19 year old BP that vet says is egg bound

[Claireclaire]

I have a 19 year old female BP never bred who suddenly became very lethargic and would not eat. She usually eats every week or two. She has not eaten since March 7th (she would try but failed to consume the mice, yes I know, get her used to frozen which we have tried, we tried when she was young, even the breeder helped us, she went a very long time and refused to eat fully thawed mice that were very warm and moved around with tongs until we broke down and got her live, breeder said she is one of those few that just refuses frozen). Took her to the vet who took x-rays and says she has 4 "huge eggs" and is egg bound. We took her home, soaked her daily in warm water for 1-2 hours over a 4 day period before the vet called us to see if she laid her eggs and told us to please bring her in for surgery. Her cage is usually 80+ with an area that is close to 90, adequate hiding places and cypress mulch in a large cage that she can roam. Now the vet is saying she is weak from wanting to shed (the day we dropped her off for surgery, her eyes were becoming cloudy, my mom dropped her off and did not notice her change, her eyes were not cloudy the night before when I check on her). Now the vet wants to keep her for "intensive care" to build her up for surgery. Keep in mind he did not want her fed for 3-4 weeks and it has been a week since he said that. I talked to the vet tech and they are soaking her every two hours for an hour, then carrying her around with them in their shirts or jackets to keep her "warm and engaged." However, now she is dormant, which she becomes right before shedding. My question... among many but for right now.....how common is it for a 19 year old snake to develop eggs when she has never been bred and never laid eggs? What is the normal care and treatment of an egg bound snake at a vets? What could I have done differently? I love that goofy snake......I know egg bound is a very concerning condition which is why she is at the vets. Help......

[Stormy]

I have a 19 year old female BP never bred who suddenly became very lethargic and would not eat. She usually eats every week or two. She has not eaten since March 7th (she would try but failed to consume the mice, yes I know, get her used to frozen which we have tried, we tried when she was young, even the breeder helped us, she went a very long time and refused to eat fully thawed mice that were very warm and moved around with tongs until we broke down and got her live, breeder said she is one of those few that just refuses frozen). Took her to the vet who took x-rays and says she has 4 "huge eggs" and is egg bound. We took her home, soaked her daily in warm water for 1-2 hours over a 4 day period before the vet called us to see if she laid her eggs and told us to please bring her in for surgery. Her cage is usually 80+ with an area that is close to 90, adequate hiding places and cypress mulch in a large cage that she can roam. Now the vet is saying she is weak from wanting to shed (the day we dropped her off for surgery, her eyes were becoming cloudy, my mom dropped her off and did not notice her change, her eyes were not cloudy the night before when I check on her). Now the vet wants to keep her for "intensive care" to build her up for surgery. Keep in mind he did not want her fed for 3-4 weeks and it has been a week since he said that. I talked to the vet tech and they are soaking her every two hours for an hour, then carrying her around with them in their shirts or jackets to keep her "warm and engaged." However, now she is dormant, which she becomes right before shedding. My question... among many but for right now.....how common is it for a 19 year old snake to develop eggs when she has never been bred and never laid eggs? What is the normal care and treatment of an egg bound snake at a vets? What could I have done differently? I love that goofy snake......I know egg bound is a very concerning condition which is why she is at the vets. Help......

I would immediately get my snake away from this vet and find a vet who specializes in treatment of exotics!! I wouldn't be too happy about a vet tech carrying my snake around to keep it "warmed and engaged" either; all they are doing is stressing out the poor snake.

You need to take your snake someplace else!

[Claireclaire]

I live in Bradenton, FL and there is a very new vet with Banfield who specializes in herps and is a member of ARAV (how I found her). Dr Lindsay Rollend. I thought they would be stressing her out handling her. I leave her alone when she sheds. The tech told me everyone loves her and is carrying her around to keep her warm and one even took her to the tanning beds which freaked me out (message left on voice mail). I called them right back and said we were picking her up to care for her over the weekend and called the other vet. I am curious how common it is for an older BP to have eggs when she has laid eggs ever in her life. I know they can breed to quite an old age but never bred?

Thank you

[JodanOrNoDan]

I live in Bradenton, FL and there is a very new vet with Banfield who specializes in herps and is a member of ARAV (how I found her). Dr Lindsay Rollend. I thought they would be stressing her out handling her. I leave her alone when she sheds. The tech told me everyone loves her and is carrying her around to keep her warm and one even took her to the tanning beds which freaked me out (message left on voice mail). I called them right back and said we were picking her up to care for her over the weekend and called the other vet. I am curious how common it is for an older BP to have eggs when she has laid eggs ever in her life. I know they can breed to quite an old age but never bred?

Thank you

It happens. There was a case of a thirty year old virgin on here a couple days ago. She laid a few and then became bound.

[Claireclaire]

The reptile vet I contacted at Banfield is only general wellness not cases of egg bound. Another vet charges $150 office call for exotics and can't see her till Tuesday. The entire thing from start to finish has been a week at this current vet. From lethargic and x-rays on Monday the 10th to today the 14th. I am taking her to Blue Pearl Exotics for emergency care and treatment at this point. Thank you for your replies.

[Claireclaire]

I inherited the snake so I am learning everything I can and poof, egg bound so I got a little concerned. Again, thank you.....