- Joined
- Oct 13, 2012
- Messages
- 54
My permanent-resident boxie is doing fine, but I got a call today about a young baby with a shell injury. I want this guy to get the best chance possible, so any suggestions would be great.
I will put up pictures tomorrow when I can drive out to pick it up, but all I know is that the injury was 2 or 3 days old (maggots had grown in it...) and that it was still walking around. My husband's friend picked it up while it was walking through their yard.
Apparently it perked up after the wound was cleaned out a bit.
I am going to try and contact a local reptile rescue center to see what their policy would be on allowing me to 'foster' the animal while they helped out with potential vet bills. They don't typically take wildlife. I will also be looking into wildlife rehabbers nearby, but I don't put much hope in that. In this area, you often have to foot any vet/care bills, and I simply can't do that.
So far, my plan once I get the baby is to rinse the wound out with warm water and see how extensive the damage is. If it looks like it's entered the coelomic cavity, there's really nothing I can afford to do for it... If not, I'll go ahead with disinfecting. I would flush the wound with diluted hydrogen peroxide once (I've used this procedure to 'nuke' infected/maggot riddled wounds on other reptiles), then rinse it again. Afterward I'd try to keep painkiller-free neosporin and a loose gauze bandage over it at all times.
After it seems there are no maggots remaining, I'd rinse the wound twice daily with a hibiclens solution (milder) and keep applying neosporin.
Are there any husbandry requirements like temperature for babies that I should know about that differ from the adults? This guy will be on paper towels, with only daily soaks for hydration while the wound is open.
Finally, I realize that a shell injury on one still growing isn't a good prognosis, especially without extensive vet care, but I want to give it a shot.
I will put up pictures tomorrow when I can drive out to pick it up, but all I know is that the injury was 2 or 3 days old (maggots had grown in it...) and that it was still walking around. My husband's friend picked it up while it was walking through their yard.
Apparently it perked up after the wound was cleaned out a bit.
I am going to try and contact a local reptile rescue center to see what their policy would be on allowing me to 'foster' the animal while they helped out with potential vet bills. They don't typically take wildlife. I will also be looking into wildlife rehabbers nearby, but I don't put much hope in that. In this area, you often have to foot any vet/care bills, and I simply can't do that.
So far, my plan once I get the baby is to rinse the wound out with warm water and see how extensive the damage is. If it looks like it's entered the coelomic cavity, there's really nothing I can afford to do for it... If not, I'll go ahead with disinfecting. I would flush the wound with diluted hydrogen peroxide once (I've used this procedure to 'nuke' infected/maggot riddled wounds on other reptiles), then rinse it again. Afterward I'd try to keep painkiller-free neosporin and a loose gauze bandage over it at all times.
After it seems there are no maggots remaining, I'd rinse the wound twice daily with a hibiclens solution (milder) and keep applying neosporin.
Are there any husbandry requirements like temperature for babies that I should know about that differ from the adults? This guy will be on paper towels, with only daily soaks for hydration while the wound is open.
Finally, I realize that a shell injury on one still growing isn't a good prognosis, especially without extensive vet care, but I want to give it a shot.