Mom won't let me take snake to vet after saying she would

[Sharon&Sherman]

If you guys have seen my only other post, you know that my ball python, Sherman, has been wheezing occasionally. He does this sometimes when he moves around, its not constant. He eats fine and sheds fine too. Well my mom said a while back that she would take me to the vet if Sherman got sick. I asked her this morning if I could and she told me no as soon as I asked. She told me the $45 check up fee was expensive. I told her I'd pay with the $100 Christmas money she was going to give me since we don't do presents or a tree. She told me no because it was money that was coming from her. I don't understand why it matters because I have nothing better to get with it since I love my snake a lot and I'm not really interested in anything else. I'm thinking about asking someone I know to secretly take him to the vet and paying them without telling mom. I want to be able to show my future kids Sherman and move into my own small apartment with him and if something happens to him I really don't want to get another snake and replace him. I probably shouldn't get another snake if he died him since I wouldn't be able to take it to the vet. I just really hope nothings wrong with him.

[tttaylorrr]

couldn't you just wait to get the Christmas money and then take care of this yourself? how bad off is the snake; can it last another week?

i'm sorry i missed your previous post and might not know everything.

[FollowTheSun]

That is really a difficult situation. I am a mom of two teenagers who have pets. I think it's admirable and shows you really care about your snake to be willing to use your Christmas money for it.

I hate to go up against another mom but you might argue that if the $100 is a gift ,then it should not matter to her how you spend it. Gifts should have no strings attached.

I don't know your age, but is it possible for you to earn some money through odd jobs-- babysitting, leaf-raking, etc? This would be your money to spend as you wish.

Is there a reptile store near you? Maybe you can ask them to take a quick look at the snake and see if they feel it should see a vet or not, or if the hissing/wheezing might be normal or there might be an easy thing to try to fix it, since it seems your snake is still thriving otherwise? When my daughter adopted her BP she didn't know much about them yet, and she was concerned about a dry patch on her head. We asked the reptile store guy to take a look and he assured her it was just a bit of retained shed and told her how to take care of it.

See if you can write this vet a letter and explain the situation. Ask if they might offer a discount exam fee or waive it for you since you don't have funds. Or offer to barter like you can clean their lobby or something in payment. Vets generally care about animals and will work with you, especially if they see a young person who cares so much about their animal.

[zina10]

I read through your other post.

So you say he is still eating and shedding and doing great otherwise?
You said there is no constant wheezing or popping, no open mouth breathing, no mucous...

Honestly, I think he may just be fine then. If its only occasionally and there are no other signs at all plus he is eating and shedding it could just be due to his nasal cavity being slightly narrow as he is growing. Or some other harmless issue that the Vet can't really help you with.

As long as things don't get worse at all, I would not take him to the Vet. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem spending money on the Vet if my animals need it (says the $6500 bill for horse surgery on a old broodmare) but I feel that with reptiles its sometimes not actually a good thing to go to the Vet unless there is a good reason.

Snakes stress, esp. Ball Pythons. There will be temperature inconsistencies on the way and at the Vet. The checkup in itself is stressful.

Again, if things progress, if he stops eating, if anything at all seems worse, of course, go to the Vet. But for now I would hold off. But that is just my opinion, you must do what you feel is right.

However, going behind your moms back and wishes may not be a great idea. If it came to the point that things get bad enough to go to a Vet, I would rather keep talking to her, trying to reason (respectfully). If she sees the snake actually doing bad, she may be more open to this. I would even tell her that I would rather place the snake with a rescue that can take it to the vet, than keeping it and having it get sick enough to potentially die. If she sees how serious you and the situation are, she will probably come around. Lying and being sneaky never works out long-term and if you still live with her and at her house, I wouldn't go that route.

She is probably just stressed, wanting to be able to give you something nice for Christmas. Of course getting your pet healthy is a noble, and RIGHT thing to do, but since the snake isn't really that bad off, she may rather want you to have something more then a checkup. I'm just guessing here...

Make sure your enclosure and husbandry is 100% right and keep an eye on your boy. Don't handle right after eating or for a couple days after.

[Sharon&Sherman]

couldn't you just wait to get the Christmas money and then take care of this yourself? how bad off is the snake; can it last another week?

i'm sorry i missed your previous post and might not know everything.

I can't really take care of it myself because I cannot drive. Sherman has done this for a while and I think a little while longer probably wont be too bad. If there has been no other signs of illness so he might be fine but I don't really want to risk it- and you're fine lol

[FollowTheSun]

However, going behind your moms back and wishes may not be a great idea. If it came to the point that things get bad enough to go to a Vet, I would rather keep talking to her, trying to reason (respectfully). If she sees the snake actually doing bad, she may be more open to this. I would even tell her that I would rather place the snake with a rescue that can take it to the vet, than keeping it and having it get sick enough to potentially die. If she sees how serious you and the situation is, she will probably come around. Lying and being sneaky never works out long-term and if you still live with her and at her house, I wouldn't go that route.

I agree not to go behind her back with the gift money, this would possibly make her not be very understanding at all about your snakes in the future.

[Sharon&Sherman]

I might take some of your advice. Thank you.

[tttaylorrr]

As long as things don't get worse at all, I would not take him to the Vet. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem spending money on the Vet if my animals need it (says the $6500 bill for horse surgery on a old broodmare) but I feel that with reptiles its sometimes not actually a good thing to go to the Vet unless there is a good reason.

However, going behind your moms back and wishes may not be a great idea. If it came to the point that things get bad enough to go to a Vet, I would rather keep talking to her, trying to reason (respectfully)...

Lying and being sneaky never works out long-term and if you still live with her and at her house, I wouldn't go that route.

two points i totally agree with.

IMO i feel like we get a rather large chunk of new keepers thinking their snake has an RI when it's just occasional pops from a tongue-flick or a weak hiss. i hear occasional pops from my snakes, too; in the beginning i had the same reaction but now i know better.

[bcr229]

I read through your other post and I'm also leaning against RI, especially if your snake is eating.

Some snakes wheeze while exerting themselves, just like some people breathe hard.

Also it's hard to tell from your profile picture but by chance is there either the black pastel or cinnamon morph in your snake?

ETA: you may not be able to drive yet but it's time to hit up the neighbors to do odd jobs or babysitting for cash so that you do have a nest egg available in case your snake does need a vet.

[Sharon&Sherman]

I will watch Sherman more and if he starts showing other signs I will try to talk to my mom but if she still won't take me I will find someone else to. If something is wrong with him, he shouldn't have to suffer and die because my mom is being stubborn. I think his life matters more than listening to my mom. She has tried to get me to let him eat some wild caught mouse or even dead wild mouse she finds or catches. I told her why he can't but she will not listen. She doesn't want to listen so I kinda doubt talking to her about it will work but I can try.