There's something more wrong with Shelby..

[Shelby]

I just took Shelby out for her evening treatment for her blister disease. When I lifted her up, I heard some drips of water. My first thought was that she either urinated, or there was condensation from her medication on the roof of her plastic hide.

It was neither of those things. I took her out and examined her more closely. Her throat seemed somewhat swelled or enlarged, and a clear fluid, slightly thicker than water dripped from her nose and mouth! Is this some sort of severe RI, or something else? Her head seemed a bit wobbly as well.

I'm so worried about her.. I'm afraid she's going to die. If it wasn't so late at night, I'd call the vet.

[Schlyne]

What a mess. I'd run her into the vet asap today Good luck.

[gen]

I hope she's okay!!! Take her to the vet.

[Shelby]

Ok, so I checked in on her this morning, and the strangest thing.. she's 200% better! The swelling is gone, no fluid, and she's more alert, more feisty, and stronger than I've seen her in weeks. Completely different snake.

Only thing I did different was put a black light heat lamp on her last night.

[Jack_Hammer]

lol I bet you picked her up right after she got herself a big drink of water.

[Shelby]

lol I bet you picked her up right after she got herself a big drink of water.

Oh wow, can that really happen? Geez, poor thing.

[Jack_Hammer]

Yes it can. I've done it myself. It seems to me to be a flight response. It's alot easier to run on an empty stomach.

[Shelby]

I must have scared her, poor thing. I hope she got herself another drink. lol

Boy I'm relieved.. that does make perfect sense.

[Kara]

Yes it can. I've done it myself. It seems to me to be a flight response. It's a lot easier to run on an empty stomach.

Actually it's not a flight response. A snake's esophagus doesn't close as tightly as those in other animals. When you pick up a snake after it has taken a drink of water, that sometimes causes a little bit of the water to drool back out. It seems thicker because it's had a chance to mix with saliva in the mean time.

K

[Shelby]

Very interesing. I figured that was why it was thicker. When her head was pointed slightly down, it just poured out. I should have thought of that.