Taking to the vet

[Vianky]

ok Im about to go to a vet I found for my bp since he has not eaten anything since I adopted him and god know how long before that. Is there anything I should NOT let the vet do to him? I have only been to the vet for my dog never had to deal with one for any of my other pets ( scorps and my new bp) Im leaving pretty soon so if anyone knows about anything please tell me soon!!!! thanks guys!!

[lisa77]

If he is a specialist, he should know what he is doing..


Good Luck

[sidhe]

I would play it by ear and see how knowledgable the vet is about snakes, while asking questions etc. I recently took my corn to an "exotic vet" and I knew more than her about snakes! She had a basic understanding, but told me all kinds of crazy stuff (i.e. my snake can eat fish) So, after that I would NOT let her probe him, even though she really wanted to. Most vets are probably pretty good (I hope) and you won't have the same probs. I did. Just see how it goes and trust your "gut feeling".

[Vianky]

OK I took him to the vet today ( cuz he would not eat since I got him last week and at the pet store would not eat for them either) The vet seamed to know a good bit about bp so I felt good about it. They tried to see if they could get some poop from it to test it but he was empty nothing AT ALL come out. They gave him some parasite medication just incase and they tube feed him some nutrients and something to make his appetite grow. Then the vet told me to try and give him a prekilled mouse first in 3 day from today, if he didn’t eat it try in 3 more days after that and so on for 2 weeks when will be the next time he will go to the vet and in the mean time to watch for and see if he will poop so I can take the sample back to the vet for testing. Overall it went well and it eased my worries a bit. After the tube feeding him was SO lazy lol it was funny he looked like he was stuffed and happy!

[joepythons]

OK I took him to the vet today ( cuz he would not eat since I got him last week and at the pet store would not eat for them either) The vet seamed to know a good bit about bp so I felt good about it. They tried to see if they could get some poop from it to test it but he was empty nothing AT ALL come out. They gave him some parasite medication just incase and they tube feed him some nutrients and something to make his appetite grow. Then the vet told me to try and give him a prekilled mouse first in 3 day from today, if he didn’t eat it try in 3 more days after that and so on for 2 weeks when will be the next time he will go to the vet and in the mean time to watch for and see if he will poop so I can take the sample back to the vet for testing. Overall it went well and it eased my worries a bit. After the tube feeding him was SO lazy lol it was funny he looked like he was stuffed and happy!

The vet does not know anything about ball pythons.By them force feeding your baby ball they have stressed it big time.When you bring home a new ball python you should leave it alone for a week or two to adjust to the new home.You have handled it and in turn stressed it out.Since this ball came from a pet store its more then likely a captive hatched baby.The reason it did not eat in the pet store is because it was probably in a ten gallon tank with others.Am i correct here? Ball pythons are very shy snakes and prefer to live alone unless its breeding time.I would advise you to save your money instead of giving it to the vet.Second leave your snake alone for a week or two without any attemps to feed it or handle it.Only enter his cage to change the water or clean up the poo.The members here and myself have numerous ways to help you with your ball python to get it to eat when the time is right.I am not being rude here just very honest.

[Sputnik]

The vet does not know anything about ball pythons.By them force feeding your baby ball they have stressed it big time.When you bring home a new ball python you should leave it alone for a week or two to adjust to the new home.You have handled it and in turn stressed it out.Since this ball came from a pet store its more then likely a captive hatched baby.The reason it did not eat in the pet store is because it was probably in a ten gallon tank with others.Am i correct here? Ball pythons are very shy snakes and prefer to live alone unless its breeding time.I would advise you to save your money instead of giving it to the vet.Second leave your snake alone for a week or two without any attemps to feed it or handle it.Only enter his cage to change the water or clean up the poo.The members here and myself have numerous ways to help you with your ball python to get it to eat when the time is right.I am not being rude here just very honest.

I agree 100% with everything said above. I'd leave it alone for 2 weeks myself and probably try a live hopper. A lot of ball pythons that are problematic, will eat a live hopper before an FT meal IMO and in my experience.

You cannot measure the stress that vet just put that bp through, although I'm sure he didn't mean it!

[_BoidFinatic_]

I was at the Snake store recently where the owner had to force-feed 5 hatchling WC ball pythons, because they had not eaten since he purchased them from the show. He force-fed them 1 pinky mouse each and since then they have been thriving! Eating on their own, adventuring around in the evening, and shedding of course! When I saw that, my opinion of FF changed. It was a bit stressful for the owner and I am sure a bit stressful for the snakes also, but it turned out well. They have all been sold at this point (after they have each eaten 2 hoppers).

[Vianky]

So I take it u guys dont think I should try and feed it in 3 days?

[Sputnik]

So I take it u guys dont think I should try and feed it in 3 days?

I'd wait 10 - 14 days, being it has a loaded gut that time span won't hurt.

[elevatethis]

Sputnik....how do you have any idea what, in fact, the vet did give the snake?

Chances are the vet administered a solution containing electrolytes, among other things, to give the snake's system a jumpstart. This is not a "meal replacement" and its effects could wear off in the timespan that you suggest waiting.

My advice, to you Vianky, is to leave a live fuzzy/hopper mouse with the snake overnight and see what happens. Fuzzy mice are not equipped to do any damage to the snake and a long period of calm and darkness may entice an otherwise weakened or reluctant feeder to at least get hungry and eat on its own. Give it a shot, and hope for the best!