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.

[dakski]

Solana is looking great. Still, I am worried about her yearly egg laying adventures and the uncertainty they bring.

Because of the risks associated with her yearly attempt to continue her species (despite never touching a male corn snake), we plan on spaying her in March.

The procedure is not without risk, but seems much less risky than her egg laying. She is very healthy and the prognosis both in and post surgery is excellent.

The surgery is not without substantial cost as well, but emergency vets are not cheap and I do not want to lose her either.

On an unrelated note, she bit Katie the other day. Katie was annoyed but actually handled it better than I did. I was vey upset and worried it would really upset Katie but she was over it in about 30 seconds, despite being a "new" reptile keeper. It was a situation where Solana was on her arm and Katie was going to hand her to me but seemed to spook Solana unraveling her. She got Katie right on the wrist and then seemingly realized she was safe and was absolutely fine immediately after. It was kind of an "ahhhhhhh," oh, never mind, moment. Katie said she probably could have been more gentle about removing her, but I am not sure if that is what happened. Maybe, but either way, I am proud of how Katie handled the situation and moved on.

I think most people who get a first bite (not a serious one), especially from a smaller snake (e.g. Corn) or a young animal either get turned off or think it is a non-event and are surprised how many things hurt more.

Katie thought it was a non-event.

[Bogertophis]

For some reason, I thought you had decided to spay her a year or so ago? Anyway, I hope that goes well- as you said: it's not without risks, but neither is doing nothing.

The nip was just a reminder that snakes are not domestic creatures- they still rely on their instincts for self-defense, & if we forget to reassure them & give them time to "remember" they know us, a nip can happen. It's nothing personal, & they won't hold it against you for briefly scaring them. Anyway, corn snake teeth are some of the best to get nipped by.

I think Solana has been remarkably mellow, considering how much more sensitive she must be to touch, having no scales to shield her thin skin. No matter how pretty she is, I'll never be a fan of scaleless snakes..."nature" got it right when it put scales on snakes.

[dakski]

Solana was spayed yesterday. She will stay at the vet on pain meds until Thursday and then will come home without them.

It went very well. The vet said she was already making eggs and that made the surgery easier. Small snake can mean it's hard to find things, but producing means enlarged components (for lack of a better word).

He is a little concerned about the stitches since she is scaleless and from both a will they hold and will they shed out standpoint. He is only a little worried about them holding but might have to remove some 6 weeks out.

I have to be careful with humidity in the tank for a bit to prevent infection, and of course keep things clean, but the prognosis is excellent.

She gained some weight recently as I fed her more frequently the past two months (weekly versus every 2 weeks). That's good because she can't eat for 4 weeks or so and then maybe hoppers versus her normal adult mice.

I'll keep everyone posted.