OK... I've searched the thread and read the info there in but I would still like to ask some questions of people who have dealt with egg binding. My candy cane Persephone laid three HUGE eggs yesterday... but one is stuck. Now, I am trying to give her time to pass it but... it is really high up and VERY stuck. We had a swim today... we did some massaging... didn't budge at all. I'm not in panic mode at all but I was reading a particularily informational thread on egg binding written by "Harley" I believe... and was very interested in the list of reasons for eggs becoming stuck. How does one know if an egg has calcified in the oviduct? What can one do for that problem? Is there anything, aside from the swims and massaging, that I can do to help her pass this egg? If the egg laying contractions have in fact stopped prematurely, is there anything I can do to "induce" them again? She seems totally disinterested in laying anything at the moment and is once again zooming in and out of her lay box. I'm just looking for more information. The threads I have read have been really interesting and helpful but I want to make sure that this doesn't become a LARGE problem quickly. I'm not panicked yet but, I want to be on the safe side.
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I need some help... possible egg binding situation
- Thread starter divapixie
- Start date
crackerhead
Hug Free Zone
There are a couple of different approaches to a "stuck" egg. You've tried massage and swimming, right? Did you lubricate before trying to massage the egg down toward the cloaca? Sometimes the female simply tenses up and the egg feels as though it is adhered to the oviduct when it actually isn't.
Kathy Love has a useful step by step on her website for egg aspiration. It basically shrinks the volume of the stuck egg to help allow it to pass naturally. I've used the technique successfully. It must be used in the first 48hours. Beyond that the egg begins to solidify and it can't be drained. I hope she passes on her own, though. Far less stressful for everyone involved.
Terri
Kathy Love has a useful step by step on her website for egg aspiration. It basically shrinks the volume of the stuck egg to help allow it to pass naturally. I've used the technique successfully. It must be used in the first 48hours. Beyond that the egg begins to solidify and it can't be drained. I hope she passes on her own, though. Far less stressful for everyone involved.
Terri
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
I had the "huge stuck egg" problem myself a couple of years ago and I had to get the vet to sort it after four days of the Corn heaving and shoving to no effect. He aspirated the egg via the cloaca (luckily it was near enough to do that) and she passed the collapsed shell naturally, immediately afterwards.
It was a beast of an egg - she never would have been able to lay it without help.
I suggest the vet if you're not comfortable to aspirate yourself.
It was a beast of an egg - she never would have been able to lay it without help.
I suggest the vet if you're not comfortable to aspirate yourself.
wade
Save The Humans
Both people above have given you good advice. The key is don't wait too long. The longer you wait the harder the problem will be to solve.
I use a sexing probe and try to work KY jelly into the cloaca a ways before I try to massage out an egg. You need to be gentle and go slow. If you can get the egg to where you can see it and no further, then it's easy to asperate it with a large gauge needle. It's difficult to suck the contents of the egg out unless you have a big needle.
If none of this works I would suggest a vet. Soon.
I use a sexing probe and try to work KY jelly into the cloaca a ways before I try to massage out an egg. You need to be gentle and go slow. If you can get the egg to where you can see it and no further, then it's easy to asperate it with a large gauge needle. It's difficult to suck the contents of the egg out unless you have a big needle.
If none of this works I would suggest a vet. Soon.
I got some help form another breeder in the area but we were unable to move the egg. He gave me a syringe to aspirate the egg but then failed twice to show up and assist me in the procedure. I have no one at home to help me but don't want to attempt doing this without an extra pair of hands. Advise me please....
Please keep in mind there are NO herp vets in the area... the nearest one is 2-4 hours away.
Please keep in mind there are NO herp vets in the area... the nearest one is 2-4 hours away.
crackerhead
Hug Free Zone
Is there anyone else, experienced or otherwise, that is willing to hold while you aspirate? Did you go to Kathy Love's site and view the technique? I've done it by myself before; tricky but definitely doable. You could also tube the snake while you work. I've used clear plastic tubes that go over aquarium lights or PVC pipe. I duct tape the pipe to a table so it doesn't roll. Then allow your snake to enter the tube about 2/3rds their body length; holding the tail end firmly but gently. This will allow you to work on the back end without the animals thrashing around as much. Nor can the snake turn around and bite you; given the tube isn't too big. I used this technique with a snake I had to give weeks of IV antibiotics. No one would hold her for me; she's nasty, and I was tired of all the bite/chew marks. I was also afraid when she moved she was going to break the syringe off in her flesh. Of course, at this point you might be outside the aspiration window. The egg might have already started to solidify. Worth a shot though. Good luck.
Terri
Terri
ghosthousecorns
Well-known member
Are you sure the egg is "stuck"?
I'm going to go against the other advice given here and say to leave the snake alone. I believe the more you mess with the female the more she will retain that egg because she feels unsafe to lay it. It could also be why she got restless again, the lay box doesn't feel safe to her after being disturbed. If you interrupt their egg laying process you can do more harm than good by massaging, making them swim, etc. If it were me I would give her a couple of days of peace and see if anything happens...
I'm going to go against the other advice given here and say to leave the snake alone. I believe the more you mess with the female the more she will retain that egg because she feels unsafe to lay it. It could also be why she got restless again, the lay box doesn't feel safe to her after being disturbed. If you interrupt their egg laying process you can do more harm than good by massaging, making them swim, etc. If it were me I would give her a couple of days of peace and see if anything happens...
crackerhead
Hug Free Zone
Sorry should have done that right from the beginning. Its in Cool Corn Snake Pictures. Here you go:
http://www.corn-utopia.com/Corn Uto...GALLERY Cornutopia corn snakes cornsnakes.htm
Just scroll down to the thumbnail of Kathy with the syringe in her mouth.
Hope that helps.
Terri
http://www.corn-utopia.com/Corn Uto...GALLERY Cornutopia corn snakes cornsnakes.htm
Just scroll down to the thumbnail of Kathy with the syringe in her mouth.
Hope that helps.
Terri
Duff
New member
I'd have to agree. I had a female this year take over a week total to get all the eggs out. But she did get them all out on her own with no intervention from me. I've also read other cases of similar experiences.