Pet BP passed away - Cause of Death?

[btshipp]

I tried working for a vet when I was a kid thinking about veterinary school. EPIC FAIL! I was so miserable every time an animal had to be put down or was in pain.

Wise, thoughtful, and respectful of you to wait and honor your lost friend. Also very smart to wait until your head is in the game to get another snake.

I've been there. I've put dogs down, lost reptiles, and had to put my Beardie, George, down in 2016 after 11 years with me. He developed pancreatitis and was in pain whenever he ate. I didn't want to put him through the surgery to buy him 6 months to a year. I cried like a baby and it took me a year to get Frank, my Blue Tongue Skink.

I don't care what other people say, you can bond with any animal. I love all creatures and cannot even feed live food to snakes (I feed everyone F/T). Losing a companion, furry or scaly, it doesn't matter, it hurts, a lot.

Good luck healing and mourning. You will get through this.

Thank you Dakski, sounds like you and I are very similar. Maurice would only eat live food, we tried F/T over 10 times and even recently, he never wanted anything to do with it. But I always hated having to watch the mice or rats die...it's a requirement though with live prey in order to avoid injuries to your pet.

It appears as though you've had a rougher run than myself, my sincere condolences for all of that and it sounds like it's made you a stronger person. I am completely BLOWN AWAY by the support offered on this forum. I wouldn't have found it anywhere else and it's SO SO SO appreciated.

[dakski]

Thank you Dakski, sounds like you and I are very similar. Maurice would only eat live food, we tried F/T over 10 times and even recently, he never wanted anything to do with it. But I always hated having to watch the mice or rats die...it's a requirement though with live prey in order to avoid injuries to your pet.

It appears as though you've had a rougher run than myself, my sincere condolences for all of that and it sounds like it's made you a stronger person. I am completely BLOWN AWAY by the support offered on this forum. I wouldn't have found it anywhere else and it's SO SO SO appreciated.

No judgment! I understand BP's who only eat live have to eat too! I know it happens in nature, I just cannot do it myself. I feel the same ways about hunting. If you hunt for food and/or population control, I understand it's a necessary evil on some level. I could never shoot a defenseless animal. Just me. I don't even fish! I feel bad for the fish!

I have also heard horror stories about live feedings gone wrong (especially with big rats) and have no idea what to do if my BP, Shayna, decided to refuse a meal!

I am not a rodent fan. I had a total jerk of a gerbil as a kid. Those bites hurt more than BCI bites!

I got Shayna, my BP, when she was about 200G, and the breeder had been feeding her F/T for a few meals with no issues. I waited to make sure she would reliably eat F/T before I bought her. Aside from her yearly 5 month winter fasts, she eats well and happily on F/T.

My corn snake and BCI have killer feed responses and would eat anything, anywhere, anytime! So F/T is all they have ever known and I think they could care less; it's more about FEED ME!!!! than whether it's alive and moving or not!

Anyway, do not worry about me.

I agree, this site is awesome. I even started a thread about it. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...44#post2598044

The people here do understand. They try to empathize as much as possible and many, unfortunately, can sympathize, with what you are going through.

I am sorry brother. Again, hang in, and we will be here to help you through and when you are ready to move on too!