There's something more wrong with Shelby..

I just took Shelby out for her evening treatment for her blister disease. When I lifted her up, I heard some drips of water. My first thought was that she either urinated, or there was condensation from her medication on the roof of her plastic hide.

It was neither of those things. I took her out and examined her more closely. Her throat seemed somewhat swelled or enlarged, and a clear fluid, slightly thicker than water dripped from her nose and mouth! Is this some sort of severe RI, or something else? Her head seemed a bit wobbly as well.

I'm so worried about her.. I'm afraid she's going to die. If it wasn't so late at night, I'd call the vet.

What a mess. I'd run her into the vet asap today :( Good luck.

I hope she's okay!!! Take her to the vet.

Ok, so I checked in on her this morning, and the strangest thing.. she's 200% better! The swelling is gone, no fluid, and she's more alert, more feisty, and stronger than I've seen her in weeks. Completely different snake.

Only thing I did different was put a black light heat lamp on her last night.

lol I bet you picked her up right after she got herself a big drink of water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack_Hammer

lol I bet you picked her up right after she got herself a big drink of water.

---

Oh wow, can that really happen? Geez, poor thing.

Yes it can. I've done it myself. It seems to me to be a flight response. It's alot easier to run on an empty stomach.

I must have scared her, poor thing. I hope she got herself another drink. lol

Boy I'm relieved.. that does make perfect sense.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack_Hammer

Yes it can. I've done it myself. It seems to me to be a flight response. It's a lot easier to run on an empty stomach.

---

Actually it's not a flight response. A snake's esophagus doesn't close as tightly as those in other animals. When you pick up a snake after it has taken a drink of water, that sometimes causes a little bit of the water to drool back out. It seems thicker because it's had a chance to mix with saliva in the mean time.

K

Very interesing. I figured that was why it was thicker. When her head was pointed slightly down, it just poured out. I should have thought of that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KLG

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack_Hammer

Yes it can. I've done it myself. It seems to me to be a flight response. It's a lot easier to run on an empty stomach.

---

Actually it's not a flight response. A snake's esophagus doesn't close as tightly as those in other animals. When you pick up a snake after it has taken a drink of water, that sometimes causes a little bit of the water to drool back out. It seems thicker because it's had a chance to mix with saliva in the mean time.

K

---

Hmmm... very interesting. You learn something new every day. Thanks

No problem. I was pretty amazed the first time it was explained to me - it's fascinating to see how different snakes are from so many other creatures.

:)

K

BTW - how is Shelby's whole blister condition going? Any improvement?

My fingers are crossed for ya! ;)

K

I don't think it can help but look disgusting. But they are all scabbed over, but I believe they are healing. I still haven't gotten her to eat. I may even go so far at to offer her a live rat pink.

I'm still treating her 2x daily with enrofloxacin/silver sulfadiazine antibacterial-antimycotic emulsion. And yes, I had to read the bottle in order to type that! It's meant for dogs' ears, but my vet said it's good for healing it up. I was using betadine before, but it was so sticky, when Shelby moved she was tearing off her new scabs!

Plus that I change her substrate (shiny paper) 2x daily.

Last summer, I was holding Bela with her head kind of hanging down. The same kind of clear fluid you guys mentioned, dripped out of her mouth. Immediately I righted her head and supported her better. I will never hold any of my snakes like that again!