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View Full Version : Anyone With Snake Experience? I Need Help!!!



Trancelikestate
10-Jul-2007, 04:09 AM
ok, so here goes. i've kept snakes for years as pets. boa's and pythons, and i have a lot of experience. earlier tonight mine had an accident, and i have spoken to the vet a few times, but i'd like a few differant opinions. snakes can swallow items obviously much bigger than them. tonight i tryed feeding her a large rat, i honestly didnt think it was beyond her limit. but evedently it was because as she was swollowing it, it got caught in her throat and wouldnt move. then, it started to bulge, and the scales split for about 4 inches long, paralell with its body. i called a vet and asked what to do, and they said to try to help work it down her throat by trying to squash it per say. anyway, i put on a latex glove and gave it a shot. instead, the last layer of tissue that was actually holding the rat in her throat gave out, and the rat actually fell out of her throat. i called the vet back, and they said they'd have to see her to be sure, but if no muscle was damaged then she could be operated on. if she was too damaged, she may have to be humainly euthenized.

now normally i dont get an animal unless i can provide the utmost care (this coming from a guy who's dog has premium health insurance). but i had just had a snake die, and my buddy was moving out of town and didnt want to take it, so i took his. but even if she can be fixed i dont know if i can affford it. i could never bring myself to hurt her on purpose, so i would have to either have her euthenized, or i'd have to put her in a freezer or something. in any case even if she were fixed it may be a re-curring problem, and death my be the only option. i feel soo awful about it all right now. any suggestions would be totally great.

AcesandEights
10-Jul-2007, 04:29 AM
Sorry, I have no good advice with regard to snakes and I'm sorry about this situation.

Pet care is big business now and I suggest anyone think twice before owning a pet without either health insure for the thing, a fund set aside to care for it or a willingness to have it put down if you find out you can't fix/afford a serious medical issue. I know people who have had their savings cleaned out because of their pets.

Anyway, good luck and I hope all works out well.

darth los
10-Jul-2007, 04:30 AM
Please no penis jokes guys. :barf:

Trancelikestate
10-Jul-2007, 04:32 AM
thnx, yeah i mean i know afterall it is a snake, and i cant afford to put the well being of me and my other animals at risk by over-extending myself. which in turn is why i feel so guilty. i know i should have the cash readily available. stupid college :p

MissJacksonCA
10-Jul-2007, 06:03 AM
i'm going to reccomend putting it to sleep and keeping the freezer snake free

Trancelikestate
11-Jul-2007, 03:06 PM
ok, so i took her to the vet last night. she said she didnt recommend putting her through surgery, and to either euthenize or start her on antibiotics and let it try to heal. apparently this whole thing happened cuz she had an oddly shaped head, a birth defect. anyway, i guess her abilities to swallow rats was hindered by this. that being the case i decided to have her put down. i have also decided to bury her in a very special place for all of us. ;) i wont say where, but i will say its a GAR dead location. that way i can visit her anytime i want. :thumbsup:

Darth, get your mind outta the gutter :p

RIP Loki!
(i didnt name her, my buddy who i got her from did :) )

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6182/loki1mq0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1516/loki2du1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)