Lump on injured garter

[guidofatherof5]

You might see if the Vet. will give you a small amount of Silver Sulfadiazine. It works wonders on wounds. I use 1% cream. Best of luck.

[cwkeys]

Just a quick update. The wound seems to have closed up. His spine still looks out of alignment, but it is looking better too. The best part is he's moving around quite a bit with a surprising amount of speed and vigor, despite the spine issue. When I pick him up he wiggles quite a bit too so I feel like he's showing improvement. Whether there is underlying infection where the wound was remains to be seen, but I'll hope for the best.

I have done two assisted feedings about two weeks apart. Both times I got about 1/2 inch of earthworm in him total. He doesn't seem too interested in eating and he's not any thinner than he was when I picked him up. The assisted feeding may not be necessary right now, but it makes me feel better to think he has a little nutrition in him.

I am still giving him water through the eyedropper. He may be drinking out of his dish or the low lid I put in, but I never catch him near them so I can't say for sure. He always will take water from the eyedropper like he's thirsty so, for now, I guess I'll continue doing that.

Thank you to everyone for all their wonderful advice! Keep your fingers crossed!

[brubru2]

So, (if he survives) will you keep the little guy?

[cwkeys]

That's a really good question. Ideally, because he is wild, he would heal and I would be able to release him when the weather is warm enough. I guess we will have to access his level of function when the time comes. If the vet feels he has no chance of survival in the wild, then I feel like it is my responsibility to care for him since I was the one that interfered with nature and brought him inside, but if he's able to move normally and hunt for himself, then it wouldn't be fair for me to keep him as a pet...no matter how much I've come to love the little guy.

[guidofatherof5]

That's a really good question. Ideally, because he is wild, he would heal and I would be able to release him when the weather is warm enough. I guess we will have to access his level of function when the time comes. If the vet feels he has no chance of survival in the wild, then I feel like it is my responsibility to care for him since I was the one that interfered with nature and brought him inside, but if he's able to move normally and hunt for himself, then it wouldn't be fair for me to keep him as a pet...no matter how much I've come to love the little guy.

That all makes perfect sense but the reality is it's easier said than done. These little scrubs get inside our hearts and make it difficult to let go and that's the ones that are in perfect health. Tack on the fact they are injured and it's a heartwrenching decision to release them.
I wish you the best of luck and in the end I hope you have a new member to your family