Survivability Advice - kinks

[Bogertophis]

It's mostly a matter of degree, when it comes to spinal kinks...I think we have to remember that snakes are stoic & may be living in pain when the kinks are
more than minor. Sometimes I wish they could whine, so we'd know if they're feeling bad.

[dr del]

I'd be more worried by the kink near the cloaca than the one in the neck with a forever pet.

The neurological problem is a given with the spider gene but if the animal can eat and thrive despite the kinks then I would be loathe to cull.

But it all comes down to what you can tell once you view the animal. It may be the best option but only you will be able to compare what you can offer compared to what the animal actually needs.

[Ax01]

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.

yes, the muscles get stronger as they develop and the snake learns how to control it more. but their muscles are used more for constricting prey or for their movement. their muscles help move food down their esphogus, but it doesn't force it down (and it def doesn't compact it to a nice, smaller size). that is why they will regurge if the prey is too big. unfortunately i'm afraid if this poor snake is having trouble passing mice fuzzies, it will continue to have trouble. it sounds like prey has to pass the kink to get to the stomach and i would be afraid of the snake choking b/c of the added Spider derp/wobble as it tries to pass the kink before it can spit the food. it would be a lifetime of care observed and assist feeding. and w/ the wobble, depending on severity, there would be alotta corkscrews and barrel roll type movements and times when u check on your SPider and u think they're dead b/c their flipped over but really that's how they sometimes like to coil/sleeping upside down.


the owner can give it a good fighting chance but has also has the responsibility (w/ feedback from their vets) to know when one or both (owner and/or animal) are at wits end. i know a guy that had to put down a Panda b/c of a kink. can u imagine how that feels? ugh. but i'm glad that u work w/ vets and have experience in both the healing of animals, their end of life and counseling their owners. that last part is undervalued and can be just as important in animal care.

[Ladybugzcrunch]

I have had a few kinked babies hatch. I let the baby decide how bad they are. These are simple creatures. They will fail to thrive if need be, they have no reasoning center in their brain. I rehomed two kinked babies during my python breeding era. Both looked rather odd with a 90 degree kink in their back but both fed better than half of the healthy babies. One was a normal the other a pastel Yellowbelly. Both were adopted as pets for kids and everyone was happy. I have also had animals with kinks fail to thrive. No extra or additional special care was offered to these over an apparently normal baby. If it won’t eat, and begins to waste away, then think end suffering early. In short, if it wants to eat and does eat on its own, why would you choose to kill it? Even if it needs to eat small stuff. Agreed, it shouldn’t be used for breeding but plenty of people want a needy pet.

[Crowfingers]

I agree 100%. Also, we will be doing a fecal as well and checking for RI. As a pet store snake I'm not sure if the weakness in swallowing is from ill health or the deformity or a combo. But I can get the x rays and lab work then send a copy with the owner for the reptile specialist, so they aren't starting with a blank slate too. I'd love to find that it has something treatable and can live a good life, that's what I hope for too.
Also one of the perks for working at a clinic is the discounts for lab work lol .

[Crowfingers]

the owner can give it a good fighting chance but has also has the responsibility (w/ feedback from their vets) to know when one or both (owner and/or animal) are at wits end. i know a guy that had to put down a Panda b/c of a kink. can u imagine how that feels? ugh. but i'm glad that u work w/ vets and have experience in both the healing of animals, their end of life and counseling their owners. that last part is undervalued and can be just as important in animal care.

This^

[Crowfingers]

Saw the little one today (79 grams, bad shed, underweight, typical pet store snake)- I don't have a lot of hope, I have some pictures that the owner gave me permission to post. (His shed is terrible and we spent a good hour talking proper husbandry even if this one doesn't make it). Also I don't see any spider in it, so the head wobble isn't from that gene- it's not severe but he bobs whenever holding it up. They are going to take him home over the weekend and discuss QOL. They still want to try feeding an appropriate sized meal, I don't know how it will go.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...568/image0.jpg

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...628/fixed1.jpg

[tttaylorrr]

Saw the little one today (79 grams, bad shed, underweight, typical pet store snake)- I don't have a lot of hope, I have some pictures that the owner gave me permission to post. (His shed is terrible and we spent a good hour talking proper husbandry even if this one doesn't make it). Also I don't see any spider in it, so the head wobble isn't from that gene- it's not severe but he bobs whenever holding it up. They are going to take him home over the weekend and discuss QOL. They still want to try feeding an appropriate sized meal, I don't know how it will go.

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...568/image0.jpg

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachmen...628/fixed1.jpg

poor lil buddy

[Ladybugzcrunch]

He does not look too bad. That neck kink is in about the same spot and no worse than the pastel Yellowbelly I referred to in my other post. I can’t see the other kink. I think he can make it if everything is okay inside.

[bcr229]

He does not look too bad. That neck kink is in about the same spot and no worse than the pastel Yellowbelly I referred to in my other post. I can’t see the other kink. I think he can make it if everything is okay inside.

I agree. I would be feeding two half-size feeders instead of one full-size feeder though, probably for life.