Scared for my boa - Page 12

EmbraceCalamity · 01-10-13, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

And no. They actually told me to never come back. Good for them I guess because I never will. Their rep is getting ruined as we speak. The person who used to work there has sent out mass emails to people who are on the mailing list for a local reptile society as well.

You should have him attach the video of your boa.

~Maggot

dinosaurdammit · 01-10-13, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

You should have him attach the video of your boa.

~Maggot

he has both videos as well as my vets number. I am going to "orange grove animal hospital" which really is way out there but they have been so good with my male boa when he had mites and an ri that I refuse to go any where else. They have 3 herp vets there and 1 well known specialist. I love my vet, he is attentive and always willing to work any angle he can to get the best care for her. He offered to board them if I should ever need to again. I will most def take him up on that. He has taken excellent care of athena and lets me watch everything as well explains everything and never gets tired of my questions and boy hell do I ever ask them. They also call me every day and ask how she is doing and we exchange emails as well. Ive never had a vet- herp or otherwise so engaging in my animals care. I wouldnt go anywhere else

Zoo Nanny · 01-11-13, 03:38 AM

She looks and is acting so much better. Goods vets are priceless and it looks like you lucked out big time! Nice job you've done with her, so few would go the extra to bring her back.

jarich · 01-11-13, 09:33 AM

Is this a local mom and pop pet shop or is this part of a larger chain? If its part of a larger chain, then you could go up the corporate ladder with a well composed email. It would need to be crafted well and not just be all emotion, but with the reports from your vet, and receipts for the bills, you are uniquely able to show proof of poisoning. In the face of direct proof like that, corporations will often step in to make sure it doesnt happen again and give them bad press like this. They might pay your bills as a way of saving face. Just a thought; of course it doesnt always work out like that, but it can sometimes.

Snakesitter · 01-11-13, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Don't beat yourself up. Not your fault at all but you need to let people know this happened so others do not suffer your fate. You need to hold them responsible for it in some way.

I agree 100%. There is no way you could have known this would happen, and have acted with more compassion and responsibility than most keepers. But they do need to pay for their crime....

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

And no. They actually told me to never come back. Good for them I guess because I never will. Their rep is getting ruined as we speak. The person who used to work there has sent out mass emails to people who are on the mailing list for a local reptile society as well.

Dinosaur, while they do need to pay, be very careful *how* you spread the word. If you're not, there is a possibility they could reverse this on you and charge you with slander or some such lame move. While what they did was wrong, I'm not sure if you hard enough *legal-quality* evidence to prove 100% it was *their* fault. I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting justice, and this is only a minor possibility....just making sure you are careful. You've been through enough bad stuff already.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinosaurdammit

I am in the process of writing to the aspca and humane society here.

While I salute you spreading the word, I would urge you to be especially careful with these two. If you do contact them, go local only. The national organizations, sadly, are no longer the reptile world's friends. I know people with contacts there who tell me incidents like this are recycled into anti-pet-herp propaganda, so it might come back to haunt everyone later.

Jarich's suggestion is excellent.

dinosaurdammit · 01-11-13, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

I agree 100%. There is no way you could have known this would happen, and have acted with more compassion and responsibility than most keepers. But they do need to pay for their crime....

Dinosaur, while they do need to pay, be very careful *how* you spread the word. If you're not, there is a possibility they could reverse this on you and charge you with slander or some such lame move. While what they did was wrong, I'm not sure if you hard enough *legal-quality* evidence to prove 100% it was *their* fault. I'm not trying to dissuade you from getting justice, and this is only a minor possibility....just making sure you are careful. You've been through enough bad stuff already.

While I salute you spreading the word, I would urge you to be especially careful with these two. If you do contact them, go local only. The national organizations, sadly, are no longer the reptile world's friends. I know people with contacts there who tell me incidents like this are recycled into anti-pet-herp propaganda, so it might come back to haunt everyone later.

Jarich's suggestion is excellent.

Our local aspca actually fosters reptiles and here at least where I live reptiles are treated with the same respect as dogs/cats/birds. As far as spreading the word most of it is through facebook and all I do is show my vet bills, my vets number, the videos and what happened. I only say what has happened and nothing more. There is no slander in the truth.

Snakesitter · 01-11-13, 02:05 PM

Just being overly cautious...hopefully no offense. While you are correct that there is no slander in the truth, these days many lawyers seem to regard truth as optional for lawsuits. :-( ;-) You sound like you are showing good support, though.

Ah, local level is fine! Nice to see a shelter that supports reptiles, too. Even in LA, not many of the city ones do.

Please do post an update after your vet visit!

dinosaurdammit · 01-11-13, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Just being overly cautious...hopefully no offense. While you are correct that there is no slander in the truth, these days many lawyers seem to regard truth as optional for lawsuits. :-( ;-) You sound like you are showing good support, though.

Ah, local level is fine! Nice to see a shelter that supports reptiles, too. Even in LA, not many of the city ones do.

Please do post an update after your vet visit!

I will do!, We will be getting more blood work done today. I will try and post results from the first one if I can get the paperwork on it. It will take a few days, so probably monday to find out what todays blood work is. My male is still with no signs and is in the cloudy phase of a shed. Athena is getting that weird feeling right before a shed. I do hope she does shed, her skin has some scars from the lesions she had crop up.

Her gums are no longer snow white. Idk if i mentioned that but because of the toxins her gums when WHITE white and now they are normal. Her saliva smells normal now as well. Her urine was yellow like mustard yesterday but she had a lot of water to it, so that gives me hope that she is staying hydrated.

She is still eating. For other snake owners who need to get their snakes hydrated, use these:

Go in through the mouth, push past the stomach and inject it into the abdominal cavity, pull out slowly, feed asap. I usually only put water up to the "3" on mine. I sometimes put her b vitamins in there as well, follow vet instructions because you can over dose the vitamins. Use warm water but not hot. 80-90 degrees is the ideal temp.

For snakes who wont drink or cant have dishes in their vivs due to neurological risk of drowning:
Get a straw, get some water in a glass, set the straw at the bottom of the glass, put finger or thumb on top of straw, drip onto their nose, not in their nasal holes but just enough to get them to realize there is water there.

Unsteady snakes:
Soak snakes in water and assist them by supporting their heads above the water- they will just rest their heads in your palms. Do not let them flop their head into the water, do not spook them. Just sit with them and let them soak. This also helps if your snake needs to use the restroom but for what ever reason isnt- the warm water helps the process.

For snakes with neuro issues that affect swallowing:
Feed prey no bigger than their necks/or heads. Soak prey in warm water and slick fur down, offer prey head first and if your snake seems to have trouble swallowing watch- its best to not assist but do not leave snake unattended. Sometimes the snake will try and wretch up the prey, if this happens sometimes they get it stuck in their teeth, you can help remove it by taking a hold of the tail and letting the snake pull away. Sometimes they have issues, unable to effectively rub their heads on the ground to help remove the prey, by holding the tail they can move away and untangle themselves.

If you have a snake that seems to stay on the cold side or avoids light, get ceramic bulbs. Light can induce seizures. Ceramic bulbs can keep heat 24/7 without light. An under the tank heater should be used on the cool end. For snakes who are sick, bump up their temps and leave a basking ceramic bulb on the hot end. Athena spends most of her time now basking trying to metabolize everything out. Do not allow snakes who are trying to flush poisons out to get cold. The hotter they are the better their kidneys work. Kidney damage on a poisoned snake could mean a death warrant.

Remove hides from tank and replace with paper towels that are dye free. This helps you spot any fluids that leave your snake, colored towels or ones with print can make it harder to see at first glance if they are passing any fluids. Removing hides helps you watch your snake at all times, if you still want hides for your snake replace them with tinted rubbermaid containers. This helps you keep an eye on the snake and the snake feels like its still secure.

If your neuro snake has its mouth open and its head up, listen. Sometimes they get water down the wrong tube, watch this carefully to make sure it isnt an RI. Sometimes they drool excessively as well. Yet again, keep an eye on it. Get them back tot he vet if you suspect an RI. If the snake is poisoned its best to make sure that is all they are having to deal with.

dinosaurdammit · 01-11-13, 07:37 PM

Vet update:

1-11-2013

Dr. Mercer is very pleased with her recovers, he said "i think she is at least 70% better". There is still a long way to go and I should get todays blood work tomorrow morning. He said he would try and email it so I could attach it here. She WILL get better.

My male also had blood work done as well- still he has shown no symptoms but boy is he a hell fire boa today. He is getting into the blue so he is PISSED. He waggles his tail like a rattle snake, puffles up and just makes an asshat out of himself.

Athena only has issues with her balance when you pick her up. She now has a ton of movement in her tail. The doctor said "I think she only had use of 20% of her body and now I say she at least has 80% back in control now, some more time and fluids will progress things, lets see her back next friday".

OH

MY

GOD

I cried. Heaps. She is getting there and I am so excited. THANK YOU orange grove animal hospital. You guys rock. Video will be posted tomorrow. She had been bothered enough tonight so I let her back into her tub to rest up.

Zoo Nanny · 01-11-13, 08:03 PM

What a wonderful update!!!

dinosaurdammit · 01-11-13, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoo Nanny

What a wonderful update!!!

Thank you. It is wonderful. Ive been on a high ever since i left the vet. We are going to do fluids once a week until it basically clears up. Its not cheep but she is worth it as are my other animals. Vet total is now 1200 something. If she FULLY recovers I will be the happiest person on earth, if she recovers to the point she is somewhat normal, I will still be happy just disappointed for her because while i dont think snakes "think" i do hope she doesnt "remember" being normal and that she just gets along like she always does.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-11-13, 08:29 PM

I'm very glad for you and your snake. I hope she continues to improve.

~Maggot

dinosaurdammit · 01-11-13, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

I'm very glad for you and your snake. I hope she continues to improve.

~Maggot

Here is to good vets and strong snakes and a supportive forum!

thank you guys who have given advice and support. It REALLY means a lot. Thank you.

Snakesitter · 01-11-13, 10:36 PM

Dinosaur, huge congrats! I'm very, very happy to hear such good progress. I hope you drank all four beers above. ;-)

dinosaurdammit · 01-11-13, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakesitter

Dinosaur, huge congrats! I'm very, very happy to hear such good progress. I hope you drank all four beers above. ;-)

I dont like booze lol- i drank a glass of really chocolatey milk instead! Tomorrow is video day. She is just a different snake than before. Vet is most pleased.