Last night was feeding night (I work retail, so my hours are screwy). My California King snake, Mini, who is about 3 years old, was the last to be fed. When I pulled her out, I noticed her left eye was incredibly swollen and there looked to be blood underneath the eye cap. She obviously refused feed ( all my snakes are on F/T)


image by ChestyLaRue627, on Flickr

Of course, I burst into tears and start searching for nearby reptile vets. I call around this morning and finally get an appointment for this evening.

We take Mini in. It's freezing, and I have her in a small sterilite container with a disposable heat pad I wrapped in paper towels and verified the temps (with my temp gun, for over an hour).

She was an absolute trooper. Not at all stressed, probably wondering what the heck mom was doing putting her in a tiny box. The vet comes in.... and she wants nothing to do with him. I have to hold her while he tries to open her mouth. Even after that, she's calm and just tries to hide in my hair. The vet says he thinks its an abscess or infection in her mouth. He prescribes Baytril injections. Mini is a trooper thru the injection of the needle, but when he starts plunging in the meds, she starts freaking out. The vet gives me syringes and Baytril for the next 3 weeks. She's curled up, resting right now, but I'm dreading her next injection. I'm scared of hitting something important. The vet also told me Baytril can irritate tissue, so I have to alternate sides. I think I would feel more comfortable injecting a larger snake... But she's only 200 grams. Here is an up close picture of her eye


image by ChestyLaRue627, on Flickr


image by ChestyLaRue627, on Flickr

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any advice? I'm hoping the vet knows what he's talking about