My worst fear is happening

I have always had this fear that something was going to go wrong with one of my snakes that would cause me to drive the 50 mins to the nearest snake doc. My corn has been amazing! No problems to speak of but the king. HA! I'm not sure what happened. I don't remember it being there when I got her or when I had handled her before. However, today is the longest I have had her out. Today was the calmest she has been since I got her. And today I noticed that she was making a popping noise. I thought I was hearing things but I kept hearing it so I started looking her over and noticed it would happen when she would flick her tounge out. So I really started watching. She let me hold her head still, which I was happy for, and I noticed that part of the "fork" was going through her nostril! So I looked and I noticed that that area is indeed deformed! [Note to self]I need to look my snakes over better before I buy them from now on. [/note] I went back to look at the pictures that I took when I got home with her and sure enough its there. You can see it in the following photos, here


and here


I had not noticed this before and I feel like a fool! She ate with this but I am worried that it might cause a problem which is the reason why I am taking her to the vet. If its going to be something that is going to cause her harm or problems later in life its something I want to know. Also, I want to know if I need to change the way I am keeping her. Plus, I want someone who knows what the heck is going on to look at her because that is out of my range. Mites I can handle. Burns I can handle. Her tounge coming through her nose NOT!

So I will be going up there at 3:30 with her. She seems small to carry in a pillow case and I dont have a snake bag. Guess I will be taking her in the deli cup that I got her in. Sound good?

I tend to freak out when my animals are at the vet even though I work at a vet. I have yet to figure it out. Anyone have any ideas on what happened? Is she going to be ok? Thoughts? Anything?

I'm sorry that you found this out late... it happens to everyone though... I once bought a T and had already headed out the door when the seller said, "You did notice that it is missing one leg. Don't worry, it'll grow another one". To be honest, I HADN'T noticed it, but was grateful for the reminder. I just got caught up in the overall beauty of the T and just didn't notice!

Remember that you did post pictures of the little one... and apparently none of "us" caught it either. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Anyway, I certainly hope that it isn't a long term problem... and you probably could call up the breeder and express a concern about "full disclosure" issues too. Good luck at the vet and hope everything turns out fine.

Also, the deli-cup should be fine.

Where are you in Virginia? Are you within range of Stahl Veterinary services? They are the only true herp vets that I know of in VA-- anyone else probably won't know more than the collective people on this board.

Thanks Fred. The lady who was working that area did not seem to know much about the snakes. Kept asking the others that were working with her. So I'm not sure she knew but I will be emailing them just to let them know. Also going to have my friend check her girl. Thanks at least Im not the only one who misses things.

Lauren, thats where I'm going! Its one heck of a drive but I am willing to drive it for the best!

Here's hoping everything goes okay at the vet!! I do have to say that this thread makes me feel somewhat better. I read up on corns for about 5 weeks before I bought mine, knew a whole list of things to look for when picking one out, even to look for incomplete shed. I thought the one I got was great at first, then saw she had something odd at her tail tip, it was really hard to see, & she did not want me anywhere near her tail. So I kind of watched it for about 2 weeks, then I could tell that the very tip of her tail was getting kind of deformed. At that point I got worried, gave her a bath & gently scrubbed her tail with a wash cloth. The tip of her tail did come off, but didn't bleed & healed real fast. I felt real bad about not trying that sooner, as I was afraid of hurting her. She is going to get a wash cloth bath from now on though, if it looks like she as shed left or not. Again hope the vet visit goes well!

I bet she'll be ok. Probably a good thing the breeder didn't catch it!

She's gorgeous! A blotched king, right?
It sounds to me almost like a cleft palate.....

Ok we are back. Looks like I was right to bring her in, while the popping nosie is from her tounge going where it should not be she had a URI. He said it was just starting so treatment should clear it up in no time. I had not noticed that she was showing signs and it was something I was looking for while I was listening to her. I think stress has a lot to do with it.

The defect is something he is a bit worried about but she would not allow him to open her mouth to see if there was any damage. He wants me to bring her back in 6 months so he can try again. He is not sure if its going to cause a problem or not but as long as she is eating fine he would not worry and just re-check in 6 months.

So I have to give her Fortaz every 3 days and Baytril every 3 days. She was great for the tech holding her, musked him but I would to if you gave me a shot. I hope she is as good for me. She started to shed, I knew it was coming since she had dulled out some. The Baytril is going to dull her colors but after a few months they will brighten up again. I am not to feed her until she has been off the meds for a week. I have 9 doses so this little girl is going to be going awhile without food. I hope she does not try to make my fingers into food. She was 17 grams when we were there so she is going to have a set back but I want to get this cleared up and then I can work on getting her back on track.

He was impressed that she took a whole pinky the first time and that she switched to F/T so well. Also how calm she was being while he was trying to open her mouth. She was a good little girl.

So for now, Im raising the temps. Giving her 10 min soaking sessions 3 times a week and upping the heat from 80 to 90. Joy.

My heart was racing the whole time we were in there and I would jump whenever she would swing away from him. He is trained and such and Im trying to catch my snake. Ugh, I hate people like me.

Isn't it comforting to find a vet that knows what they are doing??? Why can't she eat while she is getting Baytril, just curious?

Yes! My bosses would have laughed at me if I had brought her to them. They know nothing about snakes. I think he said the Fortaz may cause her to regurge and it was better not to risk it. One of them or the combo may. She should be fine through out it, Im going to be the one that will be freaking out about not feeding her.

This going to be an ugly shed! She is shedding in random spots and I dont remember her going blue unless it was after she ate cause I did not mess with her after I gave her the pinkie. I hope this does not cause problems for all of her sheds.

My corn almost always sheds in full but she is flaking all over. :\

Well, you know how to fix it, right? What a little trouble maker! Give her a kiss for me!

Yes, fixing it is no problem I just like full sheds. Less worrying. Silly king! But she is soooo pretty!