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Gopher snake with broken back

caliscott

caliscott

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I was riding my bike to work today and came across a baby gopher snake. It looked like road kill, but I saw some tell tale tongue flicks. I stopped and checked it out. It had some ants, but not badly bitten.

It had some membrane extruding from its vent. It appears to be paralyzed from about 4 cm above the vent - I assume a bike got it.

I picked it up and gently put it in my pack, intending to take it to work for comfort care.

However, it has been 6 hours now, and it looks pretty vigorous.

Has anyone cared for a paralyzed snake before? When snakes recover from surgery, etc. should they be kept warm or cold?

Any tips would be helpful.
 
He may well recover. Just keep him as you would any normal gopher snake. If there is still tissue coming out of its vent, take a que-tip and see if you can't push it back in. If that doesn't work, you might try sugar water. Moist parts need to be kept moist or they atrophy.

I've seen them recover from being run over by a bike.
 
The snake passed away

Thanks for all the advice. The snake passed away about 8 hours later. At least it was warm and wasn't ant food while still alive.
 
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