed to help it so I do.
That's what I would do if I were in your shoes, get it healed up then let it go.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do, and let us know how it goes too.
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PHRatz

He looks ok. Make sure he eats and doesn't seem to notice his wounds too much. Like the previous poster said, make sure he doesn't get infected. If his condition worsens, take him to the vet.

Treat her, cause if there's that much scraping, she can get infected...some neosporin would help right off. Close off those wounds...