Meet Tilt

[guidofatherof5]

I came across this little scrub while herping in Nebraska. An average radix to say the least.(if there is such a thing) What interested me was the injury this little baby had suffered and healed from. I was concerned for its future and decided to have it stay at the Ranch. Kind of an observation period. She seemed to be doing fine up until a week ago. She came out for some food and I noticed she had a distinct tilt to her head. I thought about naming her Ileen but settled on Tilt. Tilt ate this morning and seems to be doing well. I'm hoping this is not a progressive disorder and her head will stabilize.
It's a very strange looking injury or maybe a birth defect. I know that the future might be short for her as these thing don't stabilize very often. At this point I don't care. I'm glad this little girl is here with the family.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/tilt.jpg

It's a strange looking area and I'm not sure how it could have occured. Looks as if she had her head caught in something she was trying to back out of.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/tilt1.jpg

[ssssnakeluvr]

she will have a good home at the ranch!!!!!! I have a wandering that has bit of a tilt....not sure what happened either, was fine when he was caught.

[Thamnophis Man]

Sounds like a injuy to one side of the brain that would make her tilt like that.

[gregmonsta]

Very interesting ... she must be doing alright to make it this far .... :D glad she found you ;)

[DrKate]

If Tilt were a mammal, I'd be sure she had a vestibular problem. With damage to the inner ear on one side, the brain thinks it's leaning over, so the head reflexively tilts the other direction. Snakes don't really have an external or middle ear for hearing, but they do still have an inner ear balance system.

Some critters act like they feel nauseous when this happens, but most seem to pretty much just not notice that the world is at a funny angle. :)

Strange that it developed after you got her, which was obviously well after the original injury. So it's possible there's some progressive degeneration going on. Or, this may be as bad as it gets - it may even get better if this is some transient swelling due to the healing process. No way to know really except to wait and see. The head tilt itself is unlikely to cause her much distress, though, so she should be able to fully enjoy her time at the Ranch.

[guidofatherof5]

The head tilt itself is unlikely to cause her much distress, though, so she should be able to fully enjoy her time at the Ranch.

For now I've put some restrictions on her activities, like: No full contact sports, no horseback riding and no spinning rides at the Fun Center. She's upset as any kid would be but as I told her "Dad knows best":D

[guidofatherof5]

It looks like I can change someones name. He tilts no more. Not sure what the problem was but he's off the restrictions list.

[gregmonsta]

Wow, good news :) ... definately recovering from injury then me thinks :D

[Corinne33]

For now I've put some restrictions on her activities, like: No full contact sports, no horseback riding and no spinning rides at the Fun Center. She's upset as any kid would be but as I told her "Dad knows best":D

Horse back riding with side walkers will actually help improve her balance -nods-

Shes adorable, hopefully she lives a long happy, slightly skewed life. If not at least she will live the life of a princess for the short time she has