Sick Rosy Boa - Page 2

**lady_bug87** · 11-01-11, 09:01 AM

Wow that's horrid I agree you should talk to the show organizers and tell them about the quality of the snake and al the problems t make sure that the breeder can come back and sell more unhealthy snakes,.... Definitely scary good luck and keep us posted

**millertime89** · 11-01-11, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

In the past, this seller has had thousands of reptiles confiscated by the SPCA for animal cruelty. Still haven't heard back from him... Sigh.... Not gonna get my hopes up anout that either

wow, that sounds like a certain someone that has been discussed on another forum I'm on...

Will0W783 · 11-01-11, 11:21 AM

I know that there are some very ....colorful...threads about this seller on Fauna. Alessia, definitely provide proof to the organizers of the Hamburg show, and start a Fauna BOI Bad Guy thread.

alessia55 · 11-07-11, 06:09 PM

Update! As of November 7th, 2011:

I took the rosy boa to yet another vet appointment this past Friday November 4th for a follow up check up.

Eye Caps
She still has more retained eye caps. The vet managed to pull FOUR retained eye caps off of EACH EYE during the visit. He taped them to the receipt for proof. Despite the removal of those eye caps, she still had more on her that he didn't want to forcefully pull off.

Neurological Symptoms
She is still displaying neurological symptoms. Over the week she gave me a few scares where I found her upside down and barely moving. She is still turning her head upside down and stargazing. She is not very reactive or alert, and the times she does strike she misses completely, often striking in the opposite direction of the provocation. As of right now, the vet has not been able to establish whether or not she has Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) or if it is the parasites that have reached her brain and are causing her to have neurological symptoms.

Feeding
She has lost more weight since the last visit. Despite having gotten all of the shed off of her nostrils, she was completely disinterested in food. The vet wants to force-feed her at the next visit because he is worried about her continued weight loss. The vet is not sure whether or not she will ever return to feeding on her own as of right now. I am still debating whether or not it is worthwhile to keep this snake alive forcefully if she does not improve.

The Breeder's Response
I have maintained in contact with the breeder, e-mailing him every detail about all the vet visits and the condition of the snake. In his latest e-mail (which I received this morning), he demanded I e-mail him copies of the vet records since he wasn't taking my word about the condition of his snake. He continues to insist that she was a captive-bred snake and it is "not possible" that she have the parasites the vet found in her.
I kindly brought up the idea of a refund. His first response was that he'd be willing to give me "credit" "depending on the condition of the snake" (not sure what that means). I told him I wouldn't want "credit" since I wouldn't be interested in getting another snake for at least 6 months to protect the snakes already in my collection. I asked him again if he would be willing to give me a refund instead. I have not heard back from him about the refund yet.

What's next
I will be taking her back to the vet, probably this Friday, for yet another check-up. The vet will probably check her again for parasites, weigh her, check her responses for neurological symptoms (whether they are improving or worsening), he might force-feed her depending on the prognosis, and we'll go from there.

Financial Costs
The actual snake- $100
1st vet visit- $65
2nd vet visit- $50
Food that has been refused- $15
Gas- $20 so far
Time spent worrying- priceless
Total as of Nov 7, 2011: $250

**millertime89** · 11-07-11, 07:15 PM

small claims court, which state is the breeder located in? Hopefully same state as you as that makes it easier.

Shmoges · 11-07-11, 08:43 PM

Man you got off easy on those vet visits.

alessia55 · 11-07-11, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millertime89

small claims court, which state is the breeder located in? Hopefully same state as you as that makes it easier.

I'm not sure it would be worth it. Getting a lawyer, court fees, etc. would amount to more than the refund I want. Also, the breeder and I live in different states. I'm hoping he'll choose to settle this nicely with me one-on-one. Oh, and there was no contract or guarantee that came with the snake... so IDK what I could do about it on a legal basis anyway.

alessia55 · 11-07-11, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shmoges

Man you got off easy on those vet visits.

Yes- I explained to the vet the circumstances of what I'm going through, and that fact that I'm an unemployed college student, and he's been very understanding to say the least.

**millertime89** · 11-07-11, 10:51 PM

lawyers aren't allowed in small claims court, you can have one advising you, but that can't be there.
you're at the university, they should have an office of student legal services, go talk with them, your student fees should pay for it. I've used mine numerous times, I might go back tomorrow.

**millertime89** · 11-07-11, 10:51 PM

court fees are paid by him if they settle in your favor, only thing you have to pay for IIRC is to file and serve him, something like 35 bucks here.

**lady_bug87** · 11-07-11, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

Update! As of November 7th, 2011:

I took the rosy boa to yet another vet appointment this past Friday November 4th for a follow up check up.

Eye Caps
She still has more retained eye caps. The vet managed to pull FOUR retained eye caps off of EACH EYE during the visit. He taped them to the receipt for proof. Despite the removal of those eye caps, she still had more on her that he didn't want to forcefully pull off.

Neurological Symptoms
She is still displaying neurological symptoms. Over the week she gave me a few scares where I found her upside down and barely moving. She is still turning her head upside down and stargazing. She is not very reactive or alert, and the times she does strike she misses completely, often striking in the opposite direction of the provocation. As of right now, the vet has not been able to establish whether or not she has Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) or if it is the parasites that have reached her brain and are causing her to have neurological symptoms.

Feeding
She has lost more weight since the last visit. Despite having gotten all of the shed off of her nostrils, she was completely disinterested in food. The vet wants to force-feed her at the next visit because he is worried about her continued weight loss. The vet is not sure whether or not she will ever return to feeding on her own as of right now. I am still debating whether or not it is worthwhile to keep this snake alive forcefully if she does not improve.

The Breeder's Response
I have maintained in contact with the breeder, e-mailing him every detail about all the vet visits and the condition of the snake. In his latest e-mail (which I received this morning), he demanded I e-mail him copies of the vet records since he wasn't taking my word about the condition of his snake. He continues to insist that she was a captive-bred snake and it is "not possible" that she have the parasites the vet found in her.
I kindly brought up the idea of a refund. His first response was that he'd be willing to give me "credit" "depending on the condition of the snake" (not sure what that means). I told him I wouldn't want "credit" since I wouldn't be interested in getting another snake for at least 6 months to protect the snakes already in my collection. I asked him again if he would be willing to give me a refund instead. I have not heard back from him about the refund yet.

What's next
I will be taking her back to the vet, probably this Friday, for yet another check-up. The vet will probably check her again for parasites, weigh her, check her responses for neurological symptoms (whether they are improving or worsening), he might force-feed her depending on the prognosis, and we'll go from there.

Financial Costs
The actual snake- $100
1st vet visit- $65
2nd vet visit- $50
Food that has been refused- $15
Gas- $20 so far
Time spent worrying- priceless
Total as of Nov 7, 2011: $250

Thanks for the update, hopefully the vet can get her eating on her own and the neurological symptoms can be managed. Its always sad when the possibility of euthanizing a pet becomes the better more humane option

Please hang in there

ZARADOZIA · 11-08-11, 04:40 AM

I'm sorry you are going through this Alessia. But to file in small claims court is relatively easy and no lawyer is needed.

I don't know who has District (where you would have to file), but to give you an idea of what to expect I brought up small claims for Maryland and Miami so you can get a good idea of what to expect should you seek to sue:

Miami Small Claims - Step by Step
Where do I file a Small Claims Court action?
Small Claims are filed with the Miami-Dade County Clerks Office. The telephone number is 305-275-1155 and/or to visit their website click on the following link: Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts.

District Court of Maryland - How to File a Small Claim

Where is the city of residence for the business? That is most likely who has district.

alessia55 · 11-08-11, 06:32 AM

The breeder is in New York and I'm currently in Pennsylvania for college (though Miami is my home). Thanks Zara... I'll see if I can figure something out if he doesn't collaborate.

Millertime thanks for the info about small court... I'll look into it about the whole student fees.

Ladybug thanks for your support

Like you, I hope I don't have to euthanize, but we'll see what the best choice turns out to be.

CDN_Blood · 11-08-11, 07:32 AM

Neuro disorders can be a direct result of exposure to certain chemicals often used by both commercial and private keepers during mite treatment or prevention routines. I know that these symptoms can be induced in Jaguar Pythons by exposure to chemicals, but have never heard of it happening to a Rosy Boa. It wouldn't surprise me if the thing was so inbred that it's immune system was severely weakened and it was then exposed to mite treatment, causing the disorder.

Unfortunately, it's not curable once it's present, although most animals inflicted with symptoms can lead relatively normal lives depending on the degree of the symptoms. It's watching them struggle that can be gut-wrenching.

As for the immoral idiot that sold such an animal, he deserves whatever is coming his way as a result, but I've seen this so many times and they tend to just close shop, so to speak, and then pop-up under a different name, each time making it more and more difficult to contact them with lack of location and contact information on their websites and such because they know they've ticked-off too many people, but the chances of them actually stopping or changing their ways are very slim. I've seen it more times than I care to think about.

I'm sure you'll give it a loving home for the rest of it's life and make it as comfortable as possible. Kudos to you, Alessia

alessia55 · 11-08-11, 07:44 AM

Unfortunately, even if the snake does get better, I will be finding her a new home. As much as I am giving her the best help I can get her, I'm not suited to be her forever home. To begin with, this rosy boa was supposed to be for my cousin, not for me. Since my cousin is a first-time snake owner, she is not equipped to handle a snake that's anything short of healthy. Personally, I don't "want" a rosy boa; and I have not gotten attached to her during this process. I'm more of a python person to begin with; but I also don't want to keep a snake that has the possibility of ever infecting my other 2 snakes. If her symptoms improve and when she is well enough, I will find her a new, loving home, preferably with someone who wants to take care of what might be a special-needs snake. I'm not the right person to keep this snake, but I'll make sure I find someone who is. Here's hoping she improves at all though...