Snakeyface

[Singlenotsingle]

My corn snake is, we think, about 15 years old - very old for a corn snake which apparently live 8-10 years normally. Anyway, he's not well. He hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks and has a wound on the back of his neck. We think he must have fallen out of his tree. (The viv is floor to ceiling).

Local vets say they don't have the experience to deal with a snake, either to treat or to pts. You can't put a snake on a drip, or put ointment or a bandage on either. So we've just got to leave him and he'll probably die, which is what would happen in the wild. But it's sad. Don't really know why I'm telling everyone, but has anyone got any suggestions?

You have to find a vet there are treatments they can do as well as creams etc. You may have to travel to find a vet but you will find one. Good luck op

have you got a pic of the wound? A lot of the time I actually think just leaving them to it can be the best option. Animals frequently injure themselves in the wild (much more than in captivity) and have th heal without the benefit of a vet. Not ideal I know, but.....

Re: eating. Mine frequently went for months without eating - and he made it to 33 years old......from about 15 though he wouldn’t eat anything except chicks. Wouldn’t touch mice or rats or anything else.

There are lots of vets around with reptile experience though - have you looked to see where your closest is?

A cornsnake of 15 years is good but not geriatric.

For the neck wound get some Vetark Tamodine Wound Care --- NOT Tamodine e.
www.vetark.co.uk/pages/Tamodine.aspx
you can get it from quite a few places on the internet. Bathe the neck area gently, if the wound looks wet or is discharging a lot trickle some Hydrogen Peroxide solution diluted 50:50 with water over the wound. Continue until it stops fizzing.
Now dry the wound area gently and apply the Tamodine on, and around, the damaged tissue. Do this 2 times a day until the wound stays dry and looks like a normal scab has formed.

Increase the thermostat setting to 80ºF / 27ºC and make sure the heat lamp produces a temperature of 36ºC at ground level.

If you need more advice or the name of your nearest Reptile Specialist Vet write to [email protected] [British Herpetological Society]