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I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
I do not know how to explain this honestly... but ... Elizabeth has not ate in like... a month and a half... she ate and normally she will go two weeks after she eats then sheds and two weeks later ( a month ) she eats the day she is done shedding... so... most recently she ate... two weeks later went into shed like normal.. and then shed and all was good... I tried feeding her and she acted skittish towards the rat... I tried every trick I know and normally she eats... but she wasn't having it... i thought maybe she was just being a diva... then a few days later I was holding her... well my boyfriend was... and like... he was like "come look at this!" and I went and she had a large dripping of snot coming out of her nose... so automatically I checked her for wheezing, popping, and opened her mouth with a pencil to check for fluid or bubbles... but it all looked clear... I checked her tank temps and found out her heating pad wasn't on high enough so I turned it up and I havent had a problem since....
a few days later... i went to look at her and i noticed her eye looked... metallic almost... it reminded me of like... mercury in a thermometer... like... when looking at her through the glass tank and with the lamp shining on her... so then I took her out and looked at her close up and I think she may have a retained eye cap... but it doesn't look like what I have seen online of retained caps... it looks (to me) like a cataract of sorts... and she acts jumpy to my hand movments (which she normally never did)... she would act jumpy when she was in shed and had trouble seeing... so I can only assume that she either is going blind... has a retained cap... or... idk? >< there is a noticeable off-white color to a circular portion of her left eye... that is not present in her right... I cannot get pictures at this point... I will tomorow if I can... anyone have any ideas? ><
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Yes pics would be helpful
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It is hard to say without pictures. Could be a retained eye cap, could be the start of another shed cycle. Its hard to believe that your snake would just start going blind in one eye out of no where. Are you sure there was no trauma?
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaorte
It is hard to say without pictures. Could be a retained eye cap, could be the start of another shed cycle. Its hard to believe that your snake would just start going blind in one eye out of no where. Are you sure there was no trauma?
she has the LEAST traumatic life of any snake :) The only real activity that could cause anything like that was I took her with me for like.. two hours in my car to pick up my boyfriend... and she was under my jacket, around my neck, the whole time... just chillin she didnt even move much... thats what I love about her, how she is so chill :D
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Hmmm I do see what you mean. That is rather peculiar. Personally, I would wait for the next shed cycle and see how the eye looks after that. If it still looks weird, you might want to make an appointment with the vet.
It doesn't look like it is infected or anything. Does she seem to act normal?
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and honestly... its just like.. a discoloration to me... I don't see the "opaque" area like... protruding from her eye... as if it were a mass on its own... so idk... maybe she just has swirly opaque colors in her eyes? >< its just odd cause I have never noticed it before and yea im a super scared mommy :(
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaorte
Hmmm I do see what you mean. That is rather peculiar. Personally, I would wait for the next shed cycle and see how the eye looks after that. If it still looks weird, you might want to make an appointment with the vet.
It doesn't look like it is infected or anything. Does she seem to act normal?
That's just the thing... she acts completely normal... her muscle responses are STRONG... she does not act weak... she is active at night and hides at day... she slithers around fine... I roll her on her back and she can flip herself over... and she seems to have sight because I can slowly put my hand towards her face and she shys away... (it may be clouded sight)
there is honestly not any herp vets in like.. four cities around me.. I haven't searched any further than 2 hours away... so idk what to do... >< most vets here don't treat reptiles
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trey Yeoman
That's just the thing... she acts completely normal... her muscle responses are STRONG... she does not act weak... she is active at night and hides at day... she slithers around fine... I roll her on her back and she can flip herself over... and she seems to have sight because I can slowly put my hand towards her face and she shys away... (it may be clouded sight)
there is honestly not any herp vets in like.. four cities around me.. I haven't searched any further than 2 hours away... so idk what to do... >< most vets here don't treat reptiles
As I said, just wait until the next shed. To me, the eye doesn't look that different. There might just be a little shed stuck on there or something. Just make sure you watch the eye. If it starts to look infected or starts bulging, then go on the hunt for a reptile vet. Looks like you might have some options in the jacksonville area.
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i wood take it to the vet!
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
If it is a retained eye cap, getting some moisture into the snakes skin is going to help quite a bit.
Since the eyes/eyecaps are on the top of the head soaking is only partially effective.
When I have snakes with retained eyecaps, I soak them for 20 minutes then put them in a wet snake bag and put the bag back into the cage and leave the snake in it overnight. Not only does this keep the skin moist, as the snake crawls around in the bag, they pretty much have to rub the eyecap on the inside of the bag.
This is the best way (I have found) to get of a retained eye cap with the lease amount of trauma to the snake.
Be sure to keep an eye on the snake, as prolonged exposure to wet conditions can cause scale rot.
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Does it look like it's on the surface, like an oil or some liquid got on her eye, or does it seem to be on the inside of her eye? From the pictures it looks like maybe she brushed her eye against an oil of some sort, I know I had to (gently) wipe my pastels eye because he had little coconut fiber specks on it for like a week....Something to thing of. Have you tried letting her slither through a damp towel??
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
Taking it to the vet sounds easy, but I am one of those poor stories of no money and full time college with loan debt to back it up ;) so... DIY solutions are always better :)
I plan on just waiting till next shed unless I notice some change in her eye... the only issue is that Im afraid she wont eat... but we will see when I feed all the snakes on monday :) (at least my colubrids are doing okay lol)
thanks guys
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
Quote:
Originally Posted by LGray23
Does it look like it's on the surface, like an oil or some liquid got on her eye, or does it seem to be on the inside of her eye? From the pictures it looks like maybe she brushed her eye against an oil of some sort, I know I had to (gently) wipe my pastels eye because he had little coconut fiber specks on it for like a week....Something to thing of. Have you tried letting her slither through a damp towel??
I havent thought of that honestly... it seems like it may be a sort of oil.. but... hm... interesting idk... i cant think of where she would get something on her eye like that... hmmmmm <3 I am going to try the moist pillow case idea to see if she will just rub her eyes on it, maybe it will wipe off :)
I think i may be 2 nervous to just wipe her eye... what would i use to wipe a snake eye with? toilet paper?
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
I do not by any means for this to be as personal as it's going to sound, so please bear with me: along the lines of what LGray said regarding the oil and you mentioning having had her around your neck while driving, could it be makeup? body lotion? perfume? shower gel on your skin that she got in that eye?
I have trouble remembering what I had for breakfast most days, but if you can think about it, do you know how she was laying around your neck, as to whether or not that eye (her left or right side was oriented against your skin if you were facing her tail end, etc. or however you'd judge that) would have been against your skin or not?
Again, I apologize for the personal nature of that last statement but it does appear to be an oil of some sort and if you haven't changed bedding or anything, I would consider the makeup/body lotion, etc. route as a possible contamination source. Good luck and I hope that helps and she's none the worse for wear!
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Good Luck, I sent you a PM with the 3 vets in Jax that I found. There are some in Gainevilles too, but I know that is outta your way. I hope things get better. But I figured giving you a list of the vets would help incase you need it!
-Kristen-
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Re: I think Queen Elizabeth may be going blind?!?!
Looks like a retained spectacle.
It should be common practice to examine every shed in order the make sure both spectacles have come off.
As for oil or other substances permeating the cap - highly unlikely - I wouldn't worry about it.
In the meantime, if you can't afford a vet, leave her alone until the next shed cycle. If the eye swells or if the shape becomes irregular, you will have to take her in.
As for stuffing her in a a bag, or bathing her or mucking with what you think might be a retained spectacle - don't. Just leave her alone while making sure all her husbandry parameters are correct.
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