Augie can't move upper body

[Mommy2many]

My adult male radix, Augie appears not to be able to move the upper part of his body. He has recently been laying on top of cage floor vines. Last night he was mostly in the water dish. This morning, I found himself still in the water dish, almost same position/location. It appeared he was trying to get out. I took him out and he moves the lower 2/3 rds of his body but the top 1/3 rd appears to twist and flip over when he tries. I held him for awhile, tried to give him water and placed him back in his house. Nothing in the house looks as if it could cause injury, I just redid it 3 days ago and rehoused Augie with the 2 males of equal size. Previously, he was living with Beauty, and they are the proud parents of my 24 new babies.

I'm not sure what can be causing this but I doubt he will survive the day. Anybody else ever have this happen? He's only 3. He is the offspring of two radix that Steve gave Rhea (Drache).

[Askyneedsclouds]

Although I am new to garters and have never had an occurence like this before, I would still say what applies to humans can also apply to snakes here. There are many internal pathological malfunctions that could cause paralysis, so please don't blame yourself. Maybe try and ease the situation for him, put water in a lower dish so he can reach it more easily, that is what I would do. As for anything else, you can either rush to the vet or wait and see what will happen. Like you said, I doubt there is much you can do; if it progresses so fast, I wouldn't have too much hope, sadly.
I still hope for the best; these are the sadest things of caring for animals :( I wish you two all the best.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like the paralysis is a symptom of something rather then the cause. Prayers headed you way.

[Mommy2many]

He has tucked his head under a leaf but I don't think he can get the rest of his body there. I will leave him be and watch him every half hour.

[slipknot711]

Oh no. I hope he turns out ok

[Mommy2many]

Thank you everyone by my hopes are not up. You know how you just know?

[RedSidedSPR]

Thank you everyone by my hopes are not up. You know how you just know?

Yup. One of my little ones got under something heavy and screwed up her spine in several places. Limited movement. She fought it for a few weeks but in hindsight I wish I'd have shortened it.

Much luck to him.

[d_virginiana]

Sorry to hear that :(
If he's still mobile enough to flop into the water dish, you may want to remove it and offer water every couple hours while you supervise till he passes (had that happen with a paralyzed rescue once; don't need inhaled water/RIs to complicate their last days).

[Mommy2many]

Thank you for the advice. He isn't able to move there, so I helped him under the plant. I think he wants to be shielded.

[Mommy2many]

Sadly, Augie passed away at 2:30 am. In the end, it looked as if his whole body had kinks. Very strange. I will miss him, he fathered some very pretty offspring. They were his first and only. :(

On a side note, Striper, my red sided stayed with him all day. It's like he knew something was wrong and wanted to help/console.

[BLUESIRTALIS]

sorry for your loss!

[kueluck]

:(

[RedSidedSPR]

condolences.. was hoping he'd snap out of it.

odd about the kinks. I still don't know how mine got them, could be caused by something we don't know about.

[d_virginiana]

Could the kinked look be caused by muscle spasms? Not in every case, but if there's something neurological going on that affects the spine that might be able to cause that.

[Mommy2many]

I'm not sure but the kinks ran all along his body.

[guidofatherof5]

Any photos taken by chance?

[chris-uk]

Sorry for your loss.

Were the kinks visible from when you first noticed the paralysis, or just post-mortum? And how many kinks were there (I.e. We're they one every few cm or less regular) and we're they regularly spaced?

[slipknot711]

sorry for your loss

[Mommy2many]

Here are some pics of Augie (post mortem)

1095410955109561095710958

Let me know what you think. Augie was about 14-15 inches long. He could move the lower part of his body but nithing above what I believe to be the lung area. He will be missed. :(

[guidofatherof5]

Any chance we can get a photo of the kinks? I'm not seeing it in those photos. Thanks.

[Mommy2many]

I'm referring to the "s" shaped curves as "kinks" he did not have that prior to this episode. Especially in the third photo below his neck.

[guidofatherof5]

I see what you mean now. Not sure what that would be.

[Thamnophis]

I think these are caused by its last throes/last convulsions while it was dying. The fact that it hardly could move before it died was also a sign of the dying process. Seen this lots of times in the shelter where I have worked. The cause of death can only be determend by a qualified vet.