BRB Losing Scales? - Page 7

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-11-17, 03:17 PM

Thanks Snoopy! Yes, he's regurged once in the past 3 months since I raised his hot spot. But that's good considering that his regurges were starting to up in frequency before I did that.

**EL Ziggy** · 01-11-17, 09:51 PM

Congrats on the progress BSG. I hope he's turned the corner for you.

bigsnakegirl785 · 01-11-17, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

Congrats on the progress BSG. I hope he's turned the corner for you.

That's pretty much how the past 1-1.5 years have gone with him. Just constantly hoping to see improvement. At this point, I'm just happy his weight is staying steady and his regurges have calmed down. Unfortunately, if his shedding schedule changes I'm not going to be able to predict when to withhold food...I'm going to have to hope he improves enough to hold down his food or only wait a max of 2 weeks for a shed cycle and do that once a month. Last time he went like 2 months before he shed again, and the moment I was like "he's gone way too long without food he can't be going a month without food in his condition" and fed him -bam- a shed cycle and the a regurge. -.-

SnoopySnake · 01-12-17, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Thanks Snoopy! Yes, he's regurged once in the past 3 months since I raised his hot spot. But that's good considering that his regurges were starting to up in frequency before I did that.

Ah. Was wondering if the regurges were connected to the lower heat. In any event I'm glad he's doing ok and I hope he beings to thrive.

bigsnakegirl785 · 02-22-17, 12:03 AM

As an update, he's regurged 1 more time since I last updated, which has prompted me to completely forgo the 4 gram fuzzies. He kept down 2 or 3 of them, but it appears to be questionable at best if he'll keep them down. For now, I'll just be feeding him the 3 gram fuzzies as he defecates, which is usually 4-6 days after eating.

It's been 2 months since his last shed cycle, so he'll be due for another one any day now.

So far he hasn't lost any more weight, and although I think he gained a gram at one point he may just not have pooped yet or something...not going to hold my hopes up for just 1 gram, though. It's hard to believe in 4-5 months he'll be 2 years old and he hasn't gained a single gram in most of that time. He has gained some weight from birth, but none since then as far as I know.

SnoopySnake · 02-26-17, 07:29 PM

Sorry to hear he's regurged again

sounds like the smaller meals are the way to go, that's unfortunate. Still hoping for good things for him!

bigsnakegirl785 · 02-26-17, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

Sorry to hear he's regurged again

sounds like the smaller meals are the way to go, that's unfortunate. Still hoping for good things for him!

He's eaten 3 meals without a regurge since the last regurge, so luckily I think if I just stick to feeding him the 3 gram fuzzies as he poops he should be fine. I really wanted to get him on the bigger prey to try to get him to finally make some progress, but if he can't take them he can't take them.

He's due for a shed soon so I will probably hold off on feeding him another fuzzy for a bit.

bigsnakegirl785 · 03-16-17, 03:16 PM

Well he shed a week or two ago, and I've finally stopped crashing from lack of sleep so I'm feeding the snakes, and he's lost another 4 grams. :/

RAD House · 03-16-17, 07:27 PM

It is very cool how much time you have put into this guy. I believe in Karma so goods things will happen to you one way or another.

SnoopySnake · 03-16-17, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Well he shed a week or two ago, and I've finally stopped crashing from lack of sleep so I'm feeding the snakes, and he's lost another 4 grams. :/

Sorry to hear that

bigsnakegirl785 · 03-17-17, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

It is very cool how much time you have put into this guy. I believe in Karma so goods things will happen to you one way or another.

I've been hoping he'll rebound, but no matter what size mouse I feed him he just doesn't seem to gain anything, and even a single gram heavier than what I feed him and he regurges it half the time.

I'm going to try the vet one more time, and then I'm probably going to go ahead and have him euthanized. He's clearly not going to rebound, at least not without serious vet intervention, and he can't keep losing weight.

If I do have him euthanized, I'll have a necropsy done, and maybe that will give me more of an insight into why his condition is so bad.

I'm just baffled he gained so much weight from birth with his breeder, he went from 30-something to 55 grams when I got him at 6-8 months old and his current weight is 40 grams. I'm thinking maybe the shipping was just too much for him to handle and made his condition worse, it's the only thing I can think of.

Skipper7 · 03-17-17, 08:52 AM

I'm sorry if that's the route you choose. It's tough to put an animal down. I hope you can get some answers. You tried what you could and stuck with him for 6 months- that in itself is admirable.

bigsnakegirl785 · 03-17-17, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipper7

I'm sorry if that's the route you choose. It's tough to put an animal down. I hope you can get some answers. You tried what you could and stuck with him for 6 months- that in itself is admirable.

Thanks for the well-wishes. I've elected to go the vet office in person since I'll be in Asheville anyways. I won't be able to bring him as he ate yesterday, but I can at least see if they'll give me a quote on what it would take to see him or a euthanization cost. And how they do it. I won't take him to them if they only do lethal injection or another method that does not work with reptiles.

As far as how long I've had him, it's actually been a year now - he'll be 2 in July. He was 6-8 months when I first got him.

bigsnakegirl785 · 03-17-17, 11:18 AM

Here are the photos I took of him last night, I want to make sure I have as recent of photos as possible before he passes.

His spine is now clearly prominent, with the skin folding around it. I seriously think is is probably the last we'll see of him.

I will update with my decision once I am back from the vet's. Should be around 3-4 pm or a little later my time (eastern time zone USA).

RAD House · 03-17-17, 11:38 AM

I am sorry it has come to this, and understand this is not an easy decision to make. Just know that sometimes the most humane thing you can do for an animal is end its suffering. You did all that you could and I hope that helps you deal with the loss if it comes to that.