Lycari
08-04-2012, 01:25 AM
So, yesterday, I took Saga to the vet for a checkup. The vet is Dr. Adolf Maas, one of the eight AVMA-certified specialistists in the world... His private practice just happens to be about twenty minutes away, all specialized for exotic animals. I took her in to get a profesional opinion of her overall health, to get her probed because her tail looked male to me (doc agreed that the tail looks male, but she probed female), and to get some advice on how best to move her to a new tank and a new house.
Dr. Maas told me that she was in excellent condition, except for the parasites he found in the fecal sample he somehow managed to convince her to give him. He said the infestation looks minor and that it certainly isn't life-threatening—yet—and gave me some medication I'm supped to give her orally every other day.
He told me about a study where they fed boa constritors once a week, once every other week, once every three weeks, and once every four weeks. Apparently, if you feed a snake less often than once a week, they get liver disease, and it's more severe the less often you feed; to the point where pathologists could predict how often a snake was fed based on a liver biopsy. So, Saga's back on a strictly once-a-week diet.
I only managed to mention the moving part briefly at the end of the visit, but he said not to worry about it too much. Against my own judgement, but following his orders, I therefore soaked her as instructed, moved her into the new viv in the new house, and fed her today. She responded to the fuzzy faster than I've seen since I got her. She has to be soaked and medicated tomorrow.... Medication involves one person restraining her body while another holds her behind the head, pries her mouth open, and squirts the medication down her throat with a syringe. Am I the only one worried about stress, here?
She had a vet visit yesterday, was moved into a new, bigger tank on paper towel substrate, with two new hides and everything else run through the dishwasher (vet's advice), soaked (which she hates), AND fed today. Tomorrow I'm supposed to soak her again, and medicate her, and I'm not supposed to expect a regurge?
Anyone have any advice on what to do, here? The vet has a great reputation, and an amazing history. I seriously doubt he could be incompetent, but still. Also, any advice on how to get a snake's mouth open without the benefit of fingernails would be appreciated.
Dr. Maas told me that she was in excellent condition, except for the parasites he found in the fecal sample he somehow managed to convince her to give him. He said the infestation looks minor and that it certainly isn't life-threatening—yet—and gave me some medication I'm supped to give her orally every other day.
He told me about a study where they fed boa constritors once a week, once every other week, once every three weeks, and once every four weeks. Apparently, if you feed a snake less often than once a week, they get liver disease, and it's more severe the less often you feed; to the point where pathologists could predict how often a snake was fed based on a liver biopsy. So, Saga's back on a strictly once-a-week diet.
I only managed to mention the moving part briefly at the end of the visit, but he said not to worry about it too much. Against my own judgement, but following his orders, I therefore soaked her as instructed, moved her into the new viv in the new house, and fed her today. She responded to the fuzzy faster than I've seen since I got her. She has to be soaked and medicated tomorrow.... Medication involves one person restraining her body while another holds her behind the head, pries her mouth open, and squirts the medication down her throat with a syringe. Am I the only one worried about stress, here?
She had a vet visit yesterday, was moved into a new, bigger tank on paper towel substrate, with two new hides and everything else run through the dishwasher (vet's advice), soaked (which she hates), AND fed today. Tomorrow I'm supposed to soak her again, and medicate her, and I'm not supposed to expect a regurge?
Anyone have any advice on what to do, here? The vet has a great reputation, and an amazing history. I seriously doubt he could be incompetent, but still. Also, any advice on how to get a snake's mouth open without the benefit of fingernails would be appreciated.