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11 Posts |
 Posted - 03/08/2009 : 13:08:23
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My corn snake is 12 years old and hasn't eaten since end April. He did get himself wedged in his water bowl at the end of April, I cut him free and the vet could see nothing wrong. A few weeks later I took him back and saw another vet who recommended a bloodtest, found he had an infection and he had antibiotics (personally think this should have been done in April). A few weeks ago he had an ultrasound as vet found a lump that is by his liver, they don't know what it is.
He still isn't interested in food, and I have to put his head near waterbowl to get him to drink, he is drinking most days.
He doesn't appear to be in any pain. Do I try some of the feeding techniques I have read here? Or is it time to give up hoping? |
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Brookestar
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2361 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2009 : 13:19:02
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i wouldnt give up bezzie especially as you have tried so much to find out the problem. try everything you have read because you just never know. even try feeding pinkies or fuzzies rather than his normal mouse size. that wouyld be my first approach.
good luck |
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Kazerella
The Corn Snake Admin
United Kingdom
3093 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2009 : 21:17:32
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I wouldn't give up either- you never know he might make a miraculous recovery.
What's the vet suggested as the next step in treatment? |
 
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lee2308
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2009 : 22:12:59
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if it's still breathing dont give up,just treat it as a non feeder and try some of the methords to get it feeding again  |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2009 : 22:15:17
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| Is it an exotic vet who knows what he is talking about? xxx (you will probably think this mad, but will pray for your snake) |
  
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hillzi
The Lost boy.
United Kingdom
3984 Posts |
Posted - 03/08/2009 : 22:17:00
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theres the non feeding sticky in general keeping info.
try those tips. you'll get him going. True Lee, when it's still breathing and its heart is still beating, keep going! |
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3796 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 09:12:12
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| good luck to you, and dont give up! |
9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python
Location: Watford
Website- http://rassnakes.yolasite.com/ |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 10:03:40
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| Please keep us up to date on whats going on - we worry!!!! xxx |
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deleted
11 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 11:50:55
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Thank you for all your support, it's quite fantastic. The vet is a snake specialist and he didn't suggest any treatment, just asked to be kept informed and that I keep offering him food every couple of weeks. I have defrosted a normal rat for him just in case he hates pinkies but I think it may be too big for him now he's been ill. He went off mice about 10 years ago and won't touch them but getting something of a sensible size in rat is near enough impossible. I should warn you that he does look thin, I haven't weighed him recently - bit too afraid he will have lost even more weight.
If I try liquidising a rat how do I get him to eat it? Do I put it in a bowl and try to get him to eat it like water? (Must admit the thought of liquidising a rat is not a good one) |
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness
United Kingdom
4428 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 12:19:19
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| If he used to eating rats, I would offer him a rat pup. If he doesnt take it, leave him for a week and try a chick, or chick scenting. Let us know when you weigh him. |
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Brookestar
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2361 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 13:02:46
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| like matty sayd just try w.e you can think of. even if you have to drop down to weaner rats its worth trying |
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11 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 14:36:44
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What is chick scenting? I did buy a day old chick for him to try but it looks huge so I haven't defrosted it.
Will be brave and weigh him tonight
Thank you all for your support |
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Brookestar
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2361 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 14:56:06
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| its a liquid that scent mice like chicks |
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hillzi
The Lost boy.
United Kingdom
3984 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 16:13:49
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scenting is when you rub the rat pup with the chick so it smells of chick and would trick the snake into biting the rat hopefully when he tastes rat, he'll chomp down!
the chick trick  |
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Brookestar
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
2361 Posts |
Posted - 04/08/2009 : 16:44:59
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| old trick but normally quite succesful |
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n/a
deleted
589 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 00:20:30
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If he is not feeling well it is not likely he is going to feed anyway,
has you vet done a biopsy to see what the lump is? you need to get this looked at.
How big is the lump?
i am not trying to upset you but i lost a kingsnake this year who had a lump and it turned out to be some kind of tumour on his kidney, he was drinking loads,
the decision was made to operate as he was going downhill, but he never survived the op..
i hope your snake will recover and soon..
fingers crossed |
Rat World, Frozen Rats/Multis/Gerbils/Mice
T.0845 250 0020
2.3.0. Royals.1.2.0 Corns. RIP Sadie
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deleted
11 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 13:28:27
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Weighed him last night he is down to 410g
The vet and I feel that he is not well enough to cope with an anethestic so no biopsy possible. The only plus side was that as the lump was by the liver it wasn't either of the fatal things he suspected.
Going to keep trying with food options |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 13:40:20
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When you say he got stuck in his bowl and had to be cut free, where was his body stuck in relation to the lump?
i.e is the lump where his body was stuck, or before/after? If that makes sense. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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HannahB
The Corn Snake Moderator
United Kingdom
5491 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 20:28:08
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| hope hes ok and begins feeding again x |
2.0 Normal Royal Pythons - Q and Little One
1.0 Chihauhaun Mountain Kingsnake - Simba
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deleted
11 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2009 : 11:20:55
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| There was a hole so he could go under the water bowl and he had gone out and then back in before coming fully out and so made a loop that couldn't go anywhere. The lump is around the part that was stuck but was not found until July and the vet did a full check up in May when the bloodtest was done. |
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Kehhlyr
ǝʞɐɔ sǝʌoן
United Kingdom
8173 Posts |
Posted - 06/08/2009 : 15:35:41
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Sounds like he's done a small bit of damage somewhere.
We had an adder a few years back that got stuck in a wire mesh, when that got released, it had a similar lump for about a fortnight.
How long has he had the lumpy bit now? It could be a snakie equivalent to swelling. |
-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
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Any hope?
