Sick Ball Python

About five days ago my baby python looked like it was going to defecate because it was extremely fat near its tail. It looked like this for two days and when I checked up on it again it looked as if it had pooped, but I didn't see any in its cage -- I believe it expelled fluid because its tail-region was no longer swollen. When I tried to pick it up it started jerking hysterically from side to side as if it was blind and finally ended up turning its head upside-down as if it had no sense of what right-side-up is. It didn't respond to any movement, nor did it retract its head when I touched its nose like it normally does. Sometimes it would go into a tantrum and flip itself around for no reason.

Today I woke up and it was practically lifeless -- It would take in one huge breath every 15 seconds. I thought it would be dead by the time I got home from work, but it wasn't; In fact, it seemed like it was somehow recovering. It is somewhat lifeless, but it does actually move and now it can focus on things, as in keep its head pointing at the thing it is focused on as opposed to before when it had no perspective of what was around it.

I know it needs to eat because it regurgitated a mouse pup so it probably hasn't had nurishment for an entire month. I tried feeding it a few times prior to it becoming sick but it refused. Judging by its physical status as of now it probably isn't capable of eating. It looks completely normal except for some loose skin near the tail-region.

I honestly don't know how or why it hasn't already died. Any suggestiong on how I can nurse it back to health?

What are your hot and cool side temps? How old? How long have you had it?

That doesn't sound good at all. I think a trip to the vet is definitely in order.

Make sure your husbandry is correct. 92-94 warm side temperature/ 82-84 cool side temperature. Then take the bp to the vet :D

The room I keep it in is kept at around 76-83 degrees, and there is a heating lamp on one side of the tank near its hideout. Its about four to five months old, and I've only had it for two weeks. I'm would rather not take it to a vet and pay money for the "not much else you can do but blah blah blah". What could be done to help a snake at the vet? I figured i'd probably get either an equal or better answer online then I would going to a vet.

Do you have a thermometer to measure the temperature inside the enclosure? What is the temperatures? Most ball python 'sicknesses' are the result of improper husbandry.

You need to take responsibility for your pet, and find a vet that specializes in snakes. There are some things that we may be able to help with but it sounds like you need professional help. A vet can hydrate and medicate your snake if needed. You might see some improvement if you increase your temps. It sounds like you could use a trip to Walmart and grab a Accurite Digital thermometer/hygrometer in the outdoor thermometer section. It will measure two temps and your humidity (just make sure you get the right one). You need to know the temps inside your cage so that you can provide the right sort of environment that will enable your snake to thrive.

The current temperature inside the tank is 82 degrees on the cool side, and on heat lamp side I have previously tested it and it is 92. What about the fluid build-up near the end of its tail? Is an improper temperature responsible for that? I didn't think much of it at first but then it swelled up to about two times the girth of the thickest part on its body.

I've had bad experiences with vets, so I wanted to use that as a last resort. I just found out that it was actually sick just last night and i had to get some sleep for work. I'll look into finding a vet that specializes in snakes, but if I can't find one, would going to a normal vet be worth it? I guess i'll call some places and see if they can do anything in regards to snakes. I live in Las Vegas so it seems like a snake would be the last pet anyone would own here.

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Originally Posted by como

I'm would rather not take it to a vet and pay money for the "not much else you can do but blah blah blah". What could be done to help a snake at the vet? I figured i'd probably get either an equal or better answer online then I would going to a vet.

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I don't usually key in on most threads but I couldn't help it here. You probably shouldn't have decided to own a snake if you weren't willing to take care of it. these animals are not like cats & dogs ( you can't just feed and water them and expect them to take care of themselves). I know Vet bills can be expensive but man, take care of your pet for goodness sakes.

Here is three ARAV (Association of Reptile and Amphibian Vets) listed reptile specialists in Las Vegas.

Dr Christine Kolmstetter
2916 Ivory Reef Ct
Las Vegas, NV 89117-0629

Jason Sulliban
1550 S Rainbow
Las Vegas, NV 89146

Dr Dominic Cacioppo
Park Animal Hosp
8400 S Eastern Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89123-2816

The last one is an Animal Hospital...I would suggest looking them up :D

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Originally Posted by como

I'm would rather not take it to a vet and pay money for the "not much else you can do but blah blah blah". What could be done to help a snake at the vet? I figured i'd probably get either an equal or better answer online then I would going to a vet.

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How sad.

Good luck with your snake.

-adam

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

How sad.

Good luck with your snake.

-adam

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Well said my friend very sad.

I appreciate the responses. I may come off as a little cheap but I honestly never would have thought a vet could do anything for a snake, but obviously I was wrong because every post has stated that I should go to a vet. I have a friend who's a vet and from what he tells me, most of his customers are told to do what is obvious are for the pet owner to do things that he or she had been doing all along to cure the alement... and wasting money at the vet several times myself hasn't done much to increase my faith in them. I guess ill be taking it to the vet.

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Originally Posted by como

Ibut I honestly never would have thought a vet could do anything for a snake

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Well, if the alternative to spending some money to get a trained and educated first hand opinion is watching your snake die, wouldn't you rather spend the money? Even if there is nothing the vet can do, isn't your snake worth finding out for sure?

No one on the internet can diagnose a sick snake 100%, they can only give you opinions (aka, they can make guesses and pretend to be experts) ... a vet can see your snake, examine it, do cultuers, blood work, and form a conclusion based on real evidence .... you know what they say about opinions don't you?

-adam

Well you can look at it this way Como. Taking the snake to the vet, even if they cannot save it, will give you some idea of what caused this. If it is something that a change in your husbandry could have prevented, you will learn better for next time. If it's something that you could not have prevented happening, then you will know you did all you could for your pet. Either way you have answers and a possibility of saving this creature. If you don't get to a good vet, the snake may not have much hope of survival and you will be left w/o your snake and w/o any knowledge of why this occurred or how to possibly prevent it occuring again. Also if the poor animal is indeed dying, humanely euthanizing it at a vet's office is much better than a slow death in it's enclosure.


~~Jo~~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

Well, if the alternative to spending some money to get a trained and educated first hand opinion is watching your snake die, wouldn't you rather spend the money? Even if there is nothing the vet can do, isn't your snake worth finding out for sure?

No one on the internet can diagnose a sick snake 100%, they can only give you opinions (aka, they can make guesses and pretend to be experts) ... a vet can see your snake, examine it, do cultuers, blood work, and form a conclusion based on real evidence .... you know what they say about opinions don't you?

-adam

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If you own a snake or any animal from pet rats to horses, you need to take responsibility for that pet. Understand that if you hop online for a diagnosis you will easily end up with an eight year old telling you it is URI (upper resperitory infection). You need to have a vet properly inform you on your snakes health. Bottom line.
Rusty

I had a bad experience with a vet too and one of my favourite cats died because of it. I didn't use that vet again.


A few years ago one of my young cats nearly died, and if it hadn't been for the vet I have now she would have died at 7 months old. She is now 4 years old and owes her life to the skill of that vet.

I have just taken on a rescue BP and he may need to see the vet after his next shed as he has retained eye caps. We're hoping they'll come off with his next shed, but if they don't, off to the vet he goes. My husband and I are not financially well off but when it comes to the animals - I have 7 snakes, 11 cats and 1 dog, we find the money and take them to the vet if they're ill. We will go without ourselves rather than deny our animals vet care.

If there's a problem with any of our animals, we take them to the vet straight away. By doing this, the problem is easier to cure and is less expensive in the long run rather than let a problem run on until it is major or life threatening, then needing prolonged and expensive vet care.

Basically, nip a problem in the bud before it develops into something huge.

When you take an animal into your care, YOU are responsible for looking after that animal and making sure it does not suffer. I also know that it can be very difficult, especially when you've had a bad experience with one particular vet, but there are many vets around who are very, very good at their job, and very caring people.

I hope as I write this, you have taken your snake to the vet and he is getting better.