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injured snapper on the road

golfdiva Apr 30, 2010 06:01 PM

I stopped to pick him up. He is an old guy - smooth shell - and about 12in. across the shell. At first I thought he was dead and was just going to put him off to the side in the woods. As I was carry him, his back feet weakly tried to claw my hand and he tried to pee on me!

So I took him home. The front of his carapace is cracked through in several places, but the pieces didn't come off. His jaw is broken, but I don't see any injury to his head.

I soaked him for about 1 hour in warm water and a little Gatorade. I syringed some down his throat. During about the third syringe full, as I stretched out his neck it felt like he was trying to pull his head away. So I stopped fussing w/ him and let him soak.

After an hour, I emptied the container and lined it w/ several layers of damp newspaper. I also put damp newspaper on top of him and he is under a heat lamp.

During this transfer he moved, at one time or another, all four feet, his tail, and even quickly pulled his head into his shell.

His eyes are still closed, and they look sunken in, although they seem a bit improved after the soaking. If he perks up in the next couple of days, I will take him to the vet and see about getting his shell repaired.

Anything else I can do? Any predictions on whether or not he makes it?
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0.1.0 ornate box turtle
2.0.0 eastern box turtles
1.0.0 Yellow belly slider
0.1.0 Red belly cooter
0.1.0 Australian shepard
1.8.0 chickens
1.0.0 Dutch rabbit
3.2.0 adult children
1.0.0 husband
AND
0.1.0 grandbaby!!

Replies (1)

BilltheFriesian Jun 03, 2010 09:52 AM

What happened, golfdiva?

Your neighbor here in Wyoming, MI.
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Least favorite quotation: "These foul and loathesome animals are abhorrant because of their cold body, pale color, cartilaginous skeleton, filthy skin, fierce aspect, calculating eye, offensive smell, harsh voice, squalid habitation, and terrible venom; and so their Creator has not exerted his powers to make many of them." - Carolus Linnaeus

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