My Boa Ate A Towel!!

[Billyh]

Someone Please Help. Last night my 7' burm bit me when I was going to take her out for her feeding. So I fed her in her cage. I didnt want get my boas out with a blood-smelling hand so I fed them in there cages too, I layed a towel down so they wouldnt swallow the aspen-Big mistake! When I looked in my female boas cage the towel and rat were gone! I called every vet in Kansas City and They all said bring her in immidiatly for surgery, except for one said to give her til monday to regurgitate on her own and if she doesnt regurgitate by monday it is a $1000 surgery. How can I help her regurgitate? The towel was 15"x30" so I know it wont pass and I dont have an extra $1000 for surgery.

[Aaron_S]

Umm, handle the snake? That may entice a regurge. You'd have to literally stress the snake out enough to make it regurge.

On a side note, why the hell did you place a towel of all things? Did you not realize that a towel folds up and can easily be swallowed? A little bit of aspen wouldn't have hurt your snake. I feed all of my snakes in their enclosures on apsen. I've had no problems. You probably just killed your snake.

[Wolfus_305]

Billyh probably didn't think the snake would eat a towel. Sometimes it's the most obvious things that slip our minds. Hindsight is 20/20.
Telling Billyh that he probably just killed his snake probably wasn't the best thing you could have said to a person who is clearly feeling bad and is already stressed out.

Billyh: I hope that everything works out for you and your boa!

Kendra

[Aaron_S]

I'm just being truthful. I should say something that most likely isn't true that the snake will pass the towel without problem? Then when it dies he comes and gets angry at me? They already stated they can't afford the surgery and most likely that is the only thing to save the snake's life now.

[Billyh]

Thanks for the responses, I have read all the info that I could find online, and read the entire "Boa Constrictor Manual" I take the best care of my snakes, And I have saved all of my snakes from certain death, When I got her she was in a mess of feces, old skins, had severe nose damage, no water source, a mild RI, and was underweight. She was never held, teased by kids, had no heat, and her cage was empty and way too small. I NEVER thought that a snake would eat a towel:no:, yeah I know I should have put two and two together but, Can you really tell me you have never done something stupid that you regreted and couldnt do anything about? I feel horrible, and I will do all I can to save her, but it is looking like the best thing I can to is inform others, what happened so they wont let it happen to themselves, all the vets that I talked to yesterday said they have seen it happen before. If I would have read anything about it I could have prevented it from happening.

[Wolfus_305]

I know you're being truthful and you don't want anybody mad at you but I'm sure if Billyh already stated he can't afford the surgery he is well aware of his snakes most probable fate.

[Smilts]

I agree on the stressing the snake out , the one thing we usually try and avoid.

[Kmef07]

well i would suggest wearing some gloves especially if the snake has any size to it because i would assume pissing a snake off would get you bit.

[Smilts]

I wanted to mention that brutal honesty is often the best course even if it hurts. But there is such a thing as unecessary comments whether true or not. often times on here its is best and necessary to be honest to the point of cruel but at other times its not.

[Aaron_S]

I know you're being truthful and you don't want anybody mad at you but I'm sure if Billyh already stated he can't afford the surgery he is well aware of his snakes most probable fate.

I really don't care if someone is mad at me or not.

Then if he knows the fate of his snake already there is no point in coming asking on a forum for advice.

[gonesnakee]

Well for starters I am not a big fan of folks moving large Boids around to be fed, feed them in their enclosures. At least the Burm is only 7ft & not 17ft or maybe I would be reading about this all on the news, not a reptile forum (or both) :rolleyes:
That said if anything is to be used as a "plate" make sure it is like a chunk of plastic, something like a rubbermaid lid or something, not a towel & should not have been left unattended with it.
OK now that I have stated the obvious. We know how big the towel was, how big was the snake that ate it? This is the key factor here. If the snake is a large Boa it may very well be capable of passing the towel??? Was the towel an old worn out one or a nice thick fluffy one, I'm hoping seeings how its used with dead rodents its a nice thin worn out one? Hopefully the Boa will just regurge it? If the towel is real thin & the Boa really large HOPEFULLY it will be able to pass it if it does not regurge it.
I have had snakes eat blue shop towels on more than one occassion, in some cases regurging them & in others passing them. There is a big difference betweeen that & a "terry" towel though. I'd wait it out a bit & pay close attn. for signs of impaction is that is going to be the main concern along with dehydration as the towel is going to suck up all the digestive juices in the snakes guts. Best case is if the snake pukes. If it doesn't & beins to look impacted intravention will be required or the snake can die from the impaction. Don't know what else to really tell you, except for it MAY be a hard lesson learned. Mark
edit - IF the snake pukes provide it with non stop fresh water to rehydrate it & DO NOT feed it for at least a week or 2 after the regurge.

[Kmef07]

Then if he knows the fate of his snake already there is no point in coming asking on a forum for advice.


I disagree im sure he knew 100% that his snake doesn't have a good chance but it is admirable that he would seek advice and suck up a little pride to tell us he screwed up and by coming on here maybe someone would know another thing to try. He is trying to catch a bone so to say and that just shows he really did have the snakes best interests in mind. From what i've read he is willing to take a little criticizing to have a better chance at saving his snake. i never would have thought to not feed a snake on a towel. (I always watch the feedings cuz it is cool to see the snake swallow but I know from this post not to ever feed on a towel) so thank you billyh even if your snake doesn't make it then at least you have shared a valuable piece of information with the rest of us and maybe have indirectly saved a couple snakes. That is what a forum is for isn't it? to share the stories and experiences both bad and good.

I hope someone gets on here that can give you some advice and maybe a couple things to try.

anyways good luck!!!!

[gonesnakee]

Could also tube feed it a bunch of mineral oil to help lube it up, but I'm not too sure about doing that. I know folks have done it with impacted lizards before. Mark

[Aaron_S]

Well Mark came in with some more information. I really wouldn't have thought a snake would pass a towel, but anything can happen.

[Kmef07]

ya im kinda curious now as to how big the snake is. and the mineral oil is an ingenious idea that is really thinking. I wonder how someone came up with that idea...on second thought that probably started with something very innappropriate for this site.

[Kmef07]

Hey by the way billyh.....how bad did it hurt when your burm bit you??

[zazzygrlrbi]

I want to know what happened. Again, I'm glad I'm here to get good info as a new to be snake owner. I will never make this mistake. But I honestly hope your boa is ok billyh

[gonesnakee]

OK so 1 week later, any status? Regurge? Impaction? THX Mark

[st3v3n]

wow would never think A snake would eat a towle.

[gonesnakee]

Some snakes when in food mode will try to eat anything. I have seen pics of snakes that have eaten light bulbs before. I have first hand experience of snakes eating blue shop towel (papertowels) on multiple occassions due to blood from prey on them etc. Mark

[GoodSmeagol]

I used to rip my paper towel substrate into individual sheets. Until my 4.5ft Ball took one in with a rat. I guess I should have been more worried then I was, as I said crap, and figured, the snakes bile can break up fur and bones? whats a lil paper towel...
That was some year or so ago. Now its 1 solid pice of towel for the entire bottoms..
She did not have problems, but as some one else said, it was not exactly a big fluffy towel.
Crappy news for you tho dude. I am waiting for an update as I think many of us are.
Good luck!

[Billyh]

Nothing yet, I talked to a couple more vets and they said that snakes have problems with getting put out and might not even come out of it if I did the surgery. And said there is about just as good of a chance she will pass it. It was a large towel but it was a decorative towel and was very thin. I am now impatiently just hoping for the best. And to the question about the burm biting me, yeah it hurt but wasnt near as bad as a burn or even a bee sting, the most important thing is to ge it cleaned good to kill all the bacteria, I cleaned it and now 1 week later it is gone you cant even tell it bit me. 3 days ifter it bit me another one of my boas struck at the glass at me as i walked by. It almost seems as they have rabies or something.

[st3v3n]

ur snakes are turning on you lmao...j.k

[Faequine]

Maybe they're hungry? Time for a fed? That's why they're su bitty?

[gonesnakee]

Yep may want to increase the frequency & size of meals, along with increased handling/interaction as well. Should help everybodies overall attitudes, Mark

[xXKATRINAXx]

has anything happened yet?

[Spider-Tart]

I have fed my snakes on towels before (usually paper towels though) because of the easy clean up. But I'm very paranoid about something happening to my snake so no matter how long it takes, I always watch the entire feeding. But i doubt i'll ever use any sort of towel again.

Billh, i know you said you can't afford the surgery right now.. but is there any sort of loan you could obtain? on one occasion I couldn't afford a vet bill but was able to get some financial support from a friend.. is there any way someone could spot you the money and accept payments from you?(id sign a contract if it's with a friend so they feel more secure) also, after I had the way too expensive vet bill I purchased pet insurance. for me it's about $20 a month. the deductable is $50. so for emergencys it's pretty good to have as a safety thing. I know it makes me feel more secure because idk about you guys but my snakes have had way more medical problems than any dog cat or bird ive ever had.. also they're more expensive vet wise..

[Spider-Tart]

btw the insurance I got was vpi pet insurance

[Smilts]

for the most part the shots and tags for cats and dogs cost more than anything ive ever spent on a vet for my reptiles.

[Spider-Tart]

oh really? thats weird... i guess i just dont remember how much that stuff costs because my sister works at a vet clinic so it's free... but not free for snakes.. LAME!

[Billyh]

I have 25 snakes and never taken any of them to the vet, or ever had a snake get sick, why would you need to take your snake to the vet all the time? I have adopted sick snakes and got them back to health, mites, respritory infections, eyecaps, sheeding problems, are all things that are treatable without a vet. The towel is the only problem I needed a vet for. And I am sorry for thinking like this, but get a loan for $1000 for a snake? Maybe if I made $100,000 a year. That is just out of the question right now. I spend about $30 a month to feed all 25 of my snakes, it is not an expensive hobby and you dont need a lot of money if you do it right (which I dont have a lot of $) She is fine and I am very confident she is going to pass the towel any day. I have learned from my mistake and I hope someone else has too, It is a very common mistake that you only hear about when it happens to you. Thanks for everyone for all your info and concern, I will let y'all know when she passes it.

[Spider-Tart]

I have only taken my snake to the vet one time.
and it turned out to be me just being paranoid.
but even that one time it was extremely expensive.
what i learned when i was in that situation is that maybe month to month you only need $30 but because of how expensive emergencys can be, there's nothing wrong with covering your bases. I don't have an extra dollar at the end of the month so I understand not having a lot of money. I was just saying that the insurance to me was worth it because of situations like what you experienced. I don't know though, because I find that I am much more emotionally attached to my snakes than other people I know with snakes. I don't know how you dealt with all of that. I would've freaked out.
anyways, I hope she passes it soon!
is she acting any different since she's eaten the towel??

[carciady]

I hope your snake manages to pass the towel, I think you have learned a very important lesson and wont do that again.

All the best Ady

[BP_okay]

I know this post is quite old, but BillyH, what ever happened with the towel? Just kind of randomly thought of it the other day.

[BruinsBeard]

Yessss i need to know what happened to the little guy...

[Billyh]

She Passed it!! It was almost 2 months, but one day I looked in her cage and there it was. I could tell she had been dragging it around for a while to get it out by how flared out the end of it was. She finally got it stuck in the V of the branch in her cage and got the other half of it out. Half was flared out and the other half was rolled up about the size of a tp roll. I was just as excited when I saw the towel as I was the first time she had babies. She is now doing great and as healthy as she has ever been.

I would like to put pics on here but I don't know how, any advice? Where do I put them?

[siz]

Wow, that's great she passed it!! 2 months is a long time to be waiting and hoping she gets i through her. I bet you feel so relieved!
To post pics, go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket (http://www.photobucket.com), upload your pics there, and then you can use the image tag and copy and paste it right on the forum. The image tags are [ IMG ] and [ /IMG ] but with no spaces inbetween.

[sassamagoo]

Wow, thats amazing! So glad she passed the towel. I'd have been worried sick.

And yes, get some pics up!

Sass

[BruinsBeard]

Thats great news!! What a tough snake, rode it out. And by the way thanks for the story. I'm glad she is alright, and now I know not to put any towels around when its feeding time!

[agentcooper]

I have used paper towel and won't do it anymore. Glad to hear the snake is doing well. Ever since I got my snake I stress out constantly if there is a sign of her being unhappy. I am restless until she has fed and seems content. Must have been really hard to wait that out.

[siz]

No, paper towel is good LOL....this was an actual towel. Paper towel I would think would pass easily because it is fairly thin..if it was even ingested. It would be more difficult for a snake to eat its entire substrate as opposed to a smaller towel it's dinner is sitting on.

[citysnakes]

i wouldnt house my new hatchlings on anything other than paper towel.

[BP_okay]

Great!! I am soooo happy for you! Just a thought... I use a feeding plate, and it's so funny. Everytime Fluffy the cornsnake sees it, he goes into feeding mode. I guess it's kinda like Pavlov's Dog.

Btw, agentcooper.. I know exactly what you are talking about with the stressing out over your snakes. A couple of days ago, my sand boa..attacked his mouse in 20 seconds, and then decided not to eat it. If he had taken a while to attack, I would assumed that he just wanted to get rid of the annoyance; but it was strange that he attacked it so fast, and then didn't eat it. There was no sign of mites, but I still obsessed over it for a while, but then I just assumed he was not hungry and on the defensive, or getting close to going into shed. I'll just try in a 4 or 5 days, and he'll probably take it.

[Faequine]

happy it all turned out ok.... did she eat while processing the towel?

[Billyh]

Here's a couple of random pics of her and her babies she had 3 months before she ate the towel, I don't even let her around towels now!

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq13/craigslist9090/DSCI1215.jpg
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq13/craigslist9090/DSCI1003.jpg
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq13/craigslist9090/DSCI2150.jpg
http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq13/craigslist9090/DSCI2152.jpg

[Will0W783]

She's a good-looking snake, and those babies are sooo precious. I love baby snakes- so cute!

[Insid3r]

I'm really glad it worked out fine :)