Possible spinal problem

[chris-uk]

Damn. She retained her first shed and I had to assist her with that one, her last shed was successful on her own on 23 Oct, so she'd be due a shed by now and hasn't shown any signs of one coming.
I've got her in a shed box at the moment Steve. I'll update again later.

Curiously, when I had her in the feedbox this morning she did eat 2 small pieces of salmon. She went off her food completely when she was shedding last time.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad she ate and I hope this shed comes off without too much difficulty.

[chris-uk]

Well, she's been in and out of her shed box all afternoon. And showing no sign of the skin coming away. Thanks for the advice through the afternoon Steve, I know we'll get her through this. She's tired and stressed though so back in her viv now, if I'm lucky she will use one of her rocks to get her shed started herself.

[katach]

Good luck!

[EasternGirl]

I'm so sorry that she is going through all of this Chris...positive thoughts coming your way.

[chris-uk]

She still hasn't done anything to help herself with her retained shed. We've both had a stressful couple of hours, as she had dried overnight I had another look and decided that if she has a retained shed it's one that's stuck like a layer of varnish. While she was still dry I took the desperate step of using a scalpel to get the shed started, trying to cut a single layer of skin without cutting into a moving snake is a challenge.
After half an hour in a shed box I was able to peel some shed away fat the point I cut. I know when I was Skyping Steve yesterday I had my doubts as to whether this was a retained shed, but it looks like you were spot on Steve. Unfortunately, the shed is coming off in very small pieces, so far I've cleared about 5cm above the vent, and the loose ends of shed has disappeared. It doesn't help that most of the time the edges of the shed are only visible from the right angle when she is under water.
I've put her back in her viv for a rest now. I know a retained shed will kill her if I don't get it off, how long do I have to remove it completely? It something that will kill her over weeks or months rather than days?

[guidofatherof5]

Could be days.
It might be good to find a faucet that will allow you to shed her under running warm water.
The running water will catch that edge of shed and actually do some of the work for you.
Best of luck. I've been where you are at and don't envy the job ahead of you.
Stay with it as she needs your diligence.

[EasternGirl]

Oh...this is just so hard Chris...I'm sorry that she is having such a hard time. I really hope you get the shed off.

[chris-uk]

After both of us having a break this afternoon I've got back on the job at hand this evening. I'm hoping that the stress of the experience isn't too detrimental to her.
Contrary to common wisdom, I actually find it easier to get the shed open when she's dry. When the retained layer is dry I can get the scalpel blades between the layers and open it up a few mm. How far I open is a judgement call as I'm trying to leave as large a loose flap as possible. I've managed to get a split running along half her spine now, and this morning I managed to clear the section running 4cm north of the vent. She's back in the shed box where I'm hoping the humidity will soften under the edges so that the snakes comes away larger pieces now that I have a longer split in her shed.

Taking a scalpel to a baby snake is amongst the most stressful things I've had to do for a long time, she keeps still for spells then wriggles for a while making this a painstakingly slow process. I'm hoping to be done in the next few hours.

[PINJOHN]

After both of us having a break this afternoon I've got back on the job at hand this evening. I'm hoping that the stress of the experience isn't too detrimental to her.
Contrary to common wisdom, I actually find it easier to get the shed open when she's dry. When the retained layer is dry I can get the scalpel blades between the layers and open it up a few mm. How far I open is a judgement call as I'm trying to leave as large a loose flap as possible. I've managed to get a split running along half her spine now, and this morning I managed to clear the section running 4cm north of the vent. She's back in the shed box where I'm hoping the humidity will soften under the edges so that the snakes comes away larger pieces now that I have a longer split in her shed.

Taking a scalpel to a baby snake is amongst the most stressful things I've had to do for a long time, she keeps still for spells then wriggles for a while making this a painstakingly slow process. I'm hoping to be done in the next few hours.

well done Chris you are a braver man than me