Help!

If she's a young snake, and you get whatever it is treated, she ought to be able to get over what ever it is. Not trying to be condesending, but I had similar thoughts when I read your post. And hour/hour and a half drive isn't too bad to get to a vet. I just took my girl that far to get treatment for an RI...the town I live in doesn't have an exotics vet, and the next decent sized town is at minimum an hour away. I know it's probably alot of money, but I honestly haven't ever considered the length of the trip over an animals health.

Also, there really isn't any way to know if she *can* get over without taking her to a vet. Even over the phone they can't really tell what all is going on with her. I'm afraid this is going to sound rude, but I can't think of any other way to word it...IMO there is a pretty considerable difference in an elderly cat and a young BP who has another 30 or so potential years. Like I said, I don't mean to come off as rude or condesending, but I would say this to any one I know... What ever you do, I hope she gets better!!

Hi JuliaGoolia,

Is your BP a normal, or a specific type of morph?

I know what it can be like to have a beloved family pet become ill. My parent's had been wanting to put in a second bathroom for ages, but when their dog became ill with kidney stones, they had to drive nearly two hours for a vet and then drain the 'second bathroom savings' to get her operated on. To date they have no second bathroom, but they do have a loving little dog that fills them with joy.

Personally I did not read any condescending in slartibartfast's post. It is a simple fact that here, online, we don't have the benefit of speaking face-to-face and we don't know each other personally. Over time we can become familiar with other posters, but when 'meeting' somebody new, we can only work on first impressions.

That said, please understand that (especially in the herp world) there are often people who 'pass through' and show an alarming lack of consideration for their herps. I admit that when I first read your messages in which you stressed the time it would take to get to a vet, I was taken aback, assuming that this inconvenience was your only qualm in seeking professional medical care for your snake.

However, as I've read more of your messages explaining the situation in greater detail, as well as providing background on your experiences with ill pets, I know this is not the case.

I would have to agree that your young BP might stand a chance at a good recovery if it is treated asap.

I hope that whatever decision you come to, and whatever path you take, both you and your snake will be best for it. (And please, don't 'freeze' - if she must be put down, have a vet do it or at the least use the humane gas method mentioned.)

I wish you both the best.

Julia, what I read from your post is that the snake's health is not worth driving an hour for. You say that it's been sick for a week, but you haven't yet taken it to a vet. Phone consults are absolutely no substitute for a physical exam.

At the end of the day, if you can tell yourself "It's okay that I never got the snake any treatment because it probably wouldn't have worked anyway" then ultimately it's on your conscience.

But please, don't brag about how much money you spent on your cat. I make $9 an hour and I work two jobs to support my household, and I still manage to spend far more than that on rescues...animals who I don't intend to keep, but save merely because I think they are worth it...because they have a chance for a long healthy life ahead of them. Last month I paid a $500 bill for a dog who came to me ill, and who left here a few weeks later healthy and on his way to a new home.

If you are not prepared to provide medical care for your animals when they become ill, the bottom line is that you should not have them. That probably sounds harsh...it is harsh...but that's what I firmly believe in. If you are only there for them them when things are cheap and easy, then you're not really there for them at all.

I dont think Julia was "bragging" about her cat...she merely felt like she'd been put into a position to have to defend herself and that is what is most closely on her mind.

One thing I haven't heard anyone mention, but came to me as I read the very first post just now...is has the snake come into contact with any chemicals? This probably wouldn't be anything obvious because I'm sure you wouldn't consciously spray for bugs right around the enclosure or anything....BUT...is it possible that some sort of pesticides or other chemical agents were used somewhere in the household that the snake may have been inadvertently exposed to?

If that is the case, the snake may recover with proper vet care. However, as was mentioned, you won't know until you actually see a vet who knows what they are looking for. It's unfortunate that the closer vet is on vacation. You're the only one here Julia, who really knows the full situation and everything that's been going on. Only you can determine if it's "worth it" or not. I know we all hope you are able to try.

Hi,

There are also parasites that can cause neurological symptoms so it need not be something hard to treat that is causing it.


dr del

what kind of bedding are you useing??? if u have him in ceder u need to change his bedding RIGHT AWAY.... sounds like he has ceder poisoing.... we've had 2 like the way u said ur snake was acting... and take him to a vet right away

I believe if you have to put her down it is important to have a necropsy done so IBD can be either confirmed or eliminated as a cause of death.

In my opinion if it is IBD it is important to let the seller/breeder know so he does no longer sell animals until this problem is contained.

IBD can wipe out entire collection if an animal is sold to an individual and proper quarantine precautions are not taken.

Well - here's my update..

and answers to a few questions..

We found an exotic animal vet in the next town over and actually got in to see her. Not a herp specialist, but she had a good amount of knowledge. (I think?!)

From what the vet said, she has an inner ear infection. (That, or some major physical trauma happened, and unless some snake hater snuck into my house, I don't think that happened.) It could have happened in the two days the temperature outside drastically dropped.. we're in an Ohio winter, and the house heat drops significantly at night when everyone is asleep. We had the red night light on, but it still got pretty cold in there for her for those two days - until we figured out to throw a blanket on her tank to keep her heat regulated in there better overnight. I just didn't think that it got cold enough to make her sick...:( In retrospect, she IS just a baby...

We have to medicate her - an antibiotic, and a vitamin supplemented anti-inflamitory.. so that should be interesting. She didn't seem to mind it so much her first dose, so that's a good sign.

Answers to posted questions:
- no chemicals. She's here in the office, and I haven't even dusted using pledge or used any chemicals in here since her arrival. I've gotten to know my handy dandy feather duster again.
-the bedding we use is the carpet/felt type. She is my 14 y/o son's snake (in name only, it would seem..) and he's colorblind.. it's a lot easier for him to clean out the tank with that as apposed to the aspen. We may move to paper towels or some such paper soon, though.
-she is a normal BP. I've read in a lot of posts that Spider morphs have a little bit of the "spinning gene". I wasn't really sure, to be honest, until I looked at pictures of Spiders - and sh'es definately normal.
-No contact with any other snakes, aside from when we bought her in October. She is a lonely girl....

Thanks to all of you that were helpful!!:O)

Keep us posted. I was just going to say that snakes can have URI long before any mucus shows up (our BP is currently on antibiotics for a URI and never had mucus, but did have a barely audible "pop" when breathing).

The antibiotics should cover a lot of illnesses. Keep us posted and good luck!! Sounds like you really love that girl! :)

Well, Our Lady Dagron is taking her meds okay - I guess. She doesn't mind the antibiotic too much, and getting her to open up isn't as hard as we thought it would be. She spits out a little, (drools??) but most gets in. As we've only had to dose her once with the anti-inflamitory, I don't know if it's that she does NOT like it at all, or if she had just pretty much had it with being medicated :/ I'm not sure if she actually swallowed any - I felt a big drop on my finger..maybe it just seemed big. She didn't seem happy about that one at all - she got VERY squirmy!! We only have to give her that every other day, so we'll see how she reacts to it tomorrow.

Anyone have any hints on medicating them a little easier/less stressfull? We're using a plunger oral syringe for both meds.. she seems to do okay - just wondering if anyone could share any of thier expertise! :)

Thanks!