** URGENT** Donor Required

[barbed_wire_dove]

aww!
thats sad!
i hope it all works out, and id be really interesed to see the photos of how it goes.
good luck!

 

[foxysnake]

I wish the best of luck, sounds mindblowing to say the least.

 

[xScarlettex]

so whats actually wrong with its jaw? goodluck with it all though! i hope it goes well!

 

[craig.a.c]

After looking at the pics of the jungles mouth, I don't think it would stand a chance. By now canker would have set in big time, when it does the snake will go down hill very fast.

 

[Toria]

I do realize that there's not much of a chance but we're gonna try regardless, my vet is awesome, he's not trying to rip me off... he's made it clear how risky it is and how unlikely it is to suceed, it was my choice- without it he's dead! Really guys are u trying to bum me out? I'm sure your trying to prepare me for a realistic outcome but I'm well aware of the situation. I'm not blind. I was just wondering if anyone had heard of anything that could help or knew of a possible donor.

 

[missllama]

im not trying to "bum u out" im just asking which vet in s.a ur using thats all...

 

[Chris1]

wow, its so nice to see someone caring so much...

i really hope u find a donor and the op is a success,...!!

best of luck with it, please keep us updated on how you go,...its awesome of u to at least try!!

 

[Noongato]

What about contacting the council or whoevers job it is to clean up the roads and pick up roadkill? Im sure they come across fresh kills all the time and could bring it in to the nearest vet??
Couldnt another specialist make a plate of surgical stainless steel instead, then theres alot less problem with rejection... And its not like a captive python needs perfect teeth etc.
Go to the media and tell your story, its definately one that would touch many people, and also would get the word out.

 

[geckodan]

Regardless of the percieved skills of the surgeon, your next biggest hurdle is that reptilian patients are intolerant of immunosuppressive doses of anything and to avoid rejection of bone implants, this will be needed. Snakes are not dogs. As soon as you place a snake on a systemic corticosteroid (as you would for a dog) it will crash and burn from infection elsewhere in the body. Its a great theory but it will only lead to tears. You would have more luck with a mandibulectomy and lifetime assist feeding.

 

[Southern_Forest_Drag]

Regardless of the percieved skills of the surgeon, your next biggest hurdle is that reptilian patients are intolerant of immunosuppressive doses of anything and to avoid rejection of bone implants, this will be needed.

That would mean there is a 0% success rate?

Anyway, goodluck.

 

[Pike01]

Exactly Danny.

 

[Moreliaman]

I don’t mean to add anymore negativity to this thread, but after reading what geckodan's posted I'd also be inclined to take a few more things into consideration

The smaller the patient the higher the risk, & I’d imagine that this kind of operation would take many hours !

I can’t understand how the vet can say any Morelia of a similar size will be a good donor ?, how does he know it’s a match without tests ?? As im sure this has never been attempted before & the first human jaw transplant was only a few years ago, wouldnt it atleast be advisable to keep with the same specie as a sensible start ? Just this statement alone would set alarm bells ringing for me!

We have vets here that like to specialize in exotics & sometimes their own personal ego can get in the way of their better judgment, the victims are usually the patient & owner .......& the owner usually ends up with an extremely large bill and 1 dead pet !

I’ve seen this happen many times here in the UK, one customer of mine took a green anole to a vet which developed a lump, bearing in mind these are only a few inches long as adults and cost about £10.00 each !.(yeah I know the value has nothing to do with it)....but even I knew the chances of a successful operation on something this small were stacked against it, but the vet managed to talk the customer into it saying there was a small chance.....the anole never came round after the op & the owner had a £157.00 bill !!!
And that’s all just because the vet wanted to try !

To be honest I don’t think you need the single advice of a bone marrow vet, yes he might be an expert in this field.....BUT you also need the input of an experienced reptile vet to see if this is possible and the chances of success, I'd be looking round for one & asking for a second opinion before I put any of my reptiles through such a massive ordeal

I know its sad, but sometimes you have to ask yourself..... am I doing this for me because im attached to it..... Or for my pet sake...... and what quality of life this animal could have after the op & ESP if it’s unsuccessful & the animal ends up suffering (and how are you going to know if its in pain or not!)

Sorry……I hope I don’t sound too negative, I’m just trying to point a few things out for you to consider.
Of course the ultimate decision is yours & if you decide to go ahead then I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Octane]

Don't mean to sound negative bit in addition to the previous threads by geckodan and moreliaman, check whether or not the vetinary surgeon has carried out this type of surgery before and specifically on a reptile.

If so how successful was it? How long did the subject survive for? Did the surgery return the animal to full health or did it have permanent impairment?

If the vet has not carried out a jawbone replacement on a reptile before you are just paying him/her big dollars to experiment on your sick snake. If this is the case why would you put your animal through such a major operation on a maybe????

Get some more opinions from other vets experienced in herps before making up your mind on which course you will take. Try to base you decision on welfare and likelyhood of success rather than emotion and possible misguided nobility.

IMO if the hard decision needs to be made now then make it (euthanize). Rather than saying in hindsight after you have tortured the poor snake I should've done this at the start.

Sorry if this is negative but I would hate to see your snake go through the trauma and probable ongoing problems associated with the procedure you are contemplating.

Regards
Octane

 

[Just_Joshin]

I agree......if you truely love the snake then do the right thing and euthanise the poor bugger if it can no longer feed itself.

 

[dsotech]

Goodluck, there is a first time for everything! I find it encouraging to see people thinking outside the box. As long as you have realistic expectations and priority on the snakes welfare I think this is a step in the right direction and I hope you share this experience whatever the outcome!

 

[Just_Joshin]

Goodluck, there is a first time for everything! I find it encouraging to see people thinking outside the box. As long as you have realistic expectations and priority on the snakes welfare I think this is a step in the right direction and I hope you share this experience whatever the outcome!

i agree to thinking outisde the box but the snakes welfare is exactly what isn't a priority here otherwise euthanasia would be best. I think the only time you should attempt something of this magnitude, that is going to put the animal through a long, slow, painful recovery, when the animal involved is rare or endangered species. In that case, the pain, time and expense is justified due to the importance of being rare or endangered. in the case of a commonly kept captive bred, it doesn't.

 

[=bECS=]

Priority of the snakes welfare is why people are asking if its worth putting it through all the torture of the operation and the likleyhood of rejection, the numerous injections etc which will lower its immune system, not to mention the stress it will be placed under.

If it was my snake i would put it to rest rather than put it through all of that after being told by the surgeon that the chances it will work are slim to none.

Best of luck on finding a suitable donor, and i hope the snake makes it through the post-op trauma.

 

[Lonewolf]

ok if this was you kid and the chance were all the same would you still go through with it

and i dont wont you to say but its not human
and its different

what im asking is would you go through it if it was you kid

coz i know a lot of people that carnt have kids and have pets as there kids

 

[webcol]

There's a difference between animals and humans , medical science for humans are far more advanced then it is for animals. I have seen various friends and family go through minor and major surgeries and i think that the amount of pain that you go through after it is horrible.

 

[redbellybite]

I see both sides but ask yourself this ...if experimantal surgery was always knocked back due to the wellbeing of either human or animal the advances we have today wouldnt be here ...the snake is going to die without it ,thats for sure ..if this procedure can be done and improved upon in time..then who knows where it could lead ...