injured or birth defect?

[covah-pariah]

I was picking up some rats to feed my snakes from a store not too long ago and they asked if I wanted to have a BP they couldn't sell. it was a baby about 2 months old with it's spine was messed up, not sure if it was birth defect or injury in transport. they say it still eats and defecates, and it wasn't guarding itself or jumping when i ran my fingers along the body. I wanted to take it in, but I couldn't

what do you think it wrong with it or should be done for the little guy?

when they set it down, it's body immediately rolled over to this


you could feel the spine pressing down on the belly where it seems to invert down

[ktaylor89]

Wow that looks really painful! Poor guy! I would personally euthanize but I'm not an expert. Interested in what others have to say

[covah-pariah]

as am I. I almost wish I could go back and take it off their hands and take it to a vet, but that takes money I already don't have much of just to get an eval and opinion

[Mike41793]

In my most honest opinion i would take the snake off their hands and cull it. I cant see how it could live a good life like that. I highly doubt that snake is eating and defacating fine, but i could be wrong.

[covah-pariah]

I go there often for rats and they know me, so I don't see why he would lie to me about that when they are offering to give it to me for free and not wanting to put it down. he said they would have already if it wasn't eating and passing the food.

[kdreptiles]

In my most honest opinion i would take the snake off their hands and cull it..

x2. It may even be eating and defecating, but no way could it survive with that to adulthood. I would take it and cull it myself. It's free.

[MorphMaster]

It should be euthanized. I understand you can't go to a vet so you have two optioNs if you take it. Cut it's head off or freeze it. Now the freeze it thing is controversial because it's said to be inhumane; however, it's not easy to kill something you're so passionate about. Really they need to be euthanized through a euthanizing formula injected by a professional, but is not cheap. So don't hate me for saying freezing it is an option, but I don't think I could chop the head off of something I loved or had pity for. I would think some would understand

[AK907]

In my most honest opinion i would take the snake off their hands and cull it. I cant see how it could live a good life like that. I highly doubt that snake is eating and defacating fine, but i could be wrong.

Kinda my thoughts right there.

I do wonder a couple things, though. Why were they trying to sell this snake? I'm sorry, but I have to wonder about a place that would try to sell an animal like this. Also, did they get this poor guy in on a shipment from a breeder or did they breed it themselves? If it was from a breeder I would certainly like to know who that breeder is so I can avoid them if they are shipping animals like this. If it is an injury from in the store, what vet said this little guy was good to go? I could go on here.

At least they are offering it up for free to someone who cares, but sight unseen (besides the pics), I can't imagine him having a good quality of life and probably needs put down.

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It should be euthanized. I understand you can't go to a vet so you have two optioNs if you take it. Cut it's head off or freeze it. Now the freeze it thing is controversial because it's said to be inhumane; however, it's not easy to kill something you're so passionate about. Really they need to be euthanized through a euthanizing formula injected by a professional, but is not cheap. So don't hate me for saying freezing it is an option, but I don't think I could chop the head off of something I loved or had pity for. I would think some would understand

No, no, no, no!!! Freezing is NOT an acceptable method for euthanization. That is cruelty, plain and simple. If you're going to put it down, either pony up the cash for a vet to do or man up and do it humanely. End of story. These are all part of being a responsible owner.

[covah-pariah]

I do wonder a couple things, though. Why were they trying to sell this snake? I'm sorry, but I have to wonder about a place that would try to sell an animal like this. Also, did they get this poor guy in on a shipment from a breeder or did they breed it themselves? If it was from a breeder I would certainly like to know who that breeder is so I can avoid them if they are shipping animals like this. If it is an injury from in the store, what vet said this little guy was good to go? I could go on here.

they weren't trying to sell it because the obvious, they had it in a tub in the back. the guy I talked to said he was on vacation but thinks it was injured in transit from the breeder they get it from. it does raise a question of why they would accept it like that and maybe there was actually an accident at the store. they didn't have a reptile vet look at it, but one that comes in for the other animals suggested to put it down.

it's just kinda painful to know what is probably the best option for the overall quality of the snake.

[MorphMaster]

It's not just me. Man Up?! You think everybody has a butchers knife?! Snakes move. What if you miss?! What if the knife was too dull?! Big breeders do it. I know it's inhumane, but is it worse then living a life like that?! Answer that question carefully sir!
And don't you condemn me! I raise my animals with quality and care! I guess you also didn't know that im14