Scared To Death My Snake Has IBD - My Collection?

Like I said before Dr Stahl is one of the best, he's not cheap but he does know what he is doing. He and my normal herp vet Dr Gold here in MD actually saved my own collection from a really weird out of the norm RI infection that one of the snakes I bought had and yes it did spread to the rest of my collection. Was it cheap? OH NO. Was it worth it? You betcha! Best of luck to your snakes!

Usually, particularly on big expenses like this, vets will let you put some of the payment down up front, and then pay the rest off little by little. You should ask the vet if he would consider such a thing. Also, I know it's a very tough decision, but considering what a tough spot you're already in, you may want to think of having the snake euthanized and then necropsied. I know this sounds unthinkable. I'd be saying the same thing in my position. But if a very knowledgeable vet has already told you her chances of survival are slim to none (regardless of what she has) then it may be in your best interest (and that of your other snakes) to save the money you would spend on trying to treat a possibly incurable disease, and just go ahead and do the necropsy. When I had a necropsy done, it only cost me $80. Shop around. Sometimes you can find vets willing to do necropsies in unusual places. I know I did. The vet didn't advertise as an exotics vet, but I was recommended to her by another vet. Turns out she did know lizards, (which was what I had at the time) even though she didnt know much about other herps. I got lucky, and paid very little. Ask around at dog and cat vets too, and see if they know of anyone.

It may be too late to help the snake showing severe symptoms, but there is a chance that you can help the others. If you euthanize her, you end her suffering, and make it possible to find out what, exactly, is terrorizing your collection. I'm not saying it's necessarily the right thing to do, but it may be the most helpful (and, as much as I hate to say it because money should never be a factor in things like this) and the cheapest route.

I'm sorry that you're faced with this decision. However, I believe very strongly that everything happens for a reason. You'll be a wiser keeper from this point on, and you've learned several valuable lessons. Please take them to heart, and best of luck with whatever you decide to do. :(

Thank you, Mindibun, you understand the position I am coming from. Yes, I have made some bad decisions, but they are irreversible now, so I don't plan to dwell on them, but rather learn from them.

That's the way life should be lived. ;) Please keep us updated, and let us know what you decide and how it all goes.

ask them about care credit! it's a credit card specifically for vet and medical type bills. i almost had to put my dog down because of the $700 bill i couldn't afford, but they got me signed up for care credit right there at the vet. you can even go to carecredit.com and get signed up if they can't do it there for you. I was only 18/19 and had no credit score, and didn't have a parent sign for me or anything, and i got a $2,000 limit. it allows you to make monthly payments on your bill, and the minimum monthly payment for me has always been as low as $15 or $20, and you can pay online. call the vet and ask them if they take it, and get signed up if they do. or find a vet that does take it.. it's pretty popular thing though so most vets should take it i believe. good luck!!!

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Originally Posted by immortalic

hot sauce and hot shot are definately 2 different things... Trust me, I would never let anyone put hot sauce around a snake, or any animal for that matter.

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Off the subject but birds like hot sauce, peppers etc :) but yeah I have seen hot shot cause some issues even when used, off and on.

I'm going to try the care credit, I'd never heard of it, I'm just hoping that I can get it... I have a good credit score, especially for my age, and I know I can afford 15-20 dollar payments. I had never heard of anyone having any problems with using hot shot, I wish I would have known. Nice to know about birds stormwulf, lol. Too bad I can't stand most birds, they kinda scare me...