Egg binding can happen for lots of different reasons. They can be very hard to distinguish. Because of this, different snakes handle egg impaction in different ways. I have seen colubrids retain an egg for an entire year and lay it the next year with their next healthy clutch! By the same token I have seen snakes die within days of becoming impacted.

A few important questions...

How many eggs are left? Has she shown any interest in food? Is she coiled with her eggs? What is her nesting area like?

For the future, the less stress you put on her the more likely she will be to continue to lay. Once you pull a snake out of her laying area and drive her to a vet etc you really reduce the chances that she will successfully lay on her own. If a female isn't done laying I would leave her clutch with her and make sure that her nesting area is as dark and quiet as possible.

I have only rarely heard of oxytosin injections working by itself and have never seen it with my own eyes. I would leave her and her eggs (if she is still coiled with them) alone for a few more days. After that I would remove the eggs, clean the whole cage and start offering food.

There are a few more things you're vet can do before surgery. Using a needle he can aspirate the egg closest to the vent. Hopefully allowing it and any behind it to pass. Careful manipulation can also be use to move eggs closer to the vent. However if gentle pressure does not move them DO NOT FORCE IT.

Good luck and please let us know how she does.

[ Hide Replies ]

• Egg impaction: Advice sought - captnemo, Thu Mar 12 23:06:31 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - zach_whitman, Fri Mar 13 13:40:06 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - captnemo, Fri Mar 13 14:52:28 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - zach_whitman, Fri Mar 13 14:56:05 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - captnemo, Fri Mar 13 15:38:59 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - EricIvins, Fri Mar 13 15:49:21 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - jaykis, Fri Mar 13 19:18:08 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - captnemo, Sat Mar 14 12:57:55 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - Kelly_Haller, Sat Mar 14 00:29:44 2009
• RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - jaykis, Sat Mar 14 14:22:12 2009
• Pitocin is just brand name for oxytocin. - Kelly_Haller, Sun Mar 15 00:37:47 2009
• RE: Pitocin is just brand name for oxytocin. - jaykis, Sun Mar 15 11:24:43 2009
• oviparity vs. viviparity - Kelly_Haller, Sun Mar 15 12:59:27 2009