Severe Neck Kink - Help?

[Mike41793]

@AMgsarchie: Yes, I expect it to be believed, as I have utterly no reason to tell any falsehoods here. With the way it is bent, when she is coiled up it looks completely natural, and is only see-able when she has her neck straight. My brother is in the rattlesnake industry and was holding her to check for any problems that I may not have been aware of, as he usually does when I buy my corns. She was not being held on the drive home, this was while we were still at Repticon.

Well then he missed a big problem...
What part of the rattlesnake industry does he work in?

[mackynz]

I just don't see how anyone, experienced with snakes or not would not see that while inspecting the snake. It's probably just me, but something just seems a bit off here. I hope your little one is okay

[asingleterry]

He typically works with Eastern Diamondbacks, though he has some experience with cottonmouths as well.

[Mike41793]

He typically works with Eastern Diamondbacks, though he has some experience with cottonmouths as well.

Doing what?

[asingleterry]

Generally he studies the behavior of bred females (Diamondbacks) in the wild, though he has obtained a few breeding pairs now and hopes to begin a small breeding operation next year, if things go accordingly.

[mackynz]

In other words he should know that snakes normally come coiled not all zig-zag like.

[I-KandyReptiles]

I have an appointment with my vet scheduled for this Friday (The soonest possible, unfortunately). I have opened myself to the possibility that I may have to put her down.
I've talked to several vets via email though so far, and all have said that it is very unlikely that the injury was caused by her being held still by her neck (Details on that, he wasn't holding her just by her neck, he supported her body as well).

@AMgsarchie: Yes, I expect it to be believed, as I have utterly no reason to tell any falsehoods here. With the way it is bent, when she is coiled up it looks completely natural, and is only see-able when she has her neck straight. My brother is in the rattlesnake industry and was holding her to check for any problems that I may not have been aware of, as he usually does when I buy my corns. She was not being held on the drive home, this was while we were still at Repticon.

She no longer acts as if she is in pain, and is very social and docile. Perhaps she was just stressed (Thus her behavior), but she doesn't act as if it pains her right now.

Hello all ^^

I picked up a pair of ball pythons at the Tampa Repticon, and have noticed a very severe problem with my female.

She has a very severe neck issue... I am not sure if it is merely a muscle spasm, a kink, or a possible broken bone or pulled nerve. I am really very worried about her though, as she appears to be very agitated (As if in pain) all the time, and it prohibits movement (She's always getting it caught on things.)
I have not fed her yet (She was fed the day before Repticon, which was yesterday.) and am also worried about how eating is going to work.
As far as I know, she was not like this when I first bought her. If she was, perhaps I just didn't notice it.
Possible cause? My brother was holding her on the way home and she attempted to strike at him, so he grabbed her by the back of the neck to hold her still. Could this have caused something to go wrong?

I have tried to work her spine with my fingers, and have also tried gently pulling on either side of the spot to see if it would perhaps give, but nothing. It's been two days though, so it's not a stress thing.

I really have utterly no idea what to do, and as a first time BP owner, would accept any help or opinions given.

you say your brother was holdin the snake on the way home, yet now you claim he didn't?

Chances are, when he grabbed her after the strike, he broke her neck

[John1982]

I hope the vet can help you. A hard lesson learned if the "restraining" of the snake was the cause. To be honest, mosquito bites annoy me more than baby ball python tags.

[elbee]

Please keep us updated. The little one is in my prayers

- - - Updated - - -

Please keep us updated. The little one is in my prayers

[rabernet]

I have an appointment with my vet scheduled for this Friday (The soonest possible, unfortunately). I have opened myself to the possibility that I may have to put her down.
I've talked to several vets via email though so far, and all have said that it is very unlikely that the injury was caused by her being held still by her neck (Details on that, he wasn't holding her just by her neck, he supported her body as well).

@AMgsarchie: Yes, I expect it to be believed, as I have utterly no reason to tell any falsehoods here. With the way it is bent, when she is coiled up it looks completely natural, and is only see-able when she has her neck straight. My brother is in the rattlesnake industry and was holding her to check for any problems that I may not have been aware of, as he usually does when I buy my corns. She was not being held on the drive home, this was while we were still at Repticon.

She no longer acts as if she is in pain, and is very social and docile. Perhaps she was just stressed (Thus her behavior), but she doesn't act as if it pains her right now.

My brother was holding her on the way home and she attempted to strike at him, so he grabbed her by the back of the neck to hold her still. Could this have caused something to go wrong?

Something doesn't jive......