Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was told that this is not the most active forum and I am hoping I can get some type of response. Please excuse me for posting a health question/emergency for a Blood on this forum.

To start off I just got back from the vet and am super worried about my 3 year old female Bloods condition.

It started about 3 days ago when I notice my 4' female Blood was for the first time not inside her Cypress Mulch enclosure (moisture). She was laying on the bedding of the cage (News Paper) She is in a 6' BoaMaster cage, has a normal temp of 80 and a hot spot ranging from 90 to 98. She has access to a very large (20 gallon) water dish. She has been fed 1 large rat every 2 1/2 weeks or so. Conditions are ideal. I also clean with Nolvason.

I also bath her once a month in a warm bath.

Here is what’s going on:

I looked inside her cage and I notice a really bad smell. She had normal feces in the cage that was very fresh. (No older then 1 hour or so) She regurgitated the rat that she was feed last night. (Frozen). Once I saw that I knew something was wrong since she has never done this. At this point I saw her body but not her head. I moved the water dish and the site of her head almost made me pass out. Her lower jaw was 180 degrees turned, she was "stargazing" or so it appeared with an open mouth. She then started striking at everything with her head upside down and her strikes where all over the place and not normal.

When I touched her tail she rattled it a little and the rest of her body lay lifeless.

The vet I just took her to who specializes in snake care was inconclusive. The $300+ bill included Fluid Therapy, Metronidazole Susp 50mg, Lactulose Syrups and two Radiographs. The x-rays showed that her stomach area was "not normal" but was not really irregular. The vet showed me the pics and it seems that it was much filled (tissue?) instead of having gassy areas.

If I left her over night I was going to have to fork up 1k+ and decided to give her the treatment and take her home. I have a feeling that she may not make it through the night because of how she looks and the vet explained even if I left her there would not be much they can do at this point.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for me at this point? I immediately went to the vet as it was and is an emergency. It was the only herp vet in my area that could see her today. The other vet said 1 week which she could not wait.

I am super worried and sick over this and hope that she bounces back. Please any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. Sorry for the rambling, I am very upset.

Eric

Pic is her a year ago.

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Eric

Eric,
...It is hard to tell what is wrong but it does not sound good. It sounds like something is effecting the snake's brain. This could be IBD but it could also be another infection or an injury or exposure to something toxic or an electrical shock or extreme temperature. A blood clot or bleed or tumor in the brain is also possible. The treatment the vet prescribed is probably all that can reasonably be done and it may not be enough.
Jeff

>>I was told that this is not the most active forum and I am hoping I can get some type of response. Please excuse me for posting a health question/emergency for a Blood on this forum.
>>
>>To start off I just got back from the vet and am super worried about my 3 year old female Bloods condition.
>>
>>It started about 3 days ago when I notice my 4' female Blood was for the first time not inside her Cypress Mulch enclosure (moisture). She was laying on the bedding of the cage (News Paper) She is in a 6' BoaMaster cage, has a normal temp of 80 and a hot spot ranging from 90 to 98. She has access to a very large (20 gallon) water dish. She has been fed 1 large rat every 2 1/2 weeks or so. Conditions are ideal. I also clean with Nolvason.
>>
>>I also bath her once a month in a warm bath.
>>
>>Here is what’s going on:
>>
>>I looked inside her cage and I notice a really bad smell. She had normal feces in the cage that was very fresh. (No older then 1 hour or so) She regurgitated the rat that she was feed last night. (Frozen). Once I saw that I knew something was wrong since she has never done this. At this point I saw her body but not her head. I moved the water dish and the site of her head almost made me pass out. Her lower jaw was 180 degrees turned, she was "stargazing" or so it appeared with an open mouth. She then started striking at everything with her head upside down and her strikes where all over the place and not normal.
>>
>>When I touched her tail she rattled it a little and the rest of her body lay lifeless.
>>
>>The vet I just took her to who specializes in snake care was inconclusive. The $300 bill included Fluid Therapy, Metronidazole Susp 50mg, Lactulose Syrups and two Radiographs. The x-rays showed that her stomach area was "not normal" but was not really irregular. The vet showed me the pics and it seems that it was much filled (tissue?) instead of having gassy areas.
>>
>>If I left her over night I was going to have to fork up 1k and decided to give her the treatment and take her home. I have a feeling that she may not make it through the night because of how she looks and the vet explained even if I left her there would not be much they can do at this point.
>>
>>Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for me at this point? I immediately went to the vet as it was and is an emergency. It was the only herp vet in my area that could see her today. The other vet said 1 week which she could not wait.
>>
>>I am super worried and sick over this and hope that she bounces back. Please any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated. Sorry for the rambling, I am very upset.
>>
>>Eric
>>
>>Pic is her a year ago.
>>
>>
>>
>>-----
>>Eric

Hi Eric, np posting here, all are welcome.

First off we are not vets, only keepers with individual experiences.

I agree with Jeff, this sounds very serious and you've probably already done all you can. Honestly, there is probably nothing really you could do even if $ was no object. Sorry to say this but as much as you should hope for the best, you need to prepare for the worst.

Only other thought is where did the rat come from?
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Thank you for the responses. My blood looks a little better this morning but still not normal. The rat came from Komodo Reptiles where I have been getting all of my feeders from for the past few years.

I am sure she was not feeling well a few days before she got sick yesterday. She just seemed a little unusual but nothing alarming. Unfortunatly it was a turn for the worst last night.

I am hoping for the best.

Thank you for your support.

Eric
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Eric

Eric, I was wondering how your blood was doing. I'm sorry the forums haven't been able to provide a lot of help for her, but I'm glad she seems a little better this morning. I hope she continues to improve!
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Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)

Hey Renee,

I really appreciate your response about me posting on the Rainbow Boa Forum. She was doing what looks like a lot better this morning but the real test will be later tonight and over the next few days when the meds the vet gave disapate. Her movements were still odd but the jaw and head flipping is seemingly non existant during the short observation I made today.

I will keep everyone updated. If there is anything I can learn from this experience I will make sure I post it for everyone to see.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Eric
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Eric

You mentioned you use novasan to clean....are you making sure you dilute it properly? That stuff can be very toxic if used undiluted. IF that isnt' the cause, maybe double check your temps, use a new thermometer or fresh batteries. Weak batteries may not give an accurate reading.

I don't think the problem has anything to do with the rat, regurgitation was just a response to being sick, but not necessarily the cause. The 'stargazing' and twisted mouth/abnormal striking seems to me more neurological cause..than bad rat.

So off hand...exposure to a toxin. (poisoned rat?, too strong cleaner? An environmental toxin suddenly introduced into the room? (if she's your only snake...something to look in..if you have other snakes in the same area, who are perfectly fine..then not likely an environmental toxin) An environmental toxin could be somebody spraying bug spray, (adjacent apartment/condo/townhouse which shares ventilation) roach bombing, toxins outside getting in via open windows etc.

If not a toxin, it could have been a blood clot, stroke, heat stroke (if temps did get too hot) or something similar.

Is is possible somebody else in the house may have been rough with the snake? Caught its head in the sliding door by accident? (I think the boaphile cages have sliding class doors and are made from pre molded plastic..so no 'cracks' for it to try and squeeze her head through). Oh, that does give me an idea..is it possible her head was pinned under that 20 gallon tank of water you have in her cage?
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PHLdyPayne

I hope she's continuing to improve!

>>I will keep everyone updated. If there is anything I can learn from this experience I will make sure I post it for everyone to see.
>>
>>Keeping my fingers crossed.
>>
>>Eric
>>-----
>>Eric
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Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)