Working with a snake with a kinked Spine

[Hillsberry]

Hey everyone, as some of you may know I purchased a Reticulated Python female back in April. Well unfortunately Sprite was born with a birth defect and now has a descent size Kink in her upper neck. Now I have been paying close attention to her movements and it seems the kink makes it extremely difficult for her to turn her head. She can turn her head maybe 45 degrees and that is it. About a month ago she regurgitated her meal and now she shows no interested in any meal I offer her. Ever sense I have had her she has not struck at any meal I have offered her, she would rather you leave it in the cage and about 5 minuted later she would begin to eat it. I have been checking her temps and humidity everyday and they are perfect. Nothing has changed in her enclosure. She shed last week but I had to help her. She is not showing any signs of losing weight. I am not sure why she just decided to go off fed. I can only think maybe she is in pain from her kink. I plan on making her a vet appointment for next week but I wanted to get opinion before doing anything. If anyone who has worked with snakes with kinked spins can help me that would be great. Thank you!

[Will0W783]

Hillary, probably at this point the vet would be your best bet. I can't imagine that the kink is causing her not to eat. I had her for a long time and as she grew the kink didn't seem to be getting larger and she ate every meal offered. I've owned a few other snakes with kinks that grew fine and ate.

Has the kink grown comparatively larger since you got her? I wouldn't have let her go if I thought it was going to cause her problems, and if you're not happy with her, I will take her back or refund you or whatever you need.

Let me know what the vet thinks or if you decide you want to go a different route. You're a good friend and Sprite is a sweet snake, and I don't want you to have any problems.

[marvelfreak]

Could you take some pictures of it?

[shaunyboy]

pictures would help us see,if the kink has developed to the point it may be affecting her

cheers shaun

[SSSSnakes]

Hillary, probably at this point the vet would be your best bet. I can't imagine that the kink is causing her not to eat. I had her for a long time and as she grew the kink didn't seem to be getting larger and she ate every meal offered. I've owned a few other snakes with kinks that grew fine and ate.

Has the kink grown comparatively larger since you got her? I wouldn't have let her go if I thought it was going to cause her problems, and if you're not happy with her, I will take her back or refund you or whatever you need.

Let me know what the vet thinks or if you decide you want to go a different route. You're a good friend and Sprite is a sweet snake, and I don't want you to have any problems.
Kimberly, you are an upstanding person. I wish more people were like you wanting to do what ever it takes to make things right. Kudos.

[Raan]

I work with a snake as well. She has no kink just likes to blame her mistakes on me.

[Will0W783]

Hillary has decided to return Sprite to me. I never would have sold her if I thought the kink would become an issue for her. The kink appears to have become noticeably more severe in the pictures that Hillary sent me yesterday, and although it's been a few months I have no problems with taking her back. The kink is a birth defect that I thought would get smaller as she aged...instead it looks as though calcium deposits may be building up on it. I have an excellent herp vet in my area that I will take Sprite to if I cannot get her to eat myself. I will keep everyone updated on how she comes along...I'm hoping for the best. She's always been a sweetheart of a snake, and I really hope she can have a happy life.

Here is what she looked like in March of this year, shortly before she went to Hillary:

[Will0W783]

And here are the current pictures that Hillary sent me (It looks like Sprite will come back this weekend). I'm really quite concerned with how much the kink appears to have grown. Has anyone seen anything like this before?
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/0d162a8f.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/43573f63.jpg
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh115/Will0W783/38bfd148.jpg

[marvelfreak]

Oh poor thing. That doesn't look good at all. Any updated?

[Hillsberry]

Kim brought her to her vet only to find out the poor girl had bone cancer. All the nerves in spine were completely gone. The vagal nerve was dead so she couldn't eat. The kink was the worst part, Kim's vet thought the it was embryonic tissue that didn't mature properly and just went rampant. Kim did the only thing we could do to help Sprite and that was to put her to sleep. Sprite was an incredible snake. Sweet and beautiful. She is greatly missed.

[bladeblaster]

Great shame.

However this is why I always and without exception euthanise any snake born with a kink. It's kinder all round.

Sorry for the loss.

[Will0W783]

It was really hard- she was active and didn't show any signs of pain, but there was nothing we could do to help her.

Bladeblaster, they can sometimes live with kinks, depending on where the kink is at. I have a 4-year-old RTB who has a small kink about 2/3 of the way down his body, and rib deformity there. I've had him since he was 3 months old, and he's doing great. The deformity has not grown or caused him any issues. I give him slightly smaller meals more frequently so he isn't pushing a huge mass through the ribs, but other than that he's perfectly normal. I wouldn't think of putting him down since he's happy. I personally feel that animals should be given a chance, but when a defect/kink/malformation causes problems that can't be healed, then it's time to say goodbye.

[marvelfreak]

So sorry to hear Sprite had to be put down. At least you both made sure she had a wonderful life will in your care.

So Hillary will you be getting another Retic down the line?

[bladeblaster]

It was really hard- she was active and didn't show any signs of pain, but there was nothing we could do to help her.

Bladeblaster, they can sometimes live with kinks, depending on where the kink is at. I have a 4-year-old RTB who has a small kink about 2/3 of the way down his body, and rib deformity there. I've had him since he was 3 months old, and he's doing great. The deformity has not grown or caused him any issues. I give him slightly smaller meals more frequently so he isn't pushing a huge mass through the ribs, but other than that he's perfectly normal. I wouldn't think of putting him down since he's happy. I personally feel that animals should be given a chance, but when a defect/kink/malformation causes problems that can't be healed, then it's time to say goodbye.

Sure I know they can, I just prefer not to take the risk.

I am not having a dig at you, we all do what we think is best and thats all you can do.

[Will0W783]

I understand; I wasn't having a dig at you either. :)

[bladeblaster]

I understand; I wasn't having a dig at you either. :)

I know :cool:

[Hillsberry]

So sorry to hear Sprite had to be put down. At least you both made sure she had a wonderful life will in your care.

So Hillary will you be getting another Retic down the line?

Definitely, they are great snakes. :yes: