| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 18/05/2013 : 14:33:57
 Not too much to say really. It happened over a week ago now and I'm so sad.
Over the past month or two her feeding had become an issue. She began regurgitating parts of her meal (temps were fine), and I think still offering her the same size was a poor decision as she obviously lost weight and began to struggle to digest the meals I was giving her, so did a couple of full regurges.
After that I took her right back down to pinkies. I gave her one and then 7 days later another one. Both meals went great. I moved her up to two pinkies but kept the feeds at seven days apart to give her enough time to digest. Temps remained good as I paid extra attention to it, as well as keeping her covered up the whole time.
However, it didn't seem enough. I found her passed away one day last week. The day before I'd checked the temps etc in the morning, but on this day I checked later in the day so I'm not sure when it happened in that time. She had a green mark on her belly which looked like there was food in there that had gone bad. This didn't make a lot of sense as she'd been fed six days prior to that and temps had remained good.
All I can think of is she had a problem with food from the start. She was meant to be a 2010, but when I picked her up last year she was the thickness of my ring finger and eating rat pups. She never struck and always recoiled from food and took ages to eat with her feeding tub covered. At the end she was down to the thickness of my little finger but her head had always remained small as well. She had sheds with me but not many. She was always so tiny and I don't think her feeding could have been very good from the start to still be on rat pups at two years old.
I really miss her. She was my first corn snake, a pewter which was my favourite morph at the time. She was my favourite corn as well because she was so sweet and so gentle and lovely to handle. My son was two at the time we got her and he was able to handle her even then because she was so lovely.
My other half named her Ophion after researching the name. Ophion is from mythology and the name signified "the first" to us because Ophion came before the titans and she was going to be the first of many corns for me.
She won't be forgotten |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Freddiesmum |
Posted - 28/05/2013 : 13:12:05
Sorry to hear about this NexivRed, take care |
| Kellog |
Posted - 26/05/2013 : 22:53:04
quote:
Originally posted by NexivRed
Thank you again for the comforting words 
No need for thanks Jennifer. It's what we're here for .
Xxx
|
| NexivRed |
Posted - 26/05/2013 : 15:20:24
Thank you again for the comforting words |
| Kellog |
Posted - 26/05/2013 : 08:42:06
Sorry for the late reply Jennifer. It may be worthwhile asking your vet's reptile specialist what he thinks. If he does feel doing tests would be sensible then it may be better to do them using the lab I suggested....I know they are cheaper and often faster than having it done at a vets. I don't know the likelihood of it being something that your other snakes could have, you'd have thought you'd see some signs if they did....but if it puts your mind at rest then do it.
I'm not surprised that your real sense of loss is settling in as you write about it. All too often we can go through life, ignore the hurt and distracting ourselves with other things....but that isn't healthy and you need to feel that hurt and let it out. I do hope your little boy is coming to grips with the fact that Ophion isn't there to hold anymore....it's a tough age to explain this sort of thing to. But you're right, the more you talk about it, to him and to anyone, the more you can process what has happened and come to terms with it.
Xxx
|
| NexivRed |
Posted - 24/05/2013 : 12:51:35
I will have a word with my vet because they have a reptile specialist come in, and I can perhaps ask him some advice over the phone? I've checked their bodies and I checked her RUB (only cleaned it out yesterday ) and there's no sign of external parasites but obviously don't know about internal ones. I want to make sure they're all healthy.
About grieving, it all started as I was writing that last post. I guess talking about stuff really helps. My 3 year old son came over and gave me a hug. He doesn't quite understand what's happened because yesterday he asked to hold her, but having to remind him and say it out loud really helps. |
| Kellog |
Posted - 24/05/2013 : 12:19:07
quote:
Originally posted by NexivRed
........I haven't felt as sad as I should yet (probably putting it off cos who likes grieving) but I'm sure my other half will comfort me. No, he hasn't said "she was just a snake" and he helped me bury her. I was afraid of picking her up........He carried her outside for me a few days later as well to bury her. Her little face still so sweet, I don't think I'll know a sweeter little snake.......
I'm not surprised you haven't properly grieved yet Jennifer....you are probably busying yourself with everything to stop yourself thinking. I'm so glad your OH is so supportive. Mine would do everything he did for you....but his attitude would be that it was 'just a snake'  .
I'm also not surprised that you were scared to pick her up, I would have been exactly the same. I don't think I could handle any of mine when the time comes, but I know my OH will step up to the mark for me then. I'm glad you've buried her somewhere close, as she's been close to you ever since you first got her.
I'm no expert but I do wonder whether Isoladel has a point about getting your other snakes tested, just to be sure. When Silvi was regurging I sent a faecal sample to PalsVetLab to check for parasites etc. She came back clear. It might be worth just sending a sample from a couple of your other snakes, to be on the safe side. Just a thought....
Xxx
|
| Isoldael |
Posted - 21/05/2013 : 00:02:06
Very sorry to hear :( RIP, Ophion.
I hope I don't sound mean asking this (it's in no way meant to be any sort of blame, just asking out of concern for your other snakes), but have you thought of getting her checked for parasites? They can sometimes cause indigestion and anorexia and might be passed to your other snakes. I really hope that wasn't the case, though...
Anyway, very, very sorry for your loss. I hope Ophion has found a nice place in snake heaven, if there is such a thing, but regardless, she will stay in our hearts. |
| Lisa west lothian |
Posted - 20/05/2013 : 21:40:23
So sorry for your loss xx |
| Moppet |
Posted - 20/05/2013 : 17:32:23
So sorry to hear that RIP Ophion. |
| NexivRed |
Posted - 20/05/2013 : 17:14:08
Thanks for the reassuring and warm comments, guys. I know I haven't posted recently so it's a testament to you and this forum that you've come to say something. Kellog, your post made me feel good and your last sentence brought a lump and some tears to the surface. I haven't felt as sad as I should yet (probably putting it off cos who likes grieving) but I'm sure my other half will comfort me. No, he hasn't said "she was just a snake" and he helped me bury her. I was afraid of picking her up when I first found her. I just shouted down to him that I didn't think she was alive any more (I thought she was just sleeping). He came and picked her up and he said oh, she wasn't. She stayed in her sleeping shape so I don't think it happened that long before. He carried her outside for me a few days later as well to bury her. Her little face still so sweet, I don't think I'll know a sweeter little snake.
This is not the first pet I've had that's passed away, but it's the first I've found and the shock is bigger than I thought. I feel I can sympathise much better now though with others who've gone through it. Here's to all of them x Can't wait to see mine again some day. |
| Kellog |
Posted - 20/05/2013 : 08:12:12
I've only just read this Jennifer and I'm so sorry about you losing Ophion. I'm not surprised it took you a while before you felt able to post about it. It must be so hard coming to terms with what's happened and its going to take time.
PLEASE don't blame yourself. My Silvi went through a period of regurging regularly and it didn't cross my mind to drop her food size for a while. With her we think we know why, but you will never be sure with Ophion....and that is something you have to accept. It's obvious with hindsight that there were issues with her from the start and what people are suggesting could very well be true, that maybe there was something internal wrong. I know that I went through a phase with Silvi where I was convinced I'd come down and find her dead....and you have actually had to experience that.
What you have to focus on is that in the time she was with you she was loved and cared for and that you did everything that you could for her. It doesn't matter that you didn't check the temps at a certain time, or that you didn't move her down a size earlier....I doubt any of that would have made a difference.
I'm guessing from your comments about your OH and son that you have family and friends around you to support you....and none that are responding with 'she was just a snake', because she was so much more than that.
She was blessed to have you as her owner and you were blessed to have her in your life. She was your first corn and, as such, will always hold that special place in your heart. She was truly named well....your mythical serpent who started off your love of corns  .
Xxx
|
| carmil07 |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 19:10:22
soory for your loss RIP little Ophion x |
| Razee |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 14:23:05
So sorry to hear that - you did everything you could for her, though, and she was well looked after. There must have been some internal problem. Poor little Ophion, RIP.
Hugs x |
| lupi lou |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 12:42:16
so sad sorry for your loss |
| kev 5 |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 11:35:36
sorry for your loss |
| oakleyman18 |
Posted - 19/05/2013 : 08:55:08
Oh no :( :( That's awful!! I'm so sorry.. |
| mrsbunt |
Posted - 18/05/2013 : 23:21:11
so sorry to hear your news, she went knowing she was loved and that you did everything possible to help her |
| mjpeters |
Posted - 18/05/2013 : 23:17:21
so sorry for you.It sounds like you did everything possible,she was obviously a snake with issues.You gave her your best and she had a safe peaceful passing.
You know I rescue skinny corns too,I really feel for you.Such a sadness. |
| a33272 |
Posted - 18/05/2013 : 22:39:05
Sorry to hear it Jennifer x |
| scottishbluebird |
Posted - 18/05/2013 : 20:02:30
oh no i am so so sorry xx |
