Injured garter

cfr7009 · 09-17-2007, 05:31 PM

Hello everyone! I am new to the forum and came here to learn about these wonderful little creatures. More specifically, while gardening yesterday, my wife heard our dog barking at something and upon investigating saw that the dog had cornered a garter snake...approx. 18-24" long. The snake was playing dead so I put the dog inside so I could have a closer look. Well I found out quickly that the snake was not dead becuase when I approached to pick it up it began to strike at me. However, I did notice that it had been injured, likely during the encounter with our dog. It looked like it had a couple of small puncture wounds about 1/3 of the way up from its tail on tis left side. So I picked it up and placed it in an aquarium from the garage.

My questions:
Should I take the snake in to a vet? Can a vet do anything with a garter snake?
What should I feed it?
What about temperature? The days are warm (80 deg.) and the nights are cool (50-60 deg.).
Do I need to put anything alse in the aquarium so the snake can feel less out in the open?
What else do I need to do to keep the snake happy until it has healed?

I would have released it except I was concerned that it might be injured and unable to fend for itself.

Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated. I will try to get a couple of pics and post them for next time.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Curt

adamanteus · 09-17-2007, 05:40 PM

Hi Curt, and welcome to the forum. It's hard to answer some of your questions without knowing the full extent of the injuries.

I would certainly add a water bowl and hiding opportunities to make the snake more more comfortable. We had a similar incident recently...reading through that thread might help you.
Please Help, lawnmower injury

Odie · 09-17-2007, 07:30 PM

Hi, from Oregon, Curt

enigma200316 · 09-17-2007, 08:01 PM

hi Curt and welcome, if you think they are really bad you should see a vet, that your choice of course......if they are not, reading through that thread
should give you everything you need to get the snake back to good health. however it dosen't alway come out good, best of luck to you...

Stefan-A · 09-18-2007, 03:13 AM

Welcome aboard, Curt.

Odie · 09-18-2007, 03:29 AM

Neosporin for the bites

Just something to hide under

folded cardboard, Paper towel roll tube will work if in a bind

zooplan · 09-18-2007, 04:12 AM

welcome to the forum curt,
not a nice but a good cause to enter up here
hope you questions are answered

Snaky · 09-18-2007, 07:42 AM

Welcome to the forum

drache · 09-19-2007, 06:26 AM

welcome to this forum, Curt
you've already been given good advice
don't worry about food just yet

09-17-2007, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
cfr7009 Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1 Country:	Injured garter Hello everyone! I am new to the forum and came here to learn about these wonderful little creatures. More specifically, while gardening yesterday, my wife heard our dog barking at something and upon investigating saw that the dog had cornered a garter snake...approx. 18-24" long. The snake was playing dead so I put the dog inside so I could have a closer look. Well I found out quickly that the snake was not dead becuase when I approached to pick it up it began to strike at me. However, I did notice that it had been injured, likely during the encounter with our dog. It looked like it had a couple of small puncture wounds about 1/3 of the way up from its tail on tis left side. So I picked it up and placed it in an aquarium from the garage. My questions: Should I take the snake in to a vet? Can a vet do anything with a garter snake? What should I feed it? What about temperature? The days are warm (80 deg.) and the nights are cool (50-60 deg.). Do I need to put anything alse in the aquarium so the snake can feel less out in the open? What else do I need to do to keep the snake happy until it has healed? I would have released it except I was concerned that it might be injured and unable to fend for itself. Any words of wisdom will be greatly appreciated. I will try to get a couple of pics and post them for next time. Thanks in advance for your help! Curt

09-17-2007, 05:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 8,465 Country:	Re: Injured garter Hi Curt, and welcome to the forum. It's hard to answer some of your questions without knowing the full extent of the injuries. I would certainly add a water bowl and hiding opportunities to make the snake more more comfortable. We had a similar incident recently...reading through that thread might help you. Please Help, lawnmower injury __________________ James.

09-17-2007, 07:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Odie Adult snake Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 599 Country:	Re: Injured garter Hi, from Oregon, Curt

09-17-2007, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
enigma200316 Basilisk (The King of all Serpents) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: northwestern, PA Posts: 1,908 Country:	Re: Injured garter hi Curt and welcome, if you think they are really bad you should see a vet, that your choice of course......if they are not, reading through that thread should give you everything you need to get the snake back to good health. however it dosen't alway come out good, best of luck to you... __________________ Justin 1.1 similis 0.0.1 parietalis 1.0 sirtalis

09-18-2007, 03:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 5,772 Country:	Re: Injured garter Welcome aboard, Curt. __________________ Ophidia in herba.

09-18-2007, 03:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Odie Adult snake Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 599 Country:	Re: Injured garter Neosporin for the bites Just something to hide under folded cardboard, Paper towel roll tube will work if in a bind

09-18-2007, 04:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
zooplan The red side of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bonn Posts: 1,134 Country:	Re: Injured garter welcome to the forum curt, not a nice but a good cause to enter up here hope you questions are answered __________________ best wishes bis bald Udo www.zooplan.net Member of the EGSA

09-18-2007, 07:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
Snaky Truieneer, e ras apoat Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1,789 Country:	Re: Injured garter Welcome to the forum

09-19-2007, 06:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 4,451 Country:	Re: Injured garter welcome to this forum, Curt you've already been given good advice don't worry about food just yet __________________ rhea "Life is just one damn thing after another." Mark Twain

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