Possible adoption with retained eyecaps?

I am considering adopting a little BP who is in an "adoption" cage at Petco. It is labeled "special needs" because it is blind. It apparently had retained eyecaps that never resolved, and the animal care person said a vet examined it and said there was nothing that could be done to save its eyes at this point. Its eyes look like they are covered in scabs. The Petco person said she had been force feeding the snake, but that the little guy has eaten willingly for the last 3 weeks (weekly feedings).

If I were to bring this snake home, what would I be signing up for? Is there anything special that could or should be done for this little snake? Do you think it's likely that he/she would stop feeding again? The poor little thing really touched my heart, but I am worried I would be taking on more than I could handle and cause the snake to suffer. I have never had to force feed a snake before, nor had a snake with retained eyecaps. Do you think I'd be getting in over my head?

There must be something else going on. If they are retained eye caps, they must've gotten infected. If so, then probably all is lost for the snake. If it's not so, you can quite easily remove the eye caps, and then you'll probably just have to nurture the snake back to health.

However, it sounds like this little guy is in pretty bad state.

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Originally Posted by DutchHerp

There must be something else going on. If they are retained eye caps, they must've gotten infected. If so, then probably all is lost for the snake. If it's not so, you can quite easily remove the eye caps, and then you'll probably just have to nurture the snake back to health.

However, it sounds like this little guy is in pretty bad state.

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I think the problem is quite beyond just basic retained eyecaps. It looked almost like there were scabs INSTEAD of eyes. :(

IMHO the animal should be killed. I mean, this animal can't see, is probably scared poopless, is probably in pain... catch my drift?

I would not take the BP because it would probably be really hard on you too. :(

I would have to see the snake with my own eyes to make the call. That said, by your description... if the eyes were not eyes but nasty scabs, I would likely adopt it just to throw it in the freezer.

In my experience with Petco's adoptions, they won't adopt an animal out until it has been given a clean bill of health by their vet. What I get from this thread is that the animal is blind. However, if the healing hadn't progressed to the point that the animal was considered "healthy" enough for adoption, it wouldn't be on the adoption table. Pythons hunt using several tracking methods, only one of which is eyesight. They also use smell and heat signature. Chances are this snake could live a relatively normal life in captivity. If it is willingly taking meals, force feeding (or assist feeding) shouldn't be required. If you feed frozen/thawed, you will need to ensure that the prey item is heated to warmer than the surroundings (which it should be anyway). I'm not saying that you SHOULD adopt the snake, just that the situation probably isn't as dire as depicted.

As a side note, I recently adopted a male rat from the local petco which had lost one eye. He had been treated and nursed to health before being put up for adoption. He's doing very well in my care, and is a father now!

Steve

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

I would have to see the snake with my own eyes to make the call. That said, by your description... if the eyes were not eyes but nasty scabs, I would likely adopt it just to throw it in the freezer.

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There is a quality of life issue here in my mind. Adopt it and place it in the freezer. It's best for all envolved.

I was told that vet stated the snake is blind, but otherwise healthy - i.e., no infections present at this time. The vet's only concern was the snake's refusal to feed, but since then the snake has been eating on its own for the last 3 weeks. If the snake eats and is otherwise healthy, is blindness alone a reason to euthanize the animal? My DH held it, and it seemed a bit skittish at first but calmed down nicely in DH's hand. :(

Hmm that changes my opinion a little bit. If there's no more infection and the scabs are only scar tissue, it shouldn't be painful anymore. As Steve said, vision is not the only sense necessary for feeding.

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Originally Posted by NinaCaliente

I was told that vet stated the snake is blind, but otherwise healthy - i.e., no infections present at this time. The vet's only concern was the snake's refusal to feed, but since then the snake has been eating on its own for the last 3 weeks. If the snake eats and is otherwise healthy, is blindness alone a reason to euthanize the animal? My DH held it, and it seemed a bit skittish at first but calmed down nicely in DH's hand. :(

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How can you possibly believe that there are no infections present if it has scabs all over its eyes? Use some common sense here please.

Nina, ultimately the desicion is yours to make, and I don't think anyone would look badly on you either way you choose. For me, just because an animal can live, doesn't mean they should live. Living with the constant stress of not being able to see will almost surely affect it's life span. Again, I'm a big quality of life kind of guy.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

How can you possibly believe that there are no infections present if it has scabs all over its eyes? Use some common sense here please.

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Mike,

a healing wound does not necessarily have to be infected. Also some scar tissue can appear to look similar in texture to a scab. and im betting Snake scar tissue looks a lil funky :)

Will quality of life be poorer then normal, absolutely with out a doubt.... does the little guy who hasn't given up yet and just taken his last breath deserve a shot? well its your call. To look at it from another side. if the snake didnt want to live would it have already passed on on its own free will?

I do not have any experience with blind animals, but I do think that if this is the only problem that the animal could thrive. I watched a show where someone covered a snake’s eyes to see if it would still eat without being able to see the prey. The snake ate normally. It did not need its eyes to find the prey.

If the snake can thrive in captivity, and you are willing to keep a blind animal, then I do not see any reason that you should not adopt this animal. Personally, I would not take in a special needs case, but I applaud you for it.

i have a friend ( breederguy) who had a pastel born blind and out side of that the snake is beautiful and quite healthy he been bit one because he just reached in with warning the snake ( by touching i first) but he said it was his fault.. IF you get the snake I would make shore to be very careful when handling it cause it wil be more jumpy and defensive so I touch it lightly before I just grabbingi t out of thetank..

I adopted a bp whose eyes aren't smooth orbs, but look almost shrivled up or something, it is hard to describe, but they have been like that since I got him and even post shed they never change, I have no idea if he is blind, I guess I could "test" him, but regardless he eats great and never gives me problems so I don't worry about it.

It depends. Some people could just see a snake with a few simple retained eyecaps (that can be removed if you go about it the right way) and think, oh, it is blind. And their vet could be a mammal-specialist that has no idea about snakes.. just saying. I would have to see a pic to make an actual opinion on this, but the snake is taking meals willingly. And ball pythins rely on heat sensing, not strict eye-vision, to get food; it could be a candidate for a pet-quality animal.
When I think quality-of-life for a BP, I think of it this way. If the snake is in obvious pain, off feed, and flailing around and cannot be cured (like a far-gone infection or injury).. that snake needs to be put down. if this snake is feeding regularly itself and acting like a normal BP, I see no reason why it would need to be put down.
The big ticket here to me, is that the snake is eating willingly. I definately think that a very experienced person needs to have this snake, if anyone.
I dealt with a snake with retained eyecaps; it was a friend's, who rescued it. I made sure that the snake had ultra-humidity before its next shed, and he shed fine and the eyecaps went with the shed.
Shame on people who allow snakes to get this far-gone through their ignorance :( Kudos to those who can rescue and rehabilitate them.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I definately think that a very experienced person needs to have this snake, if anyone.

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This was my concern, if I am the right person for this little snake. I have a few snakes, and I am comfortable with basic husbandry, but I would NOT classify myself as "very experienced". I am just doubting my own capability to do right by this little guy.

Is there any change that you can post a pic of the snake? If it is that far-gone (like, if there are infections in its eyes) I don't want to encourage you to try and do the impossible by getting it. But it is hard to say without a visual :)

Honestly, I am a little disturbed about some of the responses here. Only one person who posted here has actually seen the snake, yet several other people are recommending that the snake be killed because 'all is lost'. Just because an animal has a disability does not mean that it needs to be killed. Yes, the quality of life will change with a disability, but that doesn't mean that it is not worth trying to save. My opinion is that if the snake is able to eat, drink, and otherwise function normally, then it should do just fine and deserves a chance to live.

I have to question the validity of a petco vet. Considering some of the snakes they sell.

Nina,

If you feel willing to take on this animal, first search for a qualified HERP vet to take the animal to when you take it home. Depending on where you live, we have our own vet list here on the forums, or check out these links.

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/#vetlist

http://www.arav.org/usmembers.htm

If you do decide to take on the animal, remember that it should see a good snake vet first to help both you and the snake acclimate. If you know what's exactly wrong with the snake, you will have a better chance at taking care of it. Who knows, it could just be multiple retained eye caps. One retained eye caps looks bad enough, not to mention the effect that would come about from many.

That's my advice, and I understand where you're coming from. But please, no one here can tell you what is or isnt wrong with the snake any better than a competant snake vet can. Keep your head up. :gj: