| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Oscar19 |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 19:48:39
Hello, i have a male corn snake who is around 19 years old, i've personally had him for around 15 years now. i took him to the vet yesterday and bascially got blasted for being a bad keeper. I was told he is under weight, he is 4ft long and weighs around 660g, he dose not look thin.
I was also told he should have had a light in his enclosure and he probably has very brittle bones(no proof of this), everthing i've read and been told has said they don't need a light.
The reason i took him to the vets was beacuse he stopped eatting about a month ago, which as he was due to shed isn't uncommon for him, he always goes off his food before, but is really hungry after, which he hasn't been. He also has been passing very strange poo, yellow in colour and goes hard, the vet thought this was eggs? after 19 years i really don't think he'll lay eggs at the end of his life. they look nothing like corn snake eggs. I was told he was a male, and i think he was probed, i've emailed the old owner for a definitive answer (don't like my luck after so many years, lol)
He is a bit crusty around the vent now.
The vet has given me baytril, not sure what for she didn't say, dog food to feed him, vitmins to put on the dog food and calcium supplemant for the water. I also have to put him outside in the sun.
I've been made to feel like an awfull owner, my job is working with animals and i would never let them suffer, oscar is not suffering, he is very alert and moving round, i wouldn't have know there was a problem if it wasn't for the poo really.
Sorry for the massive message, feel free to say if i have done somthing wrong, i need honest opions please,any ideas on yellow poo would be great too,
Sara x
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| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 24/04/2011 : 12:28:32
Well done for keeping the snake happy and well for so long.
We look forward to pics. |
| Ailsa |
Posted - 24/04/2011 : 11:33:56
I am no snake expert as I only just got my first snake 2 weeks ago but judging from how you were treated by this vet you have been treated badly and from all your informative responses you've totally been given all the wrong advice and have every write to voice your complaint in writing and I hope somethings comes of the letter you write to them, I hope my new snake lives to a grand age of 19, good luck to you and your snake ;) |
| Oscar19 |
Posted - 24/04/2011 : 10:26:10
Thanks everyone, you have made me feel alot better :o) i'm going to write a letter of complaint to the practice. I'm so disgusted by all the bad advice i was given, and the general attitude of this woman. It is amazing really that she is able to get away with this, i dread to think how many people have had the complete wrong advice and have been made to feel awfull by her.
Update on Oscar: He looks like he might shed again? is that normal? i have found another vets in sailsbury i can go to, so if he doesn't eat in the next few weeks i'll go there.
Thanks again, x
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| gingerpony |
Posted - 23/04/2011 : 10:35:50
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar19
I was told he is under weight, he is 4ft long and weighs around 660g, he dose not look thin.
his weight is fine!
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar19
I was also told he should have had a light in his enclosure.
corns are crepuscular they don't come out during the day and don't need UV
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar19
He also has been passing very strange poo, yellow in colour and goes hard, the vet thought this was eggs?
this is probably urates
quote:
Originally posted by Oscar19
The vet has given me baytril, not sure what for she didn't say, dog food to feed him, vitmins to put on the dog food and calcium supplemant for the water. I also have to put him outside in the sun.
the vet should explained what the Baytril was for, she should NOT have given you dog food, should NOT have given you vitamins, should NOT have given you calcium and please do NOT put him out in the sun 
i'm sooo cross as i work at a vet practice  |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 23/04/2011 : 10:29:32
OMG what a shocking vet!!! i think naming the practice would help prevent others end up in the same situation. how many other snake owners will have taken this vet's advice......to the detriment of their snake's health?
afterall, you'd normally trust what a vet has told you!! i'd also put in a complaint about them to the RCVS.
what a load of rubbish they told you, that's made me so mad, i'm fuming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Mort13 |
Posted - 23/04/2011 : 10:05:26
Shocking!! I really can't believe what I've read here.....lights and dog food!
The only person that needs a blasting is the vet that gave you this terrible advice.
Sounds like you've been doing a great job all these years.
As said above,I'd definitely see about making an official complaint. |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 23/04/2011 : 09:47:06
Your snake weight sounds fine, I think people are so used to seeing bigger bodied snakes and fat corns that when they see a perfect weight corn they think it's skinny. 1000g would be over weight for a guy his size, I have a 5ft corn who is on a deit, he has lost weight and is now about 1000g and he is still way over weight. Heck, I'd say morbidly obese still.
Is there a way to complain to the vet or if there is such a thing that regulates vets? Although you know the utter bs the vet said, other owners maybe not know and may end up killing their pet sue to that vet! |
| Spreebok |
Posted - 23/04/2011 : 01:24:56
Crap vet is crap. |
| mikerichards |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 23:37:53
wow, what a load of rubbish! weight wise your snake is about spot on, 1kg would be bordering on dangerously obese, especially for 4ft. light wise, ask your vet exactly how much UV is gained from a lightbulb!.... snakes do not need UV for vit D, they get plenty though the digestion of the preys bones, as for being nocturnal, thats rubbish too, they are diurnal, however, are most active at dusk and dawn.
Honestly, do nothing the vet has advised, the prescription of baytril is a complete stab in the dark, its a broad spectrum antibiotic, and there is no proof of any infection, no tests were done, no labs were involved. The Urates, doesnt sound completely abnormal, depends how yellow, the hardness, well, urates crystalises on contact with air, so thats fairly normal. My guess would be that hes an old lad, nearing the end of his epic life, and his kidneys are working as well as they used to, just a guess though.
Just to point out, nearing the end may mean he has another 5 years or so, one of the babies i sold 23 years ago is still going strong!
Dont take any notice at the pathetic attempt by the vet to get all high and mighty with you, if she was really that worried about the health and well being of the snake, then you would have the rspca knocking on your door, they would take one look and congratulate you on your keeping.
the not feeding thing is not the end of the world, he will eat when he is ready, as many have said, any many will say again, them not feeding is far far more stressful for us than it is for them, they are doing what comes naturally, and its more stressful for them to be offered food than it is not eating! by no means am i saying dont attempt to feed, just that if hes not gonna take it, dont force the situation.
Should you get to a point where the weight is dropping rapidly, then i strongly suggest a visit to a different Vet, and if you cant, and you have the same person, and they are equally rude, then report her to the practice manager, and if that doesnt work, you can go higher than that!
The main thing is, dont panic, there is nothing to panic about yet, monitor the weight, make sure he is drinking, and post on here if something worries you. |
| gmac |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 23:07:01
quote:
Originally posted by kdlang
Are we allowed to name and shame on here. Speaking as someone who has just spent the last hour online searching for numbers for possible reptile vets, it would be nice if we knew who to avoid as much as who to try.
not allowed to name and shame sorry |
| kdlang |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 22:56:26
Are we allowed to name and shame on here. Speaking as someone who has just spent the last hour online searching for numbers for possible reptile vets, it would be nice if we knew who to avoid as much as who to try.
If his poo really is concerning you then you could try to find another vet and take a sample with you. They should be able to test it for any nasties. It may be just that because he hasn't eaten for a while there is no mouse remains to pass so the only thing you are seeing is the urates. These do dry up if not spotted. |
| lotabob |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 22:39:26
Then you've everything as it should be. And that weight to size is a good weight, maybe the vet got confused a mistook your corn snake for a really skinny royal python because it sounds like utter rubbish advice they've given you. I would be very tempted if I was you to complain so they can either retrain or stop claiming to be a reptile specialist at the very least explain why they gave you what they did. That dog food bit is just mind blowing, who knew we all mess around with mice when we could just crack open a tin, SHOCKING. |
| Oscar19 |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 20:49:34
And yes he is still drinking, and there is 2 big windows in the room he is in :o)
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| Oscar19 |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 20:44:52
Thanks, you have made me feel alot better. She said he should be 1000g?
I'm never going back there, think they just wanted to make a load of money out of me with all the different supplements and powders. They advetised themselves as reptile speacilists, very laughable. i kepted thinking evrything she said was wrong, glad i was right.
As for the dog food, i think i'll give it to a dog, lol, making mouse shapes cracked me up :o)
Thanks again for making me feel better, and for the info on breeding season.
xxx |
| kdlang |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 20:20:31
I can't help with the poo situation I'm afraid.
I do think you should look around for another vet tho, one who specialises in reps. It sounds like the vet you saw didn't have a clue. I have never heard of snakes being given dog food!!!!
I think if your snake has lived to 19years of age then you must be doing something right. |
| lotabob |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 20:09:16
Wow 19 is a ripe old age, I think it speaks volumes that your doing everything right.
If he isn't eating at the moment but still drinking its not so much yellow poo and more like yellow wee (or snake equivalent). Snakes eat rodents, rodents have calcium in them and if there is a window in the room then that is plenty enough light for a snake and natural is best as they say. They get everything they need from the rodents.
DOG FOOD? I wouldn't even know where to start getting a snake to eat dogfood, maybe carve it into mouse shapes lol.
Sounds like a case of a new vet is needed and not a new way of doing things.
The first thing I thought of when I read this is 19 and still responding to the breeding season. So many snakes off food at the moment |
| Laws |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 20:06:23
lots and lots of odd advice from a vet there it seems ! they dont like sunlight , bein nocturnal , its been reported they dont need UV light as its not beneficial to them . and dog food ? i dont knoe ither way for that , just sounds weird! i dont think ur a bad owner at all , dont feel bad x |
| gmac |
Posted - 22/04/2011 : 19:54:54
seems the only thing you have done wrong is take snake to a pathetic vet  .
corns don't need lighting in the viv, and to say he has brittle bones due to this is just wrong. And at 4ft and 650g doesnt sound underweight to me, is heavier than my 4ft corn so i must be even worse than you.
edit: If the Vet hasn't explained what to do with the baytril, dont use it. And is best not to put snake in the sun, the housing will act like a greenhouse and just end up overheating the snake just now.
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