HELP Possible medical emergency!

Okay, so my carpet python is extremely aggressive. She struck at me from her cage and hit the wall, and when I went over to look at her, part of her lip was wrinkled up like she was snarling. Obviously, she's a snake, so she wasn't. I grabbed her to get a closer look, and it turns out she somehow managed to pierce her lip with the front tooth on the right side. The tooth is still in place and rigid, not loose or wiggly at all. I tried pulling her lip back down over it with tweezers but it just won't come.

I've never seen anything like this so I'm kind of at a loss for what to do. Is there a quick fix that I'm just not thinking of? If not, I'm going to take her to a guy at the LPS who knows what he's doing, and if he can't do anything, I'll make the trek to the herp vet. She doesn't seem to be in that much pain from it, really. I'm more worried about it getting infected than anything else.

Hi,

Can you massage the lip down lower by starting at the top of her snout above it?


dr del

Please post pics.

I had this happen with a large hogg island boa about 12 years ago. I was trying to spot clean her enclosure but she apparently wasnt accepting visitors. She only ever bit me once and it was pretty hard. I am usually really good at not jerking away when I get bit but I jerked pretty hard that time. When I looked back down at her her lower jaw was curled down about 90 degrees and upper about 30 degrees. I freaked out and took her to the vet. He literally rolled her mouth back into shape. He said as long as she acts fairly normal and takes her next meal with no difficulty she should be fine. She never acted weird and she took her meals perfectly.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't go see a vet. It will most likely set your mind at ease. Snakes have pretty flexible jaws. Hopefully it doesnt end up to be too serious.

Good Luck!

She won't relax long enough for that :/ Grabbing her behind the head is the only way to keep her from flying out of my hands, so she's really tense and she won't relax her face muscles at all.

A friend suggested holding her underwater for a few seconds, so I got a few pictures while trying that. Obviously, it didn't work.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...666/photo1.jpg
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...666/photo2.jpg

oh...that is way different than I pictured.

I would gently open her mouth. Get the tooth unstuck. Don't worry too much about the tooth coming out of her gums. Snakes lose teeth all the time when they bite prey (or people). I've picked quite a few out of my skin over the years. Just make sure it is out of her upper lip.

I think I'm going to let my guy give it a try first, since he's been keeping for 15 years and I've been keeping for 3 XD If he can't do anything, I'll try again with a toothpick or something.

Darn snakes! You think that everything is fine, and then there is something wrong with them lol!I would take a tongue depressed and git it to open it's mouth. It should be alright though

I dont blame you. I've been keeping for about 25 years now and I have seen a lot but I'd still refer to anyone with more experience. Keep us updated.

O thats too bad! I hope she gets better soon. I probably wouldnt feed her until you feel the mouth is situated.

The teeth are curved backwards so if i was you i'd find something flat like a small screwdriver and push inwards towards the throat on the skin right above the tooth and it should pop off. that is if it's stuck in the bottom jaw. can't tell by the pic if it's in the bottom or top.

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Originally Posted by MorphMaster

Darn snakes! You think that everything is fine, and then there is something wrong with them lol!I would take a tongue depressed and git it to open it's mouth. It should be alright though

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It's not opening it that's the problem. It's her top tooth through her top lip. So she's kind of stuck in an Elvis face right now.

Poor baby. I had that happen to a ball python. After a few hours, she sorted it out herself and was none the worse for wear. I think the greater risk is constantly messing with it and stressing the snake out. Let it rest overnight and see how it looks in the morning before resorting to physical force. That's my suggestion, anyhow.

This is interesting.

Somebody please chime in if I'm totally wrong here. My thought would be to simply pull the tooth right out. I'd imagine the risk of infection would be greater if the tooth stayed in too long.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cecilbturtle

This is interesting.

Somebody please chime in if I'm totally wrong here. My thought would be to simply pull the tooth right out. I'd imagine the risk of infection would be greater if the tooth stayed in too long.

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X2

Im still green but due the fact the do lose teeth. Id give it a pull. Just my .02

Brought her to my guy this morning. He ended up breaking her tooth just enough to unhook her. Very, very little bloodshed. Dad put some antibacterial on since I wasn't home, and she should be back to normal in no time.