BTS Gagging/Hacking!?

[jclaiborne]

Huh. So, I tried that. I have no idea how you do it, but that was a very difficult and unsuccessful task. I tried with a Q-tip but she just bit it in half. Tried using my fingers to massage the side of her mouth but that just made her lick me. Then tried with slightly more effort but she never opened her mouth wide enough. It just stressed us both out. Luckily she didn't hold a grudge and let me pet her until her little eyes shut for a nap.

I'm at a bit of a loss. Since this has been going on for awhile, I am more nervous about the stress of taking her to a vet than whatever is going on with her and it doesn't appear to affect her in any other way...

I am probably biased as well though, because snake owners aren't normally ones to bring theirs to vets - inexperienced and often (I hear) incorrect vets... so I'm skeptical as to why it would be any different for BTS.

One method that works for getting their mouth open is to get a soft spatula (becuase if she bites it it just bends:

Starting at the front of the mouth gently work it in and gently rotate it, which will begin to force her mouth open, its uncomfortable but won't hurt them, you have to remember their jaws are incredibly strong so they can and will fight you a bit. Another method I use (if you have a spare set of hands to help out its easier, but I can still do it on my own) is gently put your thumb and pointer finger on each side of the upper jaw right behind the nasal openings, do the same with your other hand on the lower jaw, apply just the slightest bit of pressure (just enough to be able to hold on if they pull away) and start to gently open their mouth, 90 percent of the time once you get it cracked they will open it all the way anyways. While it may be a bit stressful, generally a vet will be more forceful in order to see whats going on. I don't have any input as far as your vet is concerned, however I guess I am lucky, the reptile vet just a few miles from my house handles all the exotics from the SD Zoo and Safari park, and I have full confidence in him. One work of caution, I know everyone seems to for one reason or another make excuses not to go to the vet, but reptiles are excellent at hiding pain and discomfort, just because it has been going on a while doesn't mean it shouldn't be checked out. It may be nothing, but it may be an issue that would have an easy remedy. Blueys are pretty tough when it comes to stress, they generally don't go off feed or anything like that, transporting mine to the vet and back has never been an issue. For what its worth that is my 2 cents.