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HELP! OMG ....Mouth glued shut! UPDATE 3/20

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Tara
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Not my photo. But my hognose had not eaten in 4 weeks and so I was finally resorting to a gentle forcefeeding which I have done sucessfully in the past with other snakes. Well when I held her head and looked close I discovered that while her tongue could JUST squeeze through. She had this "mud" hardened around her lips. Just as the photo above the orange area I drew. This was like a hard gunk that she could not open her mouth because it was like a muzzle. She is so thin and I am scared to death that she is dehydrated, not to mention not having eaten in over a month. I went ahead and gently broke apart the "mud" and freed her mouth, then I placed her in a small cardboard box with a rat pink to try and see if she will eat. I will release her in an hour.

So now the question is...what was this mud? Has anyone seen something like this. The mouth looked clean when I got it open. No mouth rot.

What should I do for her now?? I am very upset. I feel so guilty. I should have handled her more...looked at her mouth more. I was leaving her be so she would eat more...but now I may have caused her undoing.
 
Do you know why it got stuck in the first place? I would take a warm washcloth and leave it on there gently rubbing until its gone. I hope she's o.k!!
 
danielle said:
Do you know why it got stuck in the first place? I would take a warm washcloth and leave it on there gently rubbing until its gone. I hope she's o.k!!
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No. That is what I am asking. I did get it off already thankfully. I hope she is going to be okay too. I am desperatly worried.
 
That's weird. Well I guess you will either need to wait and see what happens, or take her to a vet. I just don't get how her mouth could become sealed. I hope someone else can help you more.
 
Have you pried her mouth open and took a look in? If its not something from your cage could it be a mouth infection? I have never experienced this I wish I could be more help.
 
I don't mean to suggest you're a poor keeper, but could it have been dried fecal matter? Maybe she slid through some before you cleaned her tub and it hardened?
 
dionythicus said:
I don't mean to suggest you're a poor keeper, but could it have been dried fecal matter? Maybe she slid through some before you cleaned her tub and it hardened?
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That is actually NOT a bad suggestion. No keeper can pick it up the second it happens and it was the right color and texture....
 
I have a snow that is Mr. Poopenschmear. It is everywhere, all over the sides and the lid! I've had to rinse him off more than a time or two. Hoggies have a different structure to their face so it could get in their mouth more than a corn.
 
She did not eat. But is more alert looking. I will try again on monday. Her mouth is now clear and I see no signs of reddness, swelling, or more gunk. *crosses fingers* Thanks everyone
 
Well, then the crisis isn't completely over til she eats!
Tara, could you post when she does? I love hoggies and I'd feel better knowing she's completely ok....
 
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Have you EVER seen ANYTHING so beautiful in your life? I haven't! She ate! I offered a small mouse pink first and she took it eagerly....so while she was swallowing, I defrosted a fat rat pink really quickly and she took it with gusto! That is enough for tonight I think...I will offer another on Tuesday I think. *whew* Man I feel so much better. It was 37 days since her last feed. NO more gunk on her lips so I am pretty sure Dionythicus
was right and it was feces that had hardened on her lips. Poor baby. But man...SOOOOO Happy am I! Woot!
 
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