"Heat Mats". What can happen when you don't bother reading the Manufacturers advise

[Maureen Collinson]

WARNING> VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES. MADE ME FEEL SICK, AND IN FACT I WAS SICK AFTER SEEING TO THE POOR SNAKE.






























Hi All.

Here are some photos that have never been shown before of a beautiful male Burmese python that alas is no longer alive as the decision was taken to have him put out of pain.

A person that I met along the way when on my travels with the reptile rescue side of things owned this stunning gentle snake. I became quite friendly with this Lady and her Hubby. They were running a small rescue from their home in Sussex. Things went fairy well until Hubby was dismissed and a new partner arrived. I lost some contact ten for a while until the new partner left, and I received a phone call re this snake. I hoped that things would sort themselves out, and thought they had with this Lady making friends with another Lady in her area who rescued birds. I was so wrong.

I received a phone call one evening, and went to see KIT-Kat as he was known, arriving at the place at around 10pm. What I was greeted with was this poor snake in a large viv in a cold cellar that had a hole in one wall open to the weather elements, and being close to the sea was quite cold even for me. The heating equipment set up by Hubby had failed all of a sudden, and having no spare equipment other than a large heat mat, the heat mat was placed in the viv, and this poor snake had no real choice but to huddle upon it or die. That in it's self was bad enough but what had taken place before I came on the scene was totally disgusting and cruel, and carried out by this Lady (Butcher) and her accomplice. They were attempting to get fluids into this snake without knowing what they were doing. They had seen fit to go with my advise on the dehydration side and ointment I recommended but not got the snake to a Vet. Instead one held this snake whilst the other cut the rotting flesh away. This poor snake would have been in agony and no pain killers were even given. They broke the law big time, and I wanted to lash out at them, but did not as I knew I had to just get that poor snake away from them, and try to help it. I had a friend with me that drove, and came back to my place to see to Kit-Kat. I tubed a powerful electrolyte mixture into the poor guy as he was very dehydrated, dressed his burns as best I could, and placed him in a viv set up just right for him. He at least had a little better comfort that night, but I feared for him as I believed Septicemia had already got too big a hold on him.

The next morning there was a rancid smell of rotting flesh, and I contacted my Vet,who was away, but had the offer to see another Vet at the practice that was used to reptiles too, so took the poor fellow along with my friend in tow, and us both breaking our hearts at the agony this snake was in, and wanting him put out of his misery asap. The Vet was aghast at the state of Kit-Kat and agreed the best course of action was to swiftly end this poor little chaps agony. At this point I had to speak up and say Kit-Kat had been place in my charge, but it had to be the owners decision, but knowing me as they did, and what I have achieved along the way with rescues that have been badly injured, she would surely agree when she heard the Vets advise. The Vet phoned and was greeted with, I want my snake back now, and I will take him to my Vet, a Vet I hasten to add although a very good general Vet was not used to seeing snakes. Not that it mattered. What did matter was that this snake was dying in sheer agony, and she wanted it to for go another 2 hour journey back to her,for her friend and her to decide what to do. Well I have to say that I totally lost it there and then, and said tote Vet that I wanted the RSPCA brought into this due to what had occurred up to that point with this snake, as I was not going to put him through any more agony than was necessary. At that point the Vet was given permission by this Lady to do the deed, and she asked for ashes to be returned to her in a jar, as she loved this snake so much and was heart broken.

This person hates me with a vengeance, but I could not act any different if the same thing happened again. I have enough medical experience to know when to call a halt usually, and would have to put the reptile first.

I should add here that I knew this snake well and had a very soft spot for it, and would have loved to have owned him myself, so I was grieving for him too, and it has taken a few years to be able to come to terms with this well enough to place these photos on here.

This lady repeatedly, whilst attempting home treatment replaced this snake in the same viv with just the heat mat again for warmth.

NEVER HAVE A HEAT MAT ON THE INSIDE FLOOR OF A VIV THAT HOUSES ONE OR MORE HEAVY BODIED SNAKES, AS EVEN IF STATED, THERMAL BLOCKING CAN STILL OCCUR, CAUSING THE MAT TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO THE SNAKE ON IT'S UNDERNEATH AS HAPPENED HERE, OR THE MAT COULD CATCH FIRE.

This situation was discussed with Peter F who makes Habistat heat mats.
Peter kindly decided to adjust the heat mat instructions in order to ensure people understood that heat mats are not recommended for heavy bodied snakes to lay on due to thermal blocking causing horrible injuries such as these. It is also a fact that large snakes release a lot of body fluids which in turn could seep into the terminal block that houses the electric wire, and cause that to short out and that could cause a fire.

Athravan, please feel free to take and use these photos for further education.

Mo.

[Maureen Collinson]

[paulrimmer69]

the poor thing, hope it wasnt in pain for log

[Lynne]

OMG maureen!!! you have my heartfelt sympathies. what a beautiful beautiful snake. and to have died because of a waster!!!! what the poor soul went through because of two twats. it doesnt bear thinking about. at least you were there for him at the end. sorry i just dont know any words to say!!

[BuzzzKilllington]

Yikes, that is appalling

[cassie1971]

thats so horrible i you done the right thing i would have done the same

[Carol]

This has made me cry.

They should do the same to the owner, and she said she loved him, if that's love god help us all.

RIP

[wayward_son]

OMG!

That is truly horrific. It's a good job that someone came along and did the right thing. Its a real shame looks like it would have been a magnificent animal.

Pete

[bendaferrari]

I have heard of this but neaver seen this.This is why i neaver have heat mats for my snakes and every one i no who has snakes i will try to convince them to get rid of there heat mat just a shame such a beautifull snake hade to go

[repkid]

That snake must have been in so much pain.

Well done for putting him to sleep.

Nearly brought a tear to my eye.

Original owners