My Experience with a Septic Ball Python

[Bogertophis]

I appreciate that you shared your full experience here so that others may learn also, despite your obviously painful memories. Again, I'm sorry for your loss...

I suspect that it's just a coincidence that the other 2 posts you found about septic snakes were also about white/variations too...diagnosing snakes is a challenge in the first place, & sepsis is more obvious with the visual cues.

For what it's worth, I too find virtually all vets to be very "heavy-handed" when treating snakes, adding to the snake's stress & trauma, & working against their getting well.Perhaps it's because they're used to handling larger animals that require more forceful restraint, & they're understandably trying to avoid being bitten, but still... They're also generally pressed for time...

I've found myself wondering if they just don't really understand snakes, or if they subconsciously don't like them. In any case, injected medications are also very rough on a snake's body...having a snake that's ill enough to need a vet's care is basically putting their owner "between a rock & a hard place". Either way, you may lose... In my experience, snakes are delicate creatures & the decision to take your pet to the vet is a very tough call, especially if there is any question about their expertise.

In a perfect world, going thru all that with the vet visits & aftercare would result in your snake getting well again. Part of the problem with snakes is also that they're stoic, so by the time you notice something may be wrong, the odds of them being able to recover may already be stacked against them. As I've always said, it's far easier to keep a snake healthy, than it is to help them get well again. We all learn more with experience. May all your future pets have happier outcomes.