Survivability Advice - kinks

[Crowfingers]

As a preface, I have not yet seen the snake in question in person and it is not my snake. I have a co-worker bringing her daughters' new snake to the vet clinic this week for and exam and radiographs - none of my vets see snakes but I want to help her out as best I can. Its supposedly a enchi spider from petsmart that was going to be euthanized by the store for neurological issues and spinal kinking - the daughter who works at the store "saved it" however to me it sounds like a case for euthanasia.

It is 64 g and has a spinal kink about 3 inches past the head that looks to be in line with the heart or the cranial end of the liver and another one near the cloaca. The cell pics were not great so I wanted to do a quick exam my self and maybe an xray and see where the kink is in relation to the stomach and other organs. My fear is the snakes ability to swallow prey larger prey - its on mouse fuzzies per the store right now and has some trouble with these passing the kinked area.

If it can't eat proper sized prey that seems like euthanasia is the best course of action, but from those of you that breed snakes - would something with this level of kinking be a cull? My gut says yes, but I'd like some opinions before talking to her.

***I also have the names and addresses of actual reptile specialists to give to her as well, they just want my advice before going through with driving to NC or northern VA.

[Bogertophis]

Neurological issues plus significant (?) spinal kinks sounds like euthanasia to me too. Hard to guess without seeing it, but since it's already having trouble
passing fuzzies, what future does it have? -not to mention the level of discomfort & inability to live a normal life.

[Lord Sorril]

For me as a breeder: Dual spinal kinking=Definite cull: If nothing else I would want to eliminate it from the gene pool.

A single kink in the spine: I would cull--unless the morph was prone to this (e.g. Caramel Albino), and the kink was minor and near the end of the tail.

[Hannahshissyfix]

Unfortunately sounds like probably needing euthanized. The other sad part about this story is that the source Petsmart gets their snakes from is so negligent that they'd send a snake in that condition to the store at all

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[bcr229]

I have a BRB that I produced that has a neck kink in almost the same spot. He can eat just fine though his coil while he "kills" the f/t feeder is odd. He gets 2-3 small feeders instead of one typical-size feeder. He also does not have any neurological problems. The spider wobble is odd - sometimes snakes with improve over time, otherwise they get worse.

If the snake can and wants to eat on its own I would give it a chance.

[AbsoluteApril]

If a messed up snake can eat and pass waste and shed okay, sometimes they will be fine. I have a few myself that I've taken in from other people. However if there are issues in any of those areas then I would also think euthanasia is the best choice (which sounds like it to me in this case since it's having issues passing prey). What a shame for both the snake and that kid who only wanted to help.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Sometimes you have to make the hard call and it all comes down to quality of life and one's ability to care for a special need animal.

Sometime euthanasia is the right call, but no one can judge that online.

[ladywhipple02]

I agree with the quality of life bit - I'm a proponent of not immediately giving up as I've had two animals with kinks and both survived to be healthy, thriving animals.

I would say it depends on the severity of the kink, whether it can eat, poop, etc. I had a boa with spinal deformities all down her body. One might have said she had neuro issues if they saw her for the first time: when you picked her up, she would always grip tightly, sometimes twisting herself all around and upside down. When she ate, she would sometimes flip her head upside down to swallow. When she was first out of her cage, she always wanted to slither backwards - it took her awhile to figure out how to go forward, but once she got straightened out she was fine.

She was six feet long, chunky and beautiful. I never had an issue with feeding her until the end. She always shed perfectly and on her own, and never had an issue with BMs. She was also super sweet, super calm, and more than once was used as an "ambassador" of sorts. I even took her into a disability studies class in college, and many folks there touched a snake for the first time.

Obviously we don't want an animal to suffer - but sometimes they should be given the benefit of the doubt.

[Ax01]

i hatched 3 lightly kinked animals this year, all either have Black Pastel or Cinny. fortunately their kinks are very low on the body towards the tail, not crooked or twisted and have been eating and pooping great. one was just the very tip of the tail! i've talked to a few more experienced peeps who have raised (or bred) similar animals w/o issue.

Sometimes you have to make the hard call and it all comes down to quality of life and one's ability to care for a special need animal.

Sometime euthanasia is the right call, but no one can judge that online.

I agree with the quality of life bit - I'm a proponent of not immediately giving up as I've had two animals with kinks and both survived to be healthy, thriving animals...

Obviously we don't want an animal to suffer - but sometimes they should be given the benefit of the doubt.

^ totes this!

[Crowfingers]

Thanks to all of your replies, I appreciate it - knowing the opinions of people who see this sort of thing regularly helps. I will let you know what the snake looks like in person when I meet it. I told her it's most likely not going to live a good life if it can't actually get properly sized prey around the corner so to speak - I'm for QOL over keeping something alive with help. I'm hoping the neuro issues are from it being spider and whatever person is in charge at the pet store just is unfamiliar with the morph.

I just want to help them understand what they are in for if they try to raise it. Maybe it will get easier to swallow prey when it's muscles get stronger with age - but they should also know that that might not be the case.