Posted by:
captnemo
at Fri Mar 13 14:52:28 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by captnemo ]
Thanks, Zach.
"How many eggs are left? Has she shown any interest in food? Is she coiled with her eggs? What is her nesting area like?"
Her nestbox is the one she used to begin laying. It's an opaque sterilite type container (approx. 12"x8"x10" with an entry hole in the top. It is lined w/ slightly damp sphagnum. Her enclosure is in the highest, low traffic area in the room, and I have since papered the front to minimize her seeing me even during basic maintenance of the rest of my collection.
"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 think in this case, my major mistake was removing the clutch, as I did not realize she was not done until after that had already been done. At this time (early Friday morning), I returned her to the box and she was left alone until late Sunday night, at which time I attempted lubricating the cloaca and palpating the remaining eggs out without success. She was then brought to the vet on Monda morning (in the nestbox, transported in a warm cooler to minimize stress).
"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."
I have yet to see any results with the Oxytocin, and since returning her eggs Wednesday, she has been loosely coiled around them.
"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."
Aspiration is being considered, and lubrication, followed by gentle manipulation has failed thus far. In addition, my main concern with this is the amount of time that has passed. According to Mader, there is the possibility of the eggs starting to break down and adhering to the uterine wall. I would hate to attempt this and injure her.
"Good luck and please let us know how she does."
Thanks...I'll keep you posted.
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"He who would stifle debate rather than engage in it, does so at the expense of his integrity and credibility"
Mike Curtin
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RE: Egg impaction: Advice sought - captnemo, Fri Mar 13 14:52:28 2009
