Help- Leaf stuck in BP's mouth

vaughnbon · 05-12-09, 12:42 AM

Hey guys,

So as you can see, it's my first post, and also my first snake. I inherited a friend's 10 month old ball python on friday, and she seems docile and healthy. I received her just after she had fed though, and a leaf seems to have gotten 'stuck' in her mouth.

At first I wasn't sure if it was stuck, but now, four days later it's still there-- I think it is safe to say the leaf is caught. It doesn't seem like it's giving her any discomfort right now (though it probably is), or any trouble breathing. However, I don't think it should be there, and I would like to remove it.

Unfortunately, she won't let me get too close to her head; every time I touch it, she's quick to pull her head away. I don't want to use tweezers either, because I'm worried I'll get her eye. And I don't want to go to the vet over something so silly. So, I was wondering if there was a good, safe, and easy way for me to remove this leaf from her mouth.

Finally, are there any concerns I should have because of this? Is it unusual for a BP to get a leaf or other object stuck in his/her mouth? Can this cause any damage or infection since it has been in there for several days now?

Thanks for reading, and any help from someone with experience would be appreciated. I can email pics if necessary.

--Adam

Chu'Wuti · 05-12-09, 05:19 PM

I have kept snakes in naturalistic vivaria for years and have had my BP in one for 11 months now, and I've never had a snake get a leaf caught in its mouth. Did this happen when your BP was swallowing her most recent meal?? Pics could certainly help.

If this is really a leaf, you're probably going to need the assistance of a second person. The reason you need an assistant is that holding the snake is the biggest challenge. I've done this alone, but I'm sure it would be a lot easier with a helper! The person should also be a snake keeper--you'll want someone who is familiar with snakes, not nervous about handling them, and who has a good sense of how tightly to grip the snake without hurting it. Here's a technique I read of recently that's probably easier than what I've done in the past:

One of you needs to hold the snake's head and open the mouth while the other person supports the lower part of the animal's body and is prepared to reach in to extract the foreign object. The person who is holding the head should hold the snake on either side of the head with the thumb and middle finger. The index finger is used to support the top of the snake's head.

Get a rubber or silicon scraper (fairly soft while still being firm) or get a paper plate, cut it in half, and then fold the half in half. After the two of you have the snake in position, the person holding the head should use the soft edge of the rubber or silicon scraper or the folded side of the paper plate to gently slide between the snakes "lips". Twist gently to open the snake's mouth. Remember that your snake's jaws are extremely flexible, so unless you really jerk her around, you aren't likely to hurt her. While her jaws are open (remember they can be waaaay open without hurting her), remove the leaf or whatever it is. Be careful, though--if it turns out not to be a leaf, you could injure her poking around with the tweezers.

Good luck!