| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 15/09/2010 : 23:59:59
Ok, having read some of the other posts I'll try to give you as much info as possible, firstly, the actual problem. My corn has stopped eating pretty much altogether. A while ago she regurgitated a couple of feeds, but I thought I had solved this when I introduced a new hide to her viv so she could keep as cool as she pleased (the previous hide was a bit small and I think she was getting to warm) she ate fine for 3 weeks, but then just refused point blank to take anything. That was 4 weeks ago now. I didn't worry too much about it, as I figured as she was getting older, she may just want less food, but while transferring her to her feeding tank the other day, I noticed a fair size lump about midway down her, almost like she'd eaten something, but I know for a fact she hasn't eaten anything for atleast 3 weeks (at the time). Being worried about this new lump, I took her to my local vet, and as I live in a small town, they weren't overly used to seeing snakes, I even had to tell the nurse how to set up her heat mat to keep her comfortable. They gave her an x-ray, which didn't reveal a whole lot, just a light coloured mass which seemed to 'flow'in a thin line down her body. I've been referred to another vet with more experience with snakes, but I'm trying to find a way to make her more comfrotable until we can get her to them in a couple of days. I've already began bathing her, it seemed to work the first time, but the second time she seemed to want to pass, but couldn't, she just sat there and didn't move for nearly 10 minutes.
She is about 4 years old (I know it's bad, but I can't remember the year I got her), her viv is kept clean and I change her water every day. I don't have a thermostat, but I'm looking to change that as I understand it can help solve alot of problems before they begin, but I will say she's been in this viv now for about 3 1/2 of the 4 years I've had her, and only developed problems this last 2 months or so. The other corn that is in the same viv is perfectly healthy though and is having no such problems with her digestion. She's round about 52 inches long, no idea of weight but she's not over-weight. I usually feed her 1 mouse a week.
That's all I can think of, any suggestions/ideas? =/ |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| n/a |
Posted - 17/09/2010 : 01:17:52
quote:
Originally posted by mikerichards
i would be wary about trying to force her to pass it, you/he could end up doing her some internal damage and that would kill her.
I thought this too, but he was the on call reptile vet for Chester Zoo, so I'm inclined to trust him for the moment at least.
Edit with an update; I'm not manually making her go, I wouldn't even try, it was the vet who did this, I have no intention of copying what he did.
As to Jigsaw herself, she seems to be passing alot easier, having gone now three times in two days. It may have looked a bit rough, but it seems to have helped alot. She seems alot happier in herslef now and is moving about alot more. I'm keeping up with the warm baths to help her as best I can, I think she's even starting to enjoy them now. I'll post an update and try to get a pic up on Saturday after she's been to the vets for her follow-up. |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 17/09/2010 : 00:46:16
i would be wary about trying to force her to pass it, you/he could end up doing her some internal damage and that would kill her. |
| kdlang |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 23:13:46
Sorry I can' really give any advice. I'm glad that you have separated your poorly girl tho as now you can be certain that any waste passed belongs to her. Hope it all comes right for her and she is soon well again |
| n/a |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 17:31:04
Well I went to the vet and he wasn't sure what was going on as he can't see anything on the x-ray (I could have told him that =/) anyway he pretty much physically broke the mass up and kinda squeezed her down her stomach, kind of trying to manually push it along her digestive track I assume. She's started to pass a bit more and I'm still giving her warm baths regularly to encourage her to pass whatever she can. He gave her some steroids and an anti-biotic injection to help her aswell. I have to go back on Sat for a follow-up. But as to the cause, still no idea =( |
| FiestaSTLou |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 12:48:25
get a digital one, the normal strip ones are pretty poo and not very acurrate, the digi ones u can get off ebay for a few quid :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 12:43:27
quote:
Originally posted by mikerichards
It sounds a little like an impaction, but it shouldn't be getting bigger, that sounds more like a tumour, which is not unheard of.
As for avoiding it, unless you know what it is, then find out what caused it then there is nothing that can be avoided.
Do you know what the temperature is at the hot end? Does she spend all her time in one end, or does she move between the 2 regularly?
How far down the body does the mass go?
I don't know the temp at the hot end no, I'll be getting a thermometer to monitor it better soon. She does spend a fair amount of time in the cooler end, both of them do actually, but she tends to go to the warm end when she's eaten. As for the mass, it is about an inch long give or take in length. |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 09:06:48
It sounds a little like an impaction, but it shouldn't be getting bigger, that sounds more like a tumour, which is not unheard of.
As for avoiding it, unless you know what it is, then find out what caused it then there is nothing that can be avoided.
Do you know what the temperature is at the hot end? Does she spend all her time in one end, or does she move between the 2 regularly?
How far down the body does the mass go? |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 05:21:08
Not eggs, they would show up on an x-ray. I think another member has an x-ray of a lizard that was carrying somewhere. I'd imagine that if the lump was a blockage due to food of some kind it'd show up on the x-rays as well due to partial digested bones, especially about mid-way down her body.
Let us know how this one carries on.
/ninja edit
Thread with the lizard x-ray here: http://www.thereptilian.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=941
You can see when a lot closer up the eggs inside it. |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 02:11:20
Good luck with it, and tell us what it is along with a pic as it might help other members one day! |
| n/a |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 01:04:21
I've seperated the ill one from the other and put her in her feeding tank. The lump is actually very soft, and it doesn't appear to be hurting her, but it is getting bigger. I have an appointment tomorrow to see this specialist vet. I'm hoping he can tell me that it's a: easily fixable and b: how I can stop it happening again. |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 00:47:58
I have no idea, I would guess they would too. But being housed with another snake might not be a good idea if she's ill since you don't know what it is. It could also stress the ill snake out a bit.
Is the lump hard or squashy? Is there any chance of a picture? When do you go to this other vet? |
| n/a |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 00:37:00
Well... thats interesting... The other snake I have is alot smaller than her, I've -guessed- that she's atleast 12 months younger than the ill one (I used to have another corn, but she escaped and we never did find her =( ) so I bought myself a replacement, with much tighter secruity :| Wouldn't a clutch of eggs show up on the x-ray she had though? |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 00:30:54
Sexing is never 100%, unless you see the hemipenis |
| n/a |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 00:28:37
Haha, yeah I shoulda mentioned that. I had them sexed when I bought them to avoid exactly that, both corns are female :) |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 16/09/2010 : 00:03:11
Is there chance that this other corn is a male? |
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