Sick python - Lost cause...?

[licky]

sorry but i really think your coastal need to be put down.
way too many problems.

 

[notechistiger]

What, exactly, is wrong with it? It has some skin lesions, a deformed backbone (that it can and HAS lived), and constant shedding?

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

i considered assisted feeding, but i wouldnt know where to start, and dont wanna hurt him and make more problems. It'd b a good idea if id had a little more experience.

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

yeah at the moment, its got the deformity, that hes always had, some skin legions, and just losing weight and not eating still.

everything else has come good.

Its the not eating thing im most worried about at the moment, just because its been so long...

the deformity has never bothered him, really. and im sure if he starts eating well again the skin legions will come good.

but i dont know.

 

[Wild_Storm]

I know NOTHING... But I am wondering if you shouldn't put the old water dish back in... As it all was... And try to get in to a new vet. Maybe PM someone local to you to see who they recommend? Good luck, and you should be proud of yourself- you have given that snake 7 YEARS, when the breeder was going to kill it... Congrats. But I don't think it needs to be destroyed just yet.

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

And in defence of the poor vet, he may be useless but hes been doing his best to give me a hand
hes been discounting the anti-biotics and not charging me consult fees, because im there so damn often.
lol.
i think the plan at the moment is, save my pennies for a few weeks, take him to a different vet and get another oppinion, and see how we go from there.
though if he loses too much more weight in the mean time, i might have to make the descision earlier.
he did weigh 1.7kg, now 1.2kg.

 

[Wild_Storm]

Hey, in "Keeping Carpet Pythons" Simon Kortlang talks of his Carpet Python fasting for TWO YEARS before feeding... It appears you are very worried and it shows how much you care about your snake, but please don't stress too much. Simon also talks about it being fairly normal that Pythons can stop eating for several months for no apparent reason.

I think the Vet has been trying to help, so let us leave him alone- it appears he was doing all he could with his ability.

A few ideas I just had... Have you tried a smaller rat? A day old chick? Braining the rat?? All those weird and wonderful things?? Lol.

 

[notechistiger]

Has he lost a lot of weight since he stopped eating? Or just recently?

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

The weight has been a casual loss over probly the last 3 and a half months or so.
and he didnt really look skinny before, but does now.

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

A few ideas I just had... Have you tried a smaller rat? A day old chick? Braining the rat?? All those weird and wonderful things?? Lol.

ive always fed him on mice, coz hes not very big. didnt grow properly to begin with.
but ive tried smaller mice, and braining them too. no luck. sometimes he looks a little interested and has a good old sniff. but then just goes about his business.

i know snakes can go a long time without eating, but i thought they'd eat alot before hand and fatten up, like a hybernating bear or something...?
hes eaten a steady 3 - 4 mice a week his whole life. then just stopped.

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

There are a few good herp vets in the newcastle area.That would be my first step if I were you.

do you have any suggestions/names/numbers?

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

Trying to get some up, but my computer is having issues too... i need to see a computer vet :lol:

and thats awesome about the eggs. id love to get into breeding them one day. but my littley comes 1st hehe

 

[salebrosus]

David Vella is at Crows Nest, so not a totally horrendous drive from Newcastle.

I have had a large female python that was feeding like a champion on large quails etc. Then went right off her food. She has lost a little bit of weight and has finally smashed a rat only 2 weeks ago. She went 13 months without feeding. A reptile specialist vet could not find anything wrong with her. Obviously your case is different but don't give up just yet. People are far too quick to euthanse animals. I strongly recommend you seek someone with the expertise of David Vella or the like before you make any decisions.

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

thats him:

In this one, its his right eye (the eye on your left). that has gone almost blind from the shedding.

This is him overall:

And this is the main big big legion on the skin, its about half the size of a 5c piece.
and its the worst one. the rest are only the size of 1 or 2 scales.
there are about another 5 other than this big one:

 

[rebeccalg]

ouch! poor snakey. I'd certainly be putting all of my efforts into getting some food into him. He wont last long without some sustenance. good luck with him.

 

[xScarlettex]

7 years is a long time to care for a disabled critter so its great to see youve put in so much effort, you know your snake better than anyone so in the end you'll know what you need to do, good luck with him =)

 

[Sel]

Wow, youve done a great job looking after him.. i wish you loads of luck and hopefully you can spend another 7 years with him =)

Here is a list of NSW Herp vets, one is in Newcastle and i think the rest are around sydney... im sure they can work out a payment plan for you..can only ask:

Sugarloaf Animal Hospital (Dr. Mark Simpson BVSc / MACVSc)
Carrington street, West Wallsend (NEWCASTLE) NSW 2286

Cannon and Ball Veterinary Surgeons - (02) 4229 8888
461 Crown Street, WEST WOLLONGONG, NSW 2500

Heathcote Veterinary Clinic (Joe Sulyok)
1335B Princes Highway, HEATHCOTE 2233
Phone: 9520 0655 / Fax: 9520 7550

Mobile Vet Sydney - (02) 9873 1660
262 North Rocks Road, NORTH ROCKS, NSW 2151

South Penrith Veterinary Clinic
126 Stafford Street South Penrith NSW 2750.
Phone Robert Johnson: 02 4721 4796
email: [email protected]
We have a room totally dedicated to the
hospitalisation & care of reptiles and amphibians.

North Shore Veterinary Hospital - (02) 9436 1213
94 Alexander street, CROWS NEST, NSW

Balgownie Veterinary Hospital
156 Balgownie Road, BALGOWNIE NSW 2519

Mona Vale Veterinary Clinic
Mona Vale Road, MONA VALE, NSW

Teri Bellamy - (02) 9604 9792
Shop 6, Harden Street & Avoca Road CANLEY HEIGHTS, NSW 2166

North Gosford Veterinary Clinic, GOSFORD

Taronga Zoo Vet Centre - (02) 9969 2777
Whiting Beach Road, MOSMAN, NSW

Shoalhaven Veterinary Clinic
109 Berry Street NOWRA, NSW 2541

Marsden Street Veterinary Clinic - (02) 9633 4354
41 Great Western Highway PARRAMATTA, NSW

Jannali Veterinary Clinic (Julian Smith) - (02) 9528 3244
544 Box Road JANNALI, NSW

Randwick Veterinary Hospital - (02) 9398 1222
15 Botany Street RANDWICK, NSW

Hope these help..

 

[elapid@]

was the antibiotoc called fortum?

have you put some betadine on those legions?

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

wow!
thanks alot for that list. i'll filter through them in the morning and see what i can come up with!!

and i have been putting EDP powder in the legions. thats what the vet suggested.
It seems to keep them good and clean.

 

[barbed_wire_dove]

oh and im not sure of all of the names of the anti-biotics.
we went through something like 8 different types. then when he was still sick, the vet went away and reserched more types, and got them ordered in... because they werent in stock in the clinic.