Very Sick Snake???

[AnnieChris]

We have a corn snake who is approximately 1 1/2 years old. Her name is CeCe. I think she is sick, and I have an appointment at the vet in two days, but I'm hoping someone can give me some insight. I like this vet, but I have found they take advantage of ignorance!!

Ce Ce has always been very irratic in her feeding. Sometimes two weeks in a row, sometimes going for a month or longer without eating. She is very calm, and unlike my friends' snakes, she doesn't curl around our hands or arms when we take her out of the cage. Just moves along exploring. She always looks very healthy, but has always been a hider - we rarely see her. And she seems to prefer the "cold" side of her cage, and rarely stays on the warm side (that I've seen, anyway). Until recently...

A couple of months ago I thought I noticed that there was a bulge in her mid-section. I wasn't sure, and thought it might be from a recent meal. But after a while, it became clear that it was getting bigger. She was still eating, and seemed to be drinking normally, and pooping. But now this bulge is quite noticeable (twice her girth at least) even though she has not eaten in at least 6 weeks. It is near the middle of her body.

Like I said, for the past year she was rarely in view. But the past four days she has been constantly in view, either partially or fully. Usually on the warm side, laying on the log or rock, or under the log shelter if the warmer light isn't on .

She is pooping, or passing some kind of brownish mucus-y stuff at an alarming pace. There are four spots from the past day or so. In the past, she maybe pooped a big one once a week or so.

She is still so pretty and bright, and looks healthy. But all of this is alarming. Can anyone offer any insight?

Thank you for your help!!

Christine

[dionythicus]

Take in a fresh fecal smple so they can check for cryptosporidium. You should do a search online or on this fourm about it. I do recall the midbody swelling as a symptom, though it could be many things. I wish you the best.

[AnnieChris]

Thank you...I did some research on cryptosporidium and it sounds very scary. I think CeCe is even more swollen today. The swelling had been difficult to see, and very slow growing until recently...I think it is growing very quickly now. I'm glad we're taking her to the doctor tomorrow.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Christine

[CornCrazy]

There are some other parasites and intestinal bacteria that can cause the same thing. A word of warning...A fecal may not always be positive even if there are parasites/bacteria present. If the first one is negative, I would suggest repeating it. Sometimes a gastric lavage is needed, too.

Please keep us posted!

[AnnieChris]

Gastric Lavage?!?!? Poor liitle thing. I am going to hate this vet visit. I really don't have much hope that it is nothing...it is looking really frightening.

Thank you for your help and good wishes.

Christine

[CornCrazy]

Yep...a gastric lavage is sometimes very helpful and finding out what is causing the swelling. Hopefully the fecal will give you the info needed.

[AnnieChris]

CeCe's appointment at the vet to was for 4:30pm today. I had been checking on her all day and she seemed the same, moving around alot, still with the swelling. I last checked on her at 3pm, and she seemed fine. But when I went to get her at 4:15 for her appontment, she was dead. I was so shocked! My 8 year old son is so upset, and I am sad and feel guilty. I hope she wasn't in pain...I feel so bad. I should've done more. I just didn't realize, before the last couple of days, that it was serious...and even then, I think I was in denial.

I'm just so mad and sad...I wish I knew what was wrong with her, too. I expect we will get another snake, and I don't want to make the same mistake(s). She was such a sweet little thing.

Christine

[Bobo's Mama]

If you have the money, you could still get her tested to see what killed her. That way at least you would know for sure what it was.

[AnnieChris]

I was wondering about that. I called my vet to tell them we weren't coming, but she didn't say anything. I don't know why I didn't ask...I was just feeling bad, I guess. Do you know approx what it costs, and would we be able to get CeCe back? It may sound strange, but my son needs to bury her.

Christine

[Bobo's Mama]

I don't think it would cost anymore than the tests you were already going to get. And if you ask them, they should give her body back to you. I would put her in the fridge in the meantime. That should perserve her enough to take her to the vet.

[CornCrazy]

I am very sorry for your loss!

I would recommend that you have a necropsy done to see why CeCe died. I want you to know that if your vet has to send CeCe to an outside lab for the necropsy, you may not be able to get her body back. Be certain to check with your vet to see what procedure they do. Definitely put her in the fridge (NOT the freezer) if you are considering having a necropsy done. If you freeze her it will destroy her tissues and the pathologist will not be able to give you much accurate information.

[AnnieChris]

I would recommend that you have a necropsy done to see why CeCe died. I want you to know that if your vet has to send CeCe to an outside lab for the necropsy, you may not be able to get her body back. Be certain to check with your vet to see what procedure they do. Definitely put her in the fridge (NOT the freezer) if you are considering having a necropsy done. If you freeze her it will destroy her tissues and the pathologist will not be able to give you much accurate information.

I checked with the vet...we won't be able to have the necropsy done...with the tests and everything, it will just be too expensive.

It seems that worst case scenario regarding what caused CeCe's death is crypto (??), so I'll just assume it was. I'll get rid of her viv - although it was a pretty nice set up - and start from scratch when we get another snake.

We had had her for over a year with no problems, and I didn't change anything (temps, feeding, etc), so I hope I can assume I didn't do anything wrong with her (regarding basic care) that killed her.??? She always seemed healthy.

So then I can't help but wonder...how did she get it? Could she have had it for a long time withot any symptoms? She never regurgitated a single meal while we had her, although she was an erratic eater. Could she have got it from the frozen mice? I got the frozen mice from the same pet store I got CeCe.

I appreciate all of your insight and opinions. I really feel awful about this.

Christine

[CornCrazy]

I am VERY sorry!

You are doing the right thing by totally getting rid of all of CeCe's things. You do not want to risk the health of a future snake. It's better to be safe.