Mom won't let me take snake to vet after saying she would

If you guys have seen my only other post, you know that my ball python, Sherman, has been wheezing occasionally. He does this sometimes when he moves around, its not constant. He eats fine and sheds fine too. Well my mom said a while back that she would take me to the vet if Sherman got sick. I asked her this morning if I could and she told me no as soon as I asked. She told me the $45 check up fee was expensive. I told her I'd pay with the $100 Christmas money she was going to give me since we don't do presents or a tree. She told me no because it was money that was coming from her. I don't understand why it matters because I have nothing better to get with it since I love my snake a lot and I'm not really interested in anything else. I'm thinking about asking someone I know to secretly take him to the vet and paying them without telling mom. I want to be able to show my future kids Sherman and move into my own small apartment with him and if something happens to him I really don't want to get another snake and replace him. I probably shouldn't get another snake if he died him since I wouldn't be able to take it to the vet. I just really hope nothings wrong with him.

couldn't you just wait to get the Christmas money and then take care of this yourself? how bad off is the snake; can it last another week?

i'm sorry i missed your previous post and might not know everything. :)

That is really a difficult situation. I am a mom of two teenagers who have pets. I think it's admirable and shows you really care about your snake to be willing to use your Christmas money for it.

I hate to go up against another mom but you might argue that if the $100 is a gift ,then it should not matter to her how you spend it. Gifts should have no strings attached.

I don't know your age, but is it possible for you to earn some money through odd jobs-- babysitting, leaf-raking, etc? This would be your money to spend as you wish.

Is there a reptile store near you? Maybe you can ask them to take a quick look at the snake and see if they feel it should see a vet or not, or if the hissing/wheezing might be normal or there might be an easy thing to try to fix it, since it seems your snake is still thriving otherwise? When my daughter adopted her BP she didn't know much about them yet, and she was concerned about a dry patch on her head. We asked the reptile store guy to take a look and he assured her it was just a bit of retained shed and told her how to take care of it.

See if you can write this vet a letter and explain the situation. Ask if they might offer a discount exam fee or waive it for you since you don't have funds. Or offer to barter like you can clean their lobby or something in payment. Vets generally care about animals and will work with you, especially if they see a young person who cares so much about their animal.

I read through your other post.

So you say he is still eating and shedding and doing great otherwise?
You said there is no constant wheezing or popping, no open mouth breathing, no mucous...

Honestly, I think he may just be fine then. If its only occasionally and there are no other signs at all plus he is eating and shedding it could just be due to his nasal cavity being slightly narrow as he is growing. Or some other harmless issue that the Vet can't really help you with.

As long as things don't get worse at all, I would not take him to the Vet. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem spending money on the Vet if my animals need it (says the $6500 bill for horse surgery on a old broodmare) but I feel that with reptiles its sometimes not actually a good thing to go to the Vet unless there is a good reason.

Snakes stress, esp. Ball Pythons. There will be temperature inconsistencies on the way and at the Vet. The checkup in itself is stressful.

Again, if things progress, if he stops eating, if anything at all seems worse, of course, go to the Vet. But for now I would hold off. But that is just my opinion, you must do what you feel is right.

However, going behind your moms back and wishes may not be a great idea. If it came to the point that things get bad enough to go to a Vet, I would rather keep talking to her, trying to reason (respectfully). If she sees the snake actually doing bad, she may be more open to this. I would even tell her that I would rather place the snake with a rescue that can take it to the vet, than keeping it and having it get sick enough to potentially die. If she sees how serious you and the situation are, she will probably come around. Lying and being sneaky never works out long-term and if you still live with her and at her house, I wouldn't go that route.

She is probably just stressed, wanting to be able to give you something nice for Christmas. Of course getting your pet healthy is a noble, and RIGHT thing to do, but since the snake isn't really that bad off, she may rather want you to have something more then a checkup. I'm just guessing here...

Make sure your enclosure and husbandry is 100% right and keep an eye on your boy. Don't handle right after eating or for a couple days after.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

couldn't you just wait to get the Christmas money and then take care of this yourself? how bad off is the snake; can it last another week?

i'm sorry i missed your previous post and might not know everything. :)

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I can't really take care of it myself because I cannot drive. Sherman has done this for a while and I think a little while longer probably wont be too bad. If there has been no other signs of illness so he might be fine but I don't really want to risk it- and you're fine lol

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Originally Posted by zina10

However, going behind your moms back and wishes may not be a great idea. If it came to the point that things get bad enough to go to a Vet, I would rather keep talking to her, trying to reason (respectfully). If she sees the snake actually doing bad, she may be more open to this. I would even tell her that I would rather place the snake with a rescue that can take it to the vet, than keeping it and having it get sick enough to potentially die. If she sees how serious you and the situation is, she will probably come around. Lying and being sneaky never works out long-term and if you still live with her and at her house, I wouldn't go that route.

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I agree not to go behind her back with the gift money, this would possibly make her not be very understanding at all about your snakes in the future.

I might take some of your advice. Thank you.

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Originally Posted by zina10

As long as things don't get worse at all, I would not take him to the Vet. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem spending money on the Vet if my animals need it (says the $6500 bill for horse surgery on a old broodmare) but I feel that with reptiles its sometimes not actually a good thing to go to the Vet unless there is a good reason.

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Originally Posted by zina10

However, going behind your moms back and wishes may not be a great idea. If it came to the point that things get bad enough to go to a Vet, I would rather keep talking to her, trying to reason (respectfully)...

Lying and being sneaky never works out long-term and if you still live with her and at her house, I wouldn't go that route.

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two points i totally agree with.

IMO i feel like we get a rather large chunk of new keepers thinking their snake has an RI when it's just occasional pops from a tongue-flick or a weak hiss. i hear occasional pops from my snakes, too; in the beginning i had the same reaction but now i know better.

I read through your other post and I'm also leaning against RI, especially if your snake is eating.

Some snakes wheeze while exerting themselves, just like some people breathe hard.

Also it's hard to tell from your profile picture but by chance is there either the black pastel or cinnamon morph in your snake?

ETA: you may not be able to drive yet but it's time to hit up the neighbors to do odd jobs or babysitting for cash so that you do have a nest egg available in case your snake does need a vet.

I will watch Sherman more and if he starts showing other signs I will try to talk to my mom but if she still won't take me I will find someone else to. If something is wrong with him, he shouldn't have to suffer and die because my mom is being stubborn. I think his life matters more than listening to my mom. She has tried to get me to let him eat some wild caught mouse or even dead wild mouse she finds or catches. I told her why he can't but she will not listen. She doesn't want to listen so I kinda doubt talking to her about it will work but I can try.

He's a black pastel, I might ask my mom if I can do a few odd jobs but there's a chance she won't let me because she doesn't trust people.

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Originally Posted by Sharon&Sherman

I will watch Sherman more and if he starts showing other signs I will try to talk to my mom but if she still won't take me I will find someone else to. If something is wrong with him, he shouldn't have to suffer and die because my mom is being stubborn. I think his life matters more than listening to my mom. She has tried to get me to let him eat some wild caught mouse or even dead wild mouse she finds or catches. I told her why he can't but she will not listen. She doesn't want to listen so I kinda doubt talking to her about it will work but I can try.

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Sounds like a plan to just watch and wait for now. If he's eating and otherwise acting normal, he's probably not suffering. You sound a lot like my daughter who is 14 and really loves her animals. She gets very passionate about them and would do anything to make sure they are happy.

My daughter also has some anxiety issues, and sometimes she fears the worst instead of taking a breath and sitting back and trying to see things from a bigger perspective. She gets this way the most with things she cares about, such as her pets. If her snake doesn't eat on schedule, or her chameleon is not eating as many bugs that day, she gets very very worried. I counsel her to watch and wait. In both cases the animals showed signs of shedding within a couple of days and all was okay.

Her chicken had a weird wheezing noise for a week and I counseled her to watch and wait because it otherwise seemed fine. Turns out the chicken was growing up and its voice was changing from chick noises to adult noises.

I wish the world had more pet owners who cared as much as you do. :-) I still advise trying to find some odd jobs to save up money for future vet bills or other needs though. Also, maybe have some good conversations and engage your mom in your interest of snakes, and show her the research you've done in a friendly manner, so she can see that giving wild mice is not the best idea. Moms get very proud of kids who take time to research and learn things on their own.

Ok being a black pastel morph explains a lot.

If you look at genetic issues in ball python morphs and combos at http://www.owalreptiles.com/issues.php you will see that super black pastels and super cinnamons sometimes have a defect called a "duck bill".

In a single gene animal that carries the "duck bill" defect, I believe that the head is shaped just differently enough inside that the snake will "wheeze" or "whistle" when it breathes hard. I have a female that has done it for years, she's a proven breeder, and she's never been sick a day in her life. Normally you can't hear her breathe but if she's excited or stressed she squeaks. Also, I would never pair her to another black pastel or cinnamon because of her squeaking; I firmly believe any supers she produced would be duck billed.

In a nutshell I don't think your snake is sick, I think it just carries the "duck bill" gene. If you don't breed then it means nothing. If you do breed then don't pair it with another cinnamon or black pastel morph.

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Originally Posted by FollowTheSun

Sounds like a plan to just watch and wait for now. If he's eating and otherwise acting normal, he's probably not suffering. You sound a lot like my daughter who is 14 and really loves her animals. She gets very passionate about them and would do anything to make sure they are happy.

My daughter also has some anxiety issues, and sometimes she fears the worst instead of taking a breath and sitting back and trying to see things from a bigger perspective. She gets this way the most with things she cares about, such as her pets. If her snake doesn't eat on schedule, or her chameleon is not eating as many bugs that day, she gets worried. I counsel her to watch and wait. In both cases the animals showed signs of shedding within a couple of days and all was okay.

I wish the world had more pet owners who cared as much as you do. :-) I still advise trying to find some odd jobs to save up money for future vet bills or other needs though.

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I do kind of sound like her lol... I tend to worry if I notice something odd. One time my snake got a minor burn but he didn't seem to affected by it. I rubbed aloe on it and after the next shed he was fine. I haven't gotten a thermostat yet due to not being able to find one but I am going to my first reptile show this Saturday and I hope to find one there. Since I don't have a thermostat right now, every day a couple times a day I've been making sure to place my hand there to see if its too hot and he's been fine.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Ok being a black pastel morph explains a lot.

If you look at genetic issues in ball python morphs and combos at http://www.owalreptiles.com/issues.php you will see that super black pastels and super cinnamons sometimes have a defect called a "duck bill".

In a single gene animal that carries the "duck bill" defect, I believe that the head is shaped just differently enough inside that the snake will "wheeze" or "whistle" when it breathes hard. I have a female that has done it for years, she's a proven breeder, and she's never been sick a day in her life. Normally you can't hear her breathe but if she's excited or stressed she squeaks. Also, I would never pair her to another black pastel or cinnamon because of her squeaking; I firmly believe any supers she produced would be duck billed.

In a nutshell I don't think your snake is sick, I think it just carries the "duck bill" gene. If you don't breed then it means nothing. If you do breed then don't pair it with another cinnamon or black pastel morph.

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This makes me feel SO much better! I would love to breed Sherman in the future and I've even looked up possible babies he could make but I've never really liked how the head shape of a super black pastel looked so I never planned on doing that lol.

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Originally Posted by Sharon&Sherman

This makes me feel SO much better! I would love to breed Sherman in the future and I've even looked up possible babies he could make but I've never really liked how the head shape of a super black pastel looked so I never planned on doing that lol.

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Super Cinnamons and Super B.Pastels are basically missing a specific bone in their nose that causes the aforementioned "duck-bill". my Super Cinnamon doesn't have any type of extreme duck-billing, but i would never try to breed Supers myself until i was much more experienced.

here's my Super Cinny girl:
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7f80d5ba16.jpg

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...0697d31c05.jpg

Both of my ball pythons have a noise and and it’s from the shape of their nasal cavity. If there are no other symptoms like mucus and your snake is eating do not worry yourself at this point.


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Originally Posted by Sharon&Sherman

Since I don't have a thermostat right now, every day a couple times a day I've been making sure to place my hand there to see if its too hot and he's been fine.

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Not having a thermostat is a much bigger husbandry issue than a slight wheeze in your snake. Please get one ASAP. If you don't find one at the expo, go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a $15 lamp dimmer to dial back the UTH until you can get a thermostat.

Yeah, being that your body temp is almost 100 degrees, you won't be able to tell if it's too hot just by touching it. A thermostat should be number 1 priority here. Would suggest jumpstart thermostats (about $30 on Amazon) as a decent starter for now. Also would recommend getting a temp gun (about $10 on Amazon).

Definitely follow BCRs advice and get a dimmer in the meantime, those UTHs can get WAAAAY too hot

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Not having a thermostat is a much bigger husbandry issue than a slight wheeze in your snake. Please get one ASAP. If you don't find one at the expo, go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a $15 lamp dimmer to dial back the UTH until you can get a thermostat.

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If your snake isn’t sick it will be if you do not follow this advice. A Tstat is Basic Reptile Husbandry 101 is not a Personal Choice.


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If you can’t get your mom to help you with a thermostat, if you ask reeeeeeeallly nicely, I’ll bet someone on here will send you one for free. A jumpstart thermostat is only around $20 on Amazon.


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Originally Posted by bcr229

Not having a thermostat is a much bigger husbandry issue than a slight wheeze in your snake. Please get one ASAP. If you don't find one at the expo, go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a $15 lamp dimmer to dial back the UTH until you can get a thermostat.

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ti
I know its not that good. I planned on getting one as soon as possible. I'll check and if not I'll get the lamp dimmer.

Hi, If there’s a reptile store near you you could go there for a second opinion on if your snake is healthy or not. Ofcourse they are not vets and will not be able to treat your snake but that way you can get a second opinion from someone who has lots of snakes and experience. You’d probably have to ask them if they have experience identifying health issues but if you’re lucky they will look at if your snake is healthy for waay less money then a vet would charge. Where I live there’s a reptile store who has experience with snake health and would be willing to look at if snakes are healthy or not healthy for free. Maybe there’s something similar in your city. But don’t forget that they’re not vets, just a second opinion :).
(Also wanted to say that your snake is so lucky to have a home with you since you put your snakes health first :D)

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Originally Posted by Jbabycsx

If you can’t get your mom to help you with a thermostat, if you ask reeeeeeeallly nicely, I’ll bet someone on here will send you one for free. A jumpstart thermostat is only around $20 on Amazon.


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I could probably get my own lol...I'd feel bad if someone else got me one.

I don't like to go against someone else's opinion, but I wouldn't take my snake anywhere near a reptile store.

By very nature, they have a LOT of animals come and go. They have snake mites at times, again, with as many animals that come and go its a given. Mites get on the employees clothes, traveling between animals.

There is no quarantine protocol at a reptile store.

I would be terrified for my snake to actually pick up one of the more serious diseases or at the very least some mites...

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Originally Posted by zina10

I don't like to go against someone else's opinion, but I wouldn't take my snake anywhere near a reptile store.

By very nature, they have a LOT of animals come and go. They have snake mites at times, again, with as many animals that come and go its a given. Mites get on the employees clothes, traveling between animals.

There is no quarantine protocol at a reptile store.

I would be terrified for my snake to actually pick up one of the more serious diseases or at the very least some mites...

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My sentiments exactly! Not worth the risk, IMO. Rare (or non-existent?) is the store where they ever wash (sanitize?) their hands between animals handled...:O

("Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya?")

Especially since this sort of thing is tied to the 'black pastel morph' (post #13), which is why this forum is such a GREAT source of info!
(And for what it's worth, I'd totally trust that information coming from bcr229.)