ATB with her mouth open - Page 2

jsshark1 · 09-24-14, 07:23 PM

could it just be the way I am holding that makes her look like she has a broken jaw?

**lady_bug87** · 09-25-14, 08:25 AM

Even in the picture with her mouth closed its not aligned properly (at least that's what it looks like to me) she needs a vet and some X-rays. Shaun is right. Definitely something wonky with the bottom left jaw.

**millertime89** · 09-25-14, 12:28 PM

I'm with them. Definitely looks off.

jsshark1 · 09-25-14, 03:11 PM

yes I am keeping her hydrated, spraying her down and using a humidifier once a day on her tank.

I am worry every time she is messed with she want to strike at everything and can make things much worse then already is if her jaw is already broken

I will have to see if the vet I am taking her to will do it , like I said they are not comfortable with a spicy ATB ...

she did eat a small rat after having her mouth open for two weeks and has not eaten since, ( over 4 weeks now)

Thanks for every ones time and input

**lady_bug87** · 09-25-14, 05:22 PM

I also wouldn't rule out an abscess, or some other growth that's stopping her from being able to keep her mouth shut. Make sure you're watching her weight. It may be in your best interests to call teaching veterinary hospitals. They usually have a better idea of how to treat these animals.

The reason I say abscess or growth is because in the picture where her mouth is closed, it looks like there's something stopping the mouth from coming together.

shaunyboy · 09-25-14, 07:53 PM

is there not another vet you could use mate ?

the one your using does not seem to be much use,especially if they're scared of the snake...!!

cheers shaun

**millertime89** · 09-25-14, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaunyboy

is there not another vet you could use mate ?

the one your using does not seem to be much use,especially if they're scared of the snake...!!

cheers shaun

Werd dawg..

jsshark1 · 09-25-14, 10:31 PM

I was recommended to another vet that can handle ATB's from a local reptile store , only 1 1/2 hour away , but worth the drive if they know what they are doing, I will call them

shaunyboy · 10-02-14, 06:10 PM

any updates on your snake mate ?

cheers shaun

jsshark1 · 10-07-14, 02:43 PM

she is doing better I be leave but still has her mouth open most of the time,
I have seen her with her mouth closed and she is not putting her head so close to the light and she is not hissing as much as before,

I am misting her twice a day, I have also decided to wait on the antibiotics for a bit. the vet told me, if we where to give her a X-ray we have to knock her out and if they find a problem there would be little they can do to help heel the jaw it would do the heeling on its own if it heels.

this is her this morning
open-9.jpg

she still has not eaten, another concern is that she mated with the
male on 6-5-14 and I would think she need to eat,

shaunyboy · 10-08-14, 06:55 PM

i am NOT having a go at you mate

i honestly cannot believe a vet would send you home with a snake who sits with it's mouth open like that for most of the time,the vet imo is a bad vet

at the very least he should have suggested which routes he could have taken to get to finding the reason for her condition

i have never seen or heard of anything like it ?

my best opinion is the jaw or jaws are damaged and stopping her from keeping her mouth in the normal closed position

imo it needs treatment if possible or a decision made to euthanize the snake if the condition is untreatable

imo it's not fair on the snake to just leave it and hope the situation rectifies itself

re x ray
the vet should have performed an x ray and determined if there was any fractures in the jaws...

not just sent you home without answers

as said,im NOT having a go at you,but i am having a go at that useless vet

cheers shaun

jsshark1 · 10-26-14, 07:24 PM

we have a update:

she ate a rat pup last night , i have been leaven her alone and offered her food once a week till last night when she seemed to have no problem eating it, she is still keeping her mouth open , so back to leaving her alone till next feeding...

thanks for every ones input

IW17 · 10-31-14, 07:33 PM

I agree with Shaun. That particular vet seems like he's not familiar with, or comfortable with snakes. It might be worth taking a drive to another vets office. Is this office specific to exotics? Or just a normal vet that takes snakes?

Will0W783 · 11-03-14, 02:50 PM

You mentioned that she mated with your male in June? If so, it's possible that she is gravid. While being gravid (pregnant) would definitely not cause her to leave her mouth open, it could explain the lack of appetite. Most boids (and most snakes in fact) go off food when they become gravid. Has her weight gone up at all; do you notice a swelling in the middle-to-back of her?

As for the mouth hanging open all the time, in your pictures the mouth looks clean and free of infections. It does look like her jaws are not aligning properly though. As others have said, she could have injured her jaw.

The other possibility is parasites. There is a type of whipworm that some snakes get that can spread to the lungs. When this happens, the snake will usually open its mouth to breathe. In cases of whipworms in the lungs that I've seen, the snake will not leave its mouth open, but will instead slowly open the mouth about 1/3-1/2 way, leave it open for 30 seconds-1 minute, then close it. They also tend to rub their faces on cage furniture, screens and lights. I think the parasites are itchy and they are trying to ease the discomfort.

If this is the case, they will also show up in fecal samples, and Flagyl is the best course of treatment. You need to get a fresh (still wet) fecal sample to a vet who can run the test. Without treatment, worms are fatal once they get to the lungs. I've only seen it in stressed imports, but long-term captives can suddenly succumb if they are stressed by a change in environment or improper husbandry.

I hope your snake doesn't have parasites. Do you know if she was captive bred or wild caught? Most ATBs are wild-caught, unless the seller told you otherwise.

Best of luck; keep us posted. I'm curious to see how she does.

KavomatovlHes · 01-06-15, 07:37 PM

DS had lots of mucus which looked looked foamy. He slept with his mouth open because of his adenoids. Since getting the tubes his adnoids went back to normal size and its not been an issue if he starts foaming or snoring again theyll want em removed.