Permetherine Poisoning - Some Qs

This is a little complicated so please bear with me but I'd like some advice.

A friend of mine who runs a shop was able to get me a deal on a piebald ball python from a local breeder - because he bought so many snakes he was able to get the pied's price knocked down. Nothing that's unbelievable, but a good deal. He was going to keep the snake in the back of his shop in QT until I had paid it off.

So, I made the first payment, two weeks passed, everything is good. Then it was time for me to make the second payment last Friday. But the guy called me on... Tuesday I think and said there was a problem. The snake had a head wobble and it's tongue was lolling from it's mouth. He'd already rushed it to the vet and he said the vet said it was likely a bad/unusual reaction to permetherine in the QT tank, which was left over from a previous snake being in the enclosure and having it as a preventative treatment two months ago. Still with me? So the vet gave the snake some type of syrum to counteract the permetherine and it's apparently doing better, but hasn't 100% recovered when I last asked on Saturday.

I'm not making anymore payments on the snake for now because of this issue. My questions are these: Could those neuro problems be permanent? If they are, would you still buy the snake as a breeder or no? Do you think it may have other lasting issues from this incident? What would you do, if you were me, and this was your friend?

I have no clue what permethrin poisioning is, but if the snake has had any kind of neuro problem, no matter how good the deal is, I wouldnt even think about buying it. I want all my snakes to have clean bills of health even more so if i plan on breeding them.

friend or no friend I wouldnt purchase a snake that has had those kind of problems.

See... that's where I'm leaning too. But at the same time I don't want to just come off and sound like I'm being ****ish, especially if the snake can and will make a full recovery (I just don't know if it will).

I would be worried about the long term implications, shortened life span or something.

I am too, which is why I'm asking to see if anyone knows anything. I'll also call my own vet tomorrow and ask her the same types of questions.

I a little confused here, the snake was put in a tub that was used to treat another snake 2 months prior (I'm assuming for mites). and still had enough Permetherine residue to cause the pied neuro damages?

1. was the first snake bathed in the stuff?
2. doesn't this guy sanitize his equipment?
3. as wilomn would put it "I smell tuna"

Sorry, it is kind of confusing. From what I was told the permetherin was used as a preventative on the previous snake only, it didn't actually have mites. He told me the snake had a very unusual reaction to the permetherin becasue allegedly the syrum worked some.

1. The pied was not supposed to have been treated. As for the previous snake I have no idea.
2. ...I dunno. Maybe not since he thought the other snake was healthy.
3. I definately see where you're coming from. Makes me a little... more leery too.

On the paperwork that comes with Provent-a-mite (which contains permethrin as the active ingredient) it states that once dry, it will remain effective for "up to 30 days or longer" and also that you should re-treat every 30 days as a preventative. For the product to last 60 days, in a high enough concentration to cause a severe reaction seems extreme. Not to mention the fact that the enclosure should have been fully sterilized prior to introducing a different snake.

I personally would not buy the snake. It has suffered neurological distress, some or most of which could be permanent. It doesn't sound as if it is being kept in the cleanest/best environment and there could possibly be more to the story than you are being told. I'd steer clear and save my money to buy from a reputable breeder where you can get the snake into your hands with it having to go through a middle man first.

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Originally Posted by mlededee

On the paperwork that comes with Provent-a-mite (which contains permethrin as the active ingredient) it states that once dry, it will remain effective for "up to 30 days or longer" and also that you should re-treat every 30 days as a preventative. For the product to last 60 days, in a high enough concentration to cause a severe reaction seems extreme. Not to mention the fact that the enclosure should have been fully sterilized prior to introducing a different snake.

I personally would not buy the snake. It has suffered neurological distress, some or most of which could be permanent. It doesn't sound as if it is being kept in the cleanest/best environment and there could possibly be more to the story than you are being told. I'd steer clear and save my money to buy from a reputable breeder where you can get the snake into your hands with it having to go through a middle man first.

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I agree - I also wonder if he may have actually had a temp spike with the animal as well - which would describe some of the neurological problems the snake is displaying.

At this point, I'd say thanks, but no thanks. Whatever happened to the pied appears to be the result of the care it received from your friend. Your friend should not expect you to bail him out by completing the purchase.

yes this sounds like a temp spike more than a chemical issues ( unless he sprayed the snake and does not wanto own up to the fact. I know this chemical is dangerous to cats, as mom got one that getting over the issuesfrom getting the fles treatment on it that was 55%permethine. I would not purchase the snake as the nero issues can prevent it from eating and other things. but i am leaning more ot a heat spike issue .. I can only see this being chemical from direct contact and or it was sprayed andtherew was no air holes.