Solana - Our Scaleless Sunglow Motley Corn

[Homebody]

Pleased to hear it.

[SRMD]

Congrats!!!!

[dakski]

We met with our vet recently and are seriously considering spaying Solana.

The vet says in all, it's a 4-8 week recovery, but that's because of the skin/incision healing more than anything. She will be off pain meds within a week and can eat a small meal starting about 4 weeks out. She will be 100% after 8 weeks.

He also said that in a healthy snake (like Solana) the surgery is relatively low risk. It would definitely be less risk than her having another bad egg laying.

He is concerned, as we are, that egg laying does not seem to go well for her and we run a high risk of losing her that way.

Depending on how long the surgery takes and how many days she spends in the hospital (he recommended 1-2 nights, but we may have him keep her for 3-4 to keep up with injectable pain meds and then we can give oral pain meds at home), the cost is $1,400-$2,200. We figure somewhere in the middle is likely but we've spent close to $3K the past 3 years (2/3 emergency vet visits) keeping her alive after she got egg bound.

We would probably do it in the next 2 months. That is well before she would start thinking about laying.

I will try to keep everyone posted and welcome thoughts.

[bcr229]

The injected pain med is probably meloxicam. It's thick and tough to push through a syringe. I hate administering it but it really does seem to help these guys feel better post-op. Also expect her to be on injected abx for a month afterward.

I do think the surgery is the right thing to do with her.

[Bogertophis]

I agree, I think it makes sense to have her spayed. As the years go on, she is likely to repeat the "egg-binding" hassle. Thinking good thoughts for her surgery & recovery.

[Homebody]

For what it's worth, I also agree, but the possibility of losing her due to the surgery makes it a tough call. Whatever you decide to do, I hope it works out.

[dakski]

The injected pain med is probably meloxicam. It's thick and tough to push through a syringe. I hate administering it but it really does seem to help these guys feel better post-op. Also expect her to be on injected abx for a month afterward.

I do think the surgery is the right thing to do with her.

Thank you. I appreciate your insight here.

I agree, I think it makes sense to have her spayed. As the years go on, she is likely to repeat the "egg-binding" hassle. Thinking good thoughts for her surgery & recovery.

Yeah, I agree. She will keep laying and keep having issues. Not sure I have much I choice here.

For what it's worth, I also agree, but the possibility of losing her due to the surgery makes it a tough call. Whatever you decide to do, I hope it works out.

I think it is significantly more likely I lose her to egg binding than in surgery. Losing her to egg binding complications is probably much worse for her as well.

Additionally, all this must be taking a toll on her - having bad egg laying every year. Even producing eggs every year has to be taxing (versus not producing and laying).



I appreciate everyone's thoughtful comments. I am very nervous about caring for her after the surgery, but I have to put my own anxiety aside and do what is best for her. I think that is the spaying.

I will discuss with Katie some more but definitely think that is the direction we both want to go.