found my snake in the washer!

Yes a top load spin cycle would have been rough. I think that he could have survived it. The fact that he threw up would tell me that he must have been thrashed around, held his breath or ingested something. If the wash was set to hot I would with out a doubt take him in. Obviously I dont know exactly but I would guess a vet visit for something like this will be 50 dollars for the appointment and that might be it! If the vet flushes him some how or gives meds then maybe add 30-60 dollars on top of that if I had to guess. Just in case I would check his belly for injuries. I would hold him and let him slither from my hands into his enclosure while I inspected down along his spine for any kinks or visual injuries. If you are not taking him to the vet I would ensure (of all times to do this now would be the best)he has 2 great hides, exactly proper temps and humidity where he can be on the hot or cold side in a hide. He will need to relax. I would also make sure that his water bowl is filled 3/4 high roughly at all times with fresh water. Try to maintain your feeding schedule and update us on when he eats. I would probably wait 2 days from now and offer him food to hopefully help flush out the nasty until then do a quick inspection and then leave him alone. I'm sorry this happened but now you'll just have to wait it out and see or take him to the vets. I hope that after he relaxes and gets some fluids in him and maybe some food that he will recover!

Yes if he went threw the cycle I think he would be on top trying to gasp for air and stay afloat. Be very thankful that it was cold water and not x-hot!!!! He would have had a hell of a ride and probably injested a good amount of soap as well as getting belly injuries from the agitator in the center of the machine where he most likely tried clinging to in order to stay afloat.

Yes, I would definitely take him to the vet. Besides injesting the soap, between the agitator and spin cycle he may have internal injuries or even broken ribs as well.

You opened the doornand he was there? Sounds like he went through the cycle. Doubt he would open the machine, close the lid and then have these symptoms. It probably threw up due to the spin cycle. You need to get it fresh water, leave it alone and at least call the vet.

Please keep us updated. I'm curious now.

Speechless. It sounds to me like it was in the clothes when you threw them in the wash. Poor snake... I hope everything ends up OK.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrLang

Speechless. It sounds to me like it was in the clothes when you threw them in the wash. Poor snake... I hope everything ends up OK.

---

Definitely what I'm thinking.
A vet visit is definitely in order to have him analyzed for internal complications or injuries. Until then, he must be left alone with fresh water.

This might be way of topic but how do you start a post in this part of the forum?

Off topic

Just noticed this thread. I had a very similar experience a number of years ago. At the time I had a Ruthven's Kingsnake that got out of his cage and dissappeared. I looked through my whole small apartment, but didnt find him. So I went on with life like usual. About a week after this, I did my laundry in the apartment washroom- washed and dried it, pulled the clothes from the dryer and threw them into a hamper. I took the hamper back to my apartment and let it sit there for a couple days (I was a lazy bachelor). So now it was about a week and a half after the snake had escaped, that I take the hamper of clothes, dump it on my bed, and I discovered the snake was among the clothes.

Along the top of his back about one scales width, nearly the entire length of his body, it was scuffed and had numerous spots that were bloody (dried). He was alive, but very lethargic and didn't respond much to my picking him up. I honestly didnt hold out much hope for him, but I put him back in his cage and gave him some fresh water. He drank for a solid 30 minutes or so and then just rested. The next day I checked on him, and he appeared a bit more responsive. His back was scabbed up pretty well and there was no active bleeding. So I watched him for a few more days and he appeared to be improving, and I successfully fed him about a week after his ordeal.

So I believe he went through the wash and a dryer cycle, and lived to hiss the tale. Other than a scar along the top of his back, he came through it without any noticeable problems. The scar became less and less noticeable as he has shed. I still have him years later, though he getting to be an old snake (at least 18 years old now).