Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone,

Kind of a depressing topic, I know... I have an adult Mexican Black King that I've been treating for a cryptospridium infection after he regurgitated every meal since last April. He was getting Trimethoprim Sulfa DAILY PO for 30 days. I've been told by the vet that if he shows no signs of improvement after the 30 days that there isn't much hope. Fed him a hopper Saturday, and found it thrown back up in this morning.
So I guess at this point I'm just looking for opinions, if people usually put adults in the freezer same as hatchlings, or if that takes too long for a larger animal and is simply considered cruel. Is there a general consensus?
My options are limited, he's either going to starve himself to death or I can end it for him quickly.
Thanks for any input anyone can offer,
Kris

I have always heard that freezing is a humane form of euthanasia in adult snakes and have used it on occasion. Sorry about your king, most non-herpers don't understand how attached we can become to our critters.

Todd

Yeah, I too would opt for the freezer.
Sorry for your loss, that's a real bummer

~Roo
-----
"Klaatu...Verata...Nicht--cough, cough, cough!"

Cyrpto is one of the worst things a reptile can get and your vet is ripping you off. ANY zoo or reptile sancutary that has a snake with crypto destroy the snakes because it can spread so far and most meds won't cure it. The parasite is deadly in reptiles and causes irreversible pathological changes.

Anyway hypotheria is a terrible way to die. The blood starts to crystalize and as it is passing through the body it tears at organs and vein walls. The blood pools around major organs leaving the rest of the body with a limited blood supply. I know that is true in MAMMALS but I am not sure about cold blooded creatures.

Anyway someone told me that beheading a snake is the quickest way to kill the animal.

Sorry Sullman, I'm not going to behead my snake.

I have done my research, and in doing so, found that in some cases, trimethoprim (and two other lesser known drugs that I don't have the names available to me right now) can reduce symptoms of Crypto. No, nothing can cure it completely, but snakes can live with it (somewhat like living with Salmonella, when not present in the system in large numbers, it's not harmful). Crypto manifests itself as oocytes that pass through the system, lodging into the stomach lining, and it is only contractable to other reptiles if they come into contact with the stool or other body fluids of the infected animal. It is NOT an airborn virus, it will NOT kill the entire collection if proper sanitation methods are taken. In some cases, with treatment, the presence of oocytes in the stool lessen and disappear, and the animal no longer produces symptoms. The infection does not go away, but it is no longer contagious and no longer harmful.

No, my vet did not rip me off, I requested the treatment after doing my research, and after judging whether or not I was capable of containing the animal properly without harming the rest of my collection.

Thanks,
Kris

Hi Kris -

I hate dealing with end of life issues, especially with animals I’ve had for many years.

Since you’ve been having a vet treat this animal, why not put the animal down with the standard massive dose of whatever they use injected directly into the snake’s heart?

-Joan

Hi Joan,

That's an excellent point. I guess the real reason is one that's philosphoical in nature... If so many people point to freezing as being the best way to euthanize a reptile, then why would lethal injection be any better? In both ways, I'm told the animal dies quickly and painlessly, and I'm interested to know if anyone here knows any different? IS lethal injection a more "pleasant" way to go? At the very least, it means I don't have to do it myself, but I guess this sort of thing builds character in a person...
I still have not done anything yet, and will most likely wait until the weekend. I have to say, I'm really hoping nature takes care of this by then for me...
Thanks all,
Kris

I have put down many snakes in the freezer and yet while it sucks, as it sucks to have to do that to any pet, freezing from what I know is humane and painless. Since reptiles are cold blooded, they just slow down and basically go to sleep.

I am so sorry to hear about your snake's condition my friend. I do hope he gets better. It is great to see how much you care for this snake in your post.

Take care!
Billy
-----
Genesis 1:1