Second shed success

[JodiLeigh]

Few days ago this is what he looked like:


before.jpg


And this is what he looks like now:


after.jpg


And here is the skin:


skin.jpg


He was foggy and blue eyed for longer this time but the actually shed happened sooner after that phase then his first shed. This skin is completely in tact, no missing scales and all in one piece.


He hasn't been eating well again though and gone off pinkies, still eating worms but obviously that's not enough for him. I think he may have something wrong with his mouth, he's not sticking his tongue as normal. Does anyone know what this means?

[EasternGirl]

Looks like a nice shed...he looks very pretty. The eating and his mouth...is this something that you noticed in the weeks leading up to his shed? And he still isn't eating since he shed and his tongue is still having a problem after the shed? Now you are saying that he is not flicking his tongue? This can definitely be a sign of something wrong. Is there anyway you can open his mouth and look inside to check his tongue? You can try just gently pulling his lower lip down..or you can take something like a credit card...make sure it is clean...and try to very gently slip it in between his lips to pry his mouth apart and see if you see his tongue and what it looks like....but I know a lack of tongue flicking can be a sign of illness. Do you have a reptile vet near you?

[JodiLeigh]

Thank you

"is this something that you noticed in the weeks leading up to his shed?" Yes, he last ate about a week ago but just the worm, he didn't touch the pinkie and not touched a pinkie for a few weeks now.

"And he still isn't eating since he shed and his tongue is still having a problem after the shed?" He shed just last night, offered him some food just before he shed which he didn't eat, offered him more today and nothing yet.
"Now you are saying that he is not flicking his tongue?" He hasn't been flicking his tongue for about a week now and is still not flicking it even after his shed although he does stick it out a tiny little bit but looks like the ends are stuck together which I have heard is NOT good!

"look inside to check his tongue?" I had a little quick look the other day and can't see anything unusual although I don't know exactly what I'm looking for. There were no lesions or blood, a little extra saliva but that's it. I will check again today to see if anything has changed, I don't like doing it though because he obviously doesn't like it

"Do you have a reptile vet near you?" Yes and I've been meaning to take him anyway just to check him over but it will cost me £30 just for a consultation and not had any money the passed two weeks. As soon as I have some money I am taking him but is there anything I should look out for so I know what to tell the vet?

[JodiLeigh]

Still not eaten

Still no tongue flicking

Checked his mouth. No lesions, no blood, a little more saliva then usual but looks the same as last time I checked. I did noticed though that the bottom looks a little more puffy then when I last checked, as if it's a bit swollen maybe?

What does a healthy garter mouth look like? Would help if I saw a picture so I can compare, do you have any?

[Natrix]

[QUOTE=JodiLeigh;205445]Few days ago this is what he looked like:


before.jpg


And this is what he looks like now:


after.jpg


Look directly behind the Jaw, it looks like he has a swelling that goes under his throat? or has he always been like that?

[EasternGirl]

Yes it does, Rod...good catch..I did not even notice that before. Jodi...the swelling in the throat is often present in respiratory infections...but I also wonder if he has something stuck in his throat possibly. The lack of tongue flicking is worrisome. Can you hear any audible breathing sounds? Any wheezing, crackling or popping sounds? What is his heat and humidity set on right now? I would get him to the vet as soon as you possibly can. Until then, increase the heat and humidity in his tank. Up the heat to about 86 on the warm side and leave it up at night even...he needs the increase in heat to help his immune system now and if it's a respiratory infection the increase in heat and humidity will help his breathing. Try to get the humidity up to 50% or 60%.

[JodiLeigh]

Yes it does, Rod...good catch..I did not even notice that before. Jodi...the swelling in the throat is often present in respiratory infections...but I also wonder if he has something stuck in his throat possibly. The lack of tongue flicking is worrisome. Can you hear any audible breathing sounds? Any wheezing, crackling or popping sounds? What is his heat and humidity set on right now? I would get him to the vet as soon as you possibly can. Until then, increase the heat and humidity in his tank. Up the heat to about 86 on the warm side and leave it up at night even...he needs the increase in heat to help his immune system now and if it's a respiratory infection the increase in heat and humidity will help his breathing. Try to get the humidity up to 50% or 60%.

Yes I had noticed but thought that was just normal.
He makes little very quick clicks but you can only hear it when I hold him to my ear, that's just the glottis isn't it?
After I checked his mouth he did make a little sneeze like noise but he never does that otherwise.
The heat is at 30 degrees Celsius on the warm side, which is 86 in Fahrenheit and the humidity goes between 30 to 50%

I will try and keep the humidity up and put my other heat matt on the back for when the heat lamp goes off so the heat will stay up at night.

I should be able to get him to a vet soon but till then is there anything else I can do?

[Natrix]

This could help us all at some point. Health Problems of Snakes

[EasternGirl]

Yes...the clicks are just the glottis opening and closing. His breathing seems okay then. Your heat is good...keep it up on the warm side at night...try to keep the humidity up...and other than that I don't know what else to tell you other than just try to get him checked by a vet as soon as you can. Please keep us posted.

[JodiLeigh]

Yes...the clicks are just the glottis opening and closing. His breathing seems okay then. Your heat is good...keep it up on the warm side at night...try to keep the humidity up...and other than that I don't know what else to tell you other than just try to get him checked by a vet as soon as you can. Please keep us posted.

Thank you

I will post back as soon as I have booked the vets and let you guys know when I will be going.

I will keep a very VERY close eye on him until then and it hopefully won't be too long.

Thanks guys and Rod, thanks for the link. I will keep that bookmarked for future reference.