Marnie's Snakes

[angrygamer]

Yikes, that's weird. Page 74 of "What's Wrong with my Snake" discusses constipation. I couldn't find anything on impaction.

Still looking.

[EasternGirl]

Funny you said that because I was just thinking that I read something on constipation in that book. I will look at it here in a bit. Steve told me to give him a warm bath...I think I read something about obstructions and impactions in the book...there is a little something on page 79. Steve said if there isn't any other evidence...like inflammation at the vent and so forth, I shouldn't worry too much at this point. I have trouble seeing the poop in his enclosure since he is albino and I only have a red light on him. I'm going to take his tank down and look through the substrate to see if he has been pooping normally and give him a warm bath tonight and go from there.

[EasternGirl]

Okay...so I gave Hermes a warm bath, which he was not too thrilled about. After that I took his substrate out of his tank...did not see much poop at all. I replaced it with paper towels like Steve suggested to me today on skype...so that I can monitor his bowel movements...I thought he would not be happy about the paper towels, but interestingly, he seems to like them better than the carefresh...he has been happily exploring all over since I put them in the tank. I also noticed he obliged and pooped right away on them. He looked a little thinner so I went ahead and put some worms in a dish under his hide...I think he ate them...I have to go check in a bit. He looks as though he is trying to get his shed started...he keeps rubbing his chin on things in his enclosure...which is good, because I think he is due for a shed.

I think Cee Cee is having more and more trouble seeing...and I am starting to wonder if maybe she is up there in years or something. She kept missing the worms when I was feeding her with the hemostats and hitting her mouth on them...now I am going to have to watch and make sure she didn't hurt her mouth. She was acting very odd when I first went to feed her...like she couldn't find me...she was looking all over her tank like crazy for me...I had my hand stuck in the front of her tank like I always do with the food...it was very weird. I also think I saw her blow some bubbles out of her nose. Perhaps I should call the vet tomorrow. Maybe the respiratory infection is getting worse? I didn't hear any wheezing...

Seeley ate again...he ate more worms. I'm glad he is eating again.

[guidofatherof5]

All in all a good report. Thanks for the update Marnie.

[kibakiba]

Perhaps she was excited about the food, Snap needs the food right in front of her with at least 3 or 4 tries before she can calm herself and grab it.

[EasternGirl]

It was a really odd thing...she got all excited and started darting around all over her enclosure...she was climbing up the back of the enclosure...and then she started climbing her plant and up the side of the enclosure right next to the opening in the front where my hand was, pressing her face against the glass on the side. I kept shaking the hemostats at her and making noises with my mouth to try to get her attention. She did this for about 5 minutes. Finally I put the worm right in front of her nose and she grabbed at it but she kept missing it and hitting her mouth into the hemostats. I'm not sure why she was blowing bubbles out of her nose either. I figure maybe I should call the vet and ask him about that.

[kibakiba]

I believe that's a sign of an RI.

[EasternGirl]

The bubbles? Well the vet said she has a respiratory infection but that we should just watch it unless it gets really bad because treating it would involve me injecting her...which will be difficult, and if she is gravid could be dangerous for the babies. Do you think I should call him...do you think it's getting worse? She isn't doing any open mouth breathing...

[EasternGirl]

Well, I just picked Cee Cee up and her chest sounded very crackly...so I called the vet and we decided it would be best to go ahead and start her on antibiotics. I don't care about a potential risk to babies at this point...I just care about Cee Cee not getting any worse. This means I have to give her injections every 3 days. I have to go over to the vet tomorrow (or tonight if I can make it up there) and the vet techs are going to show me how to give the injections. This ought to be interesting...giving injections to a snake. Cee Cee is going to bite the living crap out of someone...and she is not going to be very happy with me at all after all of this. Poor Ceecers...

[chris-uk]

The antibiotics sound like the best option Marnie. As you say, the injections are a risk if she's gravid, but not treating the RI is a risk as well.
I'm sure the injections aren't anything you can't handle, as long as you can do them quickly and hit the right spot you should be fine. Good luck.