Birth Defect. What to do

[Sevo]

3 more babies came out of the eggs today but one of them has a birth defect. It seems as the abdominal wall did not close all the way and some of the intestines and muscle are coming out of it.

What would you do???



here is what it looks like:

[lord jackel]

That is too bad...he is cute.


Since it won't fix itself on its own and more then likely will end up getting infected is left alone you really only have 2 options that I can see.

1. Euthanize - I don't know how you do this with a snake humanily so if everyone else agrees someone with more experience can help.

2. Take him to the Vet for surgery to fix it.

Maybe someone with more experience will have another option

[lillyorchid]

Ouch! Poor little baby

I'd first of all keep that moist so it doesn't dry up and die. Keep him on a moist paper towle.

Second of all I'd be on the phone with my vet getting an appointment ASAP to get he/she in there to see if anything could be done to fix it. If not then I'd have the snake put down since it will not be able to live with part of it's insides out in the open air. It will just get infected and the snake will slowly and painfully die.

Please let us know what happens with the little cutie.

[Sevo]

Thanks guys, that is what I figured. I already have it wrapped in moist guaze. It will loose blood supply soon as it is constricted by that band of muscle around it, so it will die off soon= infection...I will have to put it down.. That really sucks. I guess I just needed a second opinion.. thanks

I guess with the highs there are lows as well.

[lord jackel]

Given that timing is an issue...you might consider just calling Adam (at 8 Ball) and asking his opinion...maybe he has another idea since he has pry seen more than anyone here.

[Sevo]

Given that timing is an issue...you might consider just calling Adam (at 8 Ball) and asking his opinion...maybe he has another idea since he has pry seen more than anyone here.

Thats a great idea. I will see what I can find out.

[lillyorchid]

I guess with the highs there are lows as well.

Sadly yes that is true with any kind of animal breeding, birthing, hatching, etc. Sometimes things just happen like that. It sucks, but there isn't much you can do about it. All you can do is choose what's right for that living creature and go from there.

[Ginevive]

Would there be anything that a vet could do? I would have called off of work and scrapped any plans I had and driven the baby to the vet the second I saw it.

[Thomas Jones]

DO NOT PUT THAT SNAKE DOWN. The snake will absorb it or it will fall off it is normal. That is a healthy snake he will be fine give it time. It will close over.

[Thomas Jones]

That is where the cord was attached to the yolk. He will be fine. It will go away witht he first shed.