Double shed

[katach]

Hi all. This isn't a normal thing so I'm posting about it. One of my ordinoides, Willow, had been acting odd for the last week or so. She was slithering sideways, almost as if she had an itch on her nose she was trying to scratch. A few days ago she went full blue. Today she shed a full complete shed, one piece. Well about 10min later Bill noticed a piece of shed on her head. He went to help it off, but it wasn't just left over. She had another complete shed. The second was harder for her and had to be assisted. She is now slithering straight again. Thoughts?

[RedSidedSPR]

http://enjoytherandom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mzJQ1.gif

[guidofatherof5]

One of the strangest shed issues I've ever heard of.

[d_virginiana]

That's really weird! Is the snake full grown or still younger? If it was younger, you think maybe the first shed was retained, and the second just happened to occur close enough that the normal stretching/gasping that can happen up to a month or two after a retained shed didn't have time to become obvious?

I've had a bizarre shed issue recently that was parasite related, so I'd recommend going ahead and getting a fecal done. They're pretty cheap, and it might catch a problem before it becomes fatal. Whatever is going on, it does sound like there was a retained shed at some point, and that's usually caused by something, and that doesn't sound like it was her habitat.

[katach]

She is full grown. We keep a pretty close eye on them. She had a normal shed last time, nice one piece, both eye caps and complete tail about a month ago. I'm pretty sure she is parasite free. We've had her for several years, and haven't changed anything. It was just strange.

[d_virginiana]

That's so weird!

I was about to post a second time saying that I'm very paranoid about shed issues right now, and the odds that a parasite was involved are pretty slim. lol

Have you noticed anything odd about her poo lately? Like consistency or color? Going over all the things that could cause shed issues with my vet while we were trying to figure out what was wrong with my girl really made me notice what nutrients may or may not be getting absorbed well and affecting the skin based on her poo.
Not trying to diagnose your snake with any crazy disease, but this is just such a strange thing I'm curious about what caused it!

[jwolfe152]

could you take both sheds to a vet? or can they determine anything from them?

[katach]

She is communally housed so identifying her specific poo would be a challenge, but poo in general for them had been normal for diet. I wish there was a vet here that was willing to see her. They all say they don't see wildlife. Completely stupid if you ask me. She is a loved pet, just because she is a native snake they think she is nothing to be concerned about. It's such a weird thing i would love to know the cause.

[jwolfe152]

here in wv its called the DNR Department of Natural Resources (park rangers) im sure they have something like that in washington, but maybe you could call them and find a scientist or a wildlife vet that they use for live animals. another idea might be a university doctor. i dont know if any of those are close or if anyone would be able to help, but its just a thought.

[d_virginiana]

What?! That's kind of nuts. Most of the vets where I used to live didn't like to treat reptiles, because they didn't know a lot about them but I never had any refuse to even see them. They just made sure that I knew the risks associated with getting treatment, usually just basic antibiotics and stuff, from someone not trained to treat reptiles.

[cmack91]

She is communally housed so identifying her specific poo would be a challenge, but poo in general for them had been normal for diet. I wish there was a vet here that was willing to see her. They all say they don't see wildlife. Completely stupid if you ask me. She is a loved pet, just because she is a native snake they think she is nothing to be concerned about. It's such a weird thing i would love to know the cause.

Sorry for not having an introductory post, I've been lurking this forum for a while.

I'm in Tacoma and I take my snakes to the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospitol in Bothel. It is far from you, but I gaurantee that they will see whatever you take to them. Ask to see Dr. Adolf Maas, he is one of the best reptile vets in the country and has decades of experience. IMO, based on what I've read on the vets around here, he and his colleagues are the only ones in WA worth taking a reptile to.

[katach]

Thanks! I'm in Port Orchard just across the water a bit from you.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry for not having an introductory post, I've been lurking this forum for a while.

I'm in Tacoma and I take my snakes to the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospitol in Bothel. It is far from you, but I gaurantee that they will see whatever you take to them. Ask to see Dr. Adolf Maas, he is one of the best reptile vets in the country and has decades of experience. IMO, based on what I've read on the vets around here, he and his colleagues are the only ones in WA worth taking a reptile to.

Home | The Center for Bird & Exotic Animal Medicine, Bothell WA (http://theexoticvet.com/)

[EasternGirl]

Well, it sounds to me like she had a retained shed and may have shed again to try to get the first shed off properly. As I wrote in another post, my snakes have all been shedding like crazy this summer. They all shed at least once a month...every time I walk into the room where the snakes are...another one has shed. Don't know what is going on with that. As far as vets not seeing snakes, we have quite a few around here who will not see reptiles. Unless they have vets that specialize in exotics, they won't see snakes. They refer you to an exotic vet...and luckily there is a place that has a few exotic vets on call near me.