Solana - Our Scaleless Sunglow Motley Corn

[dakski]

Good news, sort of bad news, and eh news.

First, on my way to the vet, Solana passed the remaining two eggs! I got there and the vet held out his hand and showed me the eggs/good news.

This is huge. She wasted after passing the eggs as well. So she's not blocked up, is much less swollen, and the prognosis has dramatically improved.

Secondly, the sort of bad news. the vet thinks she is septic, but he believes she is on the right antibiotics to fight that and she is showing signs of improvement. Like other things in snakes/reptiles, sepsis moves slowly and the vet is very optimistic about her making it through that.

Third, the eh news. Her shed is really bad and she has some scarring under the skin - likely from the sepsis. The vet believes she will have some permanent scarring on her body/skin. I told him, "I couldn't care less as long as it's only visual and not hurting her." He said it would be predominantly if not completely a visual thing and nothing more. He was relieved to her me say that all I cared about was her well being.

Finally, the plan.

1. Calcium and Pain Killer orally for the next 3 days.

2. 5 more doses of antibiotics - once every 3 days with her first dose with me tomorrow. These are given in the muscle (inter muscular injections). She has had two doses already.

3. Soak her and keep her tank humid to try to help with her shed. Her mouth and most of her head hasn't shed. Same with much her of her body except for some pieces. Not ideal.

4. Feed her ASAP after shed and she will eat.

5. To try to prevent this in the future: No brumation (which I do not have her do anyway) and move her so her tank isn't right above Figment (male corn snake). To be clear. There is a very small probability that is what caused or encouraged her to lay eggs. However, it cannot hurt. So I plan to move them farther apart.

6. Bring her in for a checkup/followup in 2-3 weeks unless things are worse.

The vet is shocked. He was not optimistic and said he didn't tell me how worried he was when I dropped her off and then when she didn't pass the eggs quickly. He feels the prognosis is quite good now.

Solana is resting comfortably in her favorite hide right now and getting some much needed rest and hopefully will shed ASAP.



Katie's been away for 11 days and comes back tomorrow. Just in time to help with meds for Solana. So that's good.

Below are pics of Solana when she laid eggs and had the three stuck and them a few from today. I will keep everyone posted. So relieved for good news, but she can still use thoughts and prayers, so keep them coming.





And today.

[Bogertophis]

Hey, that's WONDERFUL news! Let's hope she's not septic, or if she is- it's being treated with the right stuff so she fully recovers. But still, this beats her initial prognosis by a few miles.

I agree that it would be best not to have her inhaling a male corn snake's pheromones. Who knows? And take down all her male corn snake "cheese-cake" posters too. But also, you might want to feed her a bit on the light side, once she recovers- as some think well-fed snakes are more likely to pull these stunts (ie. produce eggs)? Just food for thought.

[dakski]

Solana appears to be doing better. We stopped the pain meds and calcium and she has pooped and passed urates since.

She is shedding in pieces, but the soaking and moist tank (part of the time) is helping and yesterday we helped her get the shed off her head and neck including eyelids. The soaks made that easy and painless.

She has strength, but is calm and docile, like she normally is. Her color is good - probably better - and we are continuing the antibiotics as prescribed. Both Solana and Katie (the injector - I hold) are becoming pros at those.

The next big hurdle after shed, is getting her to eat. Once that happens, I'll feel pretty good about the prognosis. Additionally, once she eats and is done with antibiotics, I will move either her or Figment (male corn).

Not sure how I am going to switch up the tanks yet, but I'll figure it out. Probably move Shayna (BP) down and Figment up to the top spot, where Shayna is now (Figgie is at the bottom of the stack of 4X2's).

Shayna is still in her winter fast (which she started late) and I don't want to mover her until she has eaten again.

I'll keep everyone posted.

[Bogertophis]

That's GREAT news! Solana may not realize it, but she picked an awfully good owner who also picked some awfully good medical help. May she continue to improve, many thanks to you & Katie.

[dakski]

First, thank you Bogertophis for the kind words.

Secondly, Solana has shed, but still has some residual scarring/scabbing on some areas. You can see in the pics below.

She's still getting the antibiotics and has a vet checkup in about 10-14 days. Overall it's a vast improvement. She's back to her docile self and doesn't seem to be in pain or discomfort.

Additionally, SHE ATE TONIGHT. I gave her an adult mouse, but on the smaller side. She gobbled it right down. I couldn't be happier. She's definitely on the mend on and hopefully gets some energy from the meal.

I'll let everyone know what the vet says, and I'll check in if anything changes, but overall extremely happy.

Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. Solana needed them.

[Bogertophis]

What a great update! A little scabbing or scarring? "No big deal" after what she just got through. Way to GO, Solana!

[dakski]

Solana got her last antibiotic injection today. Overall, she's doing great. As reported, she ate last week and then had, what seemed like, fairly normal waste.

She's calmed down a ton. She doesn't seem agitated, in pain, stressed, etc. She's back to her calm and docile self. She hasn't even sweat the last few injections.

She is going into shed again. I am not particularly worried because she has been under duress and has noticeable marks/scabbing/irritation on her body/skin. I think her body is telling her, "shed, we need to get that off and heal."

Her eyes are clouded over now, but as soon as they clear, I will be keeping the tank pretty humid and soaking her as well. I want a good shed.

I'll keep everyone updated.

[Bogertophis]

Aw, I'm glad she's done with injections now, poor snakey! It's not like she has much padding on her either. Sounds like she's making a GREAT recovery, thanks to you & Katie & your vet.

[dakski]

Solana shed. She has some scarring, but it's not raised and doesn't seem to bother her. She's doing great otherwise. She ate tonight and is back to her calm, docile, not in pain self. Her color is vibrant as well. I think things are looking good.

[Bogertophis]

Be sure to tell her NOT to do that again!