Ask the Veterinarian!

[Xana44]

Gaia ate my whole long reply!

I will try to repost it later if it does not appear.

Stupie Gaia!

[Xana44]

-IWantBrains-

Hi, I don't know if you know anything about Snakes...
It's not sick or anything, was just wondering if you had any helpful tips:

Basically, I just got a new snake.
It's a milk snake, about two years old. I got it from a friend who's brother wasn't really looking after it properly, and thought it would be better with me.
But it hasn't been handled a lot, as in, probably not in the last year.
I love handling snakes. I currently have a Royal Python around the same age who's the calmest, most adorable thing ever.

So I tried to pick this snake up. It freaked out, darted all over the tank, and I quickly pulled my hand out for fear it would bite me [It's bitten someone before.]
I'm presuming it's so frightened because, well, it's just moved house, and it's never really been picked up at all.
Thing is, the tank is filthy, so I kinda need to take it out to clean it, but it's freaking out and won't sit still.

Any tips on how to get it used to me/ being handled?
And do Milk Snakes have teeth? Random question, but I thought they did and my friend told me they didn't so, just wanted to know...

Place the snake's tank in a cooler than normal dark area for several hours. This should slow the snake's metabolism and make him easier to catch. Don't freeze him or anything, just cool. Drop a rag or towel over the snake first then grab him. Transfer him to a holding cage and keep him in the dark and cool for several hours. Once back in his normal habitat, slowly warm the cage/tank to normal conditions.

As I am sure you know, proper environmental maintenance is crucial to reptile health. I don't know what his optimal temperature and humidity is, but make sure he is getting them. This will help to reduce his stress. Also an appropriate diet is important too.

Once his environment is stabilized and healthy, bring him and his tank where he will see you a lot and hear you. Once he is used to that, start putting your hand in his tank, but not trying to hold him. Slowly start to handle him, stopping if he becomes stressed. Watch for breathing rate particularly. This process may take several months.

Keep us updated on how you are getting along with him.

PS Check him for retained spectacles, as this is common if his environment was poor and will cause snakes to be aggressive because they can't see well.

[XCracking]

Xana44

-IWantBrains-

Hi, I don't know if you know anything about Snakes...
It's not sick or anything, was just wondering if you had any helpful tips:

Basically, I just got a new snake.
It's a milk snake, about two years old. I got it from a friend who's brother wasn't really looking after it properly, and thought it would be better with me.
But it hasn't been handled a lot, as in, probably not in the last year.
I love handling snakes. I currently have a Royal Python around the same age who's the calmest, most adorable thing ever.

So I tried to pick this snake up. It freaked out, darted all over the tank, and I quickly pulled my hand out for fear it would bite me [It's bitten someone before.]
I'm presuming it's so frightened because, well, it's just moved house, and it's never really been picked up at all.
Thing is, the tank is filthy, so I kinda need to take it out to clean it, but it's freaking out and won't sit still.

Any tips on how to get it used to me/ being handled?
And do Milk Snakes have teeth? Random question, but I thought they did and my friend told me they didn't so, just wanted to know...

Place the snake's tank in a cooler than normal dark area for several hours. This should slow the snake's metabolism and make him easier to catch. Don't freeze him or anything, just cool. Drop a rag or towel over the snake first then grab him. Transfer him to a holding cage and keep him in the dark and cool for several hours. Once back in his normal habitat, slowly warm the cage/tank to normal conditions.

As I am sure you know, proper environmental maintenance is crucial to reptile health. I don't know what his optimal temperature and humidity is, but make sure he is getting them. This will help to reduce his stress. Also an appropriate diet is important too.

Once his environment is stabilized and healthy, bring him and his tank where he will see you a lot and hear you. Once he is used to that, start putting your hand in his tank, but not trying to hold him. Slowly start to handle him, stopping if he becomes stressed. Watch for breathing rate particularly. This process may take several months.

Keep us updated on how you are getting along with him.

PS Check him for retained spectacles, as this is common if his environment was poor and will cause snakes to be aggressive because they can't see well.

Thank you so much!
I headed into my local reptile shop today, because I had the feeling that his tank was much too small for him. Turns out it is, I have to pay £130 for a 3 footer!
I spot cleaned the tank, washed out the water bowl [it was disgusting, I'm feeling kind of bad for the snake that it was living like that for god knows how long, I mean, there are shed scales literally moulded to the bowl] and I think there's very little point in completely replacing the bark chippings if we're getting a brand new tank tomorrow afternoon.
The man in there basically told me that I just have to suck it up and take him out of the tank and handle him, and he'll become used to it in time, he should also be a lot more calm once he's out of the tank as he'll feel less cornered, and that Milk Snakes are naturally a very nervous creature [which is so different to my python, so I'm going to have to get used to it.] Although he's handled snakes who haven't been held for 6 or 7 years with no problem, so I'm a lot less nervous now.
I'm going to attempt to handle him again tonight, possibly wearing gardener's gloves as according to the man in the store snakes hate the taste of rubber, and if they bite my hand and taste it, it'll be much less likely to bite it again. Although Milk Snake bites supposedly don't hurt at all and you barely notice it.

The man also suggested that I bring him in tomorrow so that he can pick it up and change the tanks and basically show me how easy it is.
They're lovely in that store! =]

[Xana44]

There a lot of very knowledgeable people (especially about reptiles) working in specialty pet stores. They often have many years of experience. I got advice about my fish at the aquarium store.

It sounds like your guys are great! But beware of advice from people at large chain stores. Some of them are good some of them are not. Often the "advice" that they are giving is only to sell product.

This is really more a rant about pet food than reptile care. Sorry about the hijack.

Let me know how it goes with the snake. I have always wanted one but never able to.

[umitama]

i have a blak and white bunny and also a little grey bunny. i've just noticed that the little grey rabbit has something stuck in his front paw/ toe(?), like a bit of dried poop - i was trying to get it out but everytime i go near his paw he grows and trys to attack me... should i leave him be, with the poop stuck to his foot or should i try to get it out? and could it get infected if i leave it?
also if i was to get it out, how???

[XCracking]

Xana44

There a lot of very knowledgeable people (especially about reptiles) working in specialty pet stores. They often have many years of experience. I got advice about my fish at the aquarium store.

It sounds like your guys are great! But beware of advice from people at large chain stores. Some of them are good some of them are not. Often the "advice" that they are giving is only to sell product.

This is really more a rant about pet food than reptile care. Sorry about the hijack.

Let me know how it goes with the snake. I have always wanted one but never able to.

It's a little independent store, they're absolutely fantastic in the place.
And they're definitely not just trying to sell stuff. I've been going there since I was about 10/11 [Yeah, I've been kinda obsessed with the whole herpetology thing for a while] and the first thing I got there was a baby corn snake. It only lived for a few months because it wouldn't eat [No idea why, though, it just wouldn't.] The guys in the store felt bad about it [I mean, I was very young at the time] and they gave me an Argentine Horned Toad [or frog, dunno...] to replace it, for free!
Was a vicious wee thing though.
And when we went in today to get the tank they knocked a lot of money off the food and bark that we were buying.

I took him out of the tank last night for the first time, and he was brilliant!
The moment he was out of the tank he calmed down so much, but he's so much more energetic than my python, and longer, so he was such a handful, but not nervous or vicious at all, which was definitely a pleasant surprise.

Snakes are the best pets! I really want a Boa... but I'm trying to be responsible because I'm probably going to be moving overseas within the next couple of years, and do not want to leave my parents with a 12 foot snake.

[Xana44]

umitama

i have a blak and white bunny and also a little grey bunny. i've just noticed that the little grey rabbit has something stuck in his front paw/ toe(?), like a bit of dried poop - i was trying to get it out but everytime i go near his paw he grows and trys to attack me... should i leave him be, with the poop stuck to his foot or should i try to get it out? and could it get infected if i leave it?
also if i was to get it out, how???

Wrap the bunny completely in a towel (a bunny burrito). Drop the towel over him, then scoop him up. Keep the towel over his head. Ideally have someone else hold the bunny tight and pull the affected foot out.

Place a warm wet washcloth around the foot for a few minutes, then try to remove the foreign object.

If there is a lot of blood, place pressure on the wound and go to the vet's immediately. If you cannot remove the foreign object, make an appointment with the vet as soon as possible.

If there is a wound or anything, but it does not look severe, wash the area with a mild soap daily. If you notice any swelling or redness, make a vet appointment.

I hope this helps!

[Xana44]

@IWantBrains-

I am glad things went well with your snakey buddy! It sounds like he just needs some patience and TLC.

Keep us posted on how things go.

[umitama]

thx xana44 i'll try that surprised

[Xana44]

umitama

thx xana44 i'll try that surprised

You are very welcome.

Please let me know how things go with your bunny!

:thinking of cute bunny noses!: 4laugh

[BlueberryJoy]

Hello Xana, and thank you for this thread....

I have a possible pet hospice/end of life issue here. My mother and I adopted the cat, a neutered male tabby, when he was 7 years old. He's now 16, and in no apparent discomfort or distress (which is why we've spared him the anxiety of lugging him to the vet).

Lately, he's been doing absolutely nothing but sleeping, as far as we can tell. Sometimes he'll sneak in to drink or use the potty, but 95% of the time, he's sound asleep. He has no telltale cancer lumps, or other signs of illness. But he hasn't been eating or drinking. Should we just leave him alone and let nature take its course? The last thing we want to do is lose him because we love him to pieces... crying But he's just not interested in food -- wet or dry -- and he doesn't seem to be thirsty at all.

Do you have any advice on what we can do at this point, if anything?

[Xana44]

BlueberryJoy

Hello Xana, and thank you for this thread....

I have a possible pet hospice/end of life issue here. My mother and I adopted the cat, a neutered male tabby, when he was 7 years old. He's now 16, and in no apparent discomfort or distress (which is why we've spared him the anxiety of lugging him to the vet).

Lately, he's been doing absolutely nothing but sleeping, as far as we can tell. Sometimes he'll sneak in to drink or use the potty, but 95% of the time, he's sound asleep. He has no telltale cancer lumps, or other signs of illness. But he hasn't been eating or drinking. Should we just leave him alone and let nature take its course? The last thing we want to do is lose him because we love him to pieces... crying But he's just not interested in food -- wet or dry -- and he doesn't seem to be thirsty at all.

Do you have any advice on what we can do at this point, if anything?

It is a very hard question to answer. Unfortunately it is something I have to deal with frequently and many pet owners also have to go through.

It sounds like your kitty is closing down and beginning to pass away. Cats will do this sometimes. He will pass from dehydration or starvation within a few days if nothing is done. I would recommend taking him to the vet to have him put down so he does not suffer lingeringly. It is very hard for me to say if anything can be done at this point to save him. If I had to guess, I would say that your baby has kidney failure, but that is only a guess.

I am so sorry you are going through this painful time. I will keep you in my thoughts.

[EnviouSPoppeT]

Xana44

Gaia ate my whole long reply!

I will try to repost it later if it does not appear.

Stupie Gaia!

I know it ate my whole post on Friday gonk about the rabbit ...
Now I feel useless neutral

[EnviouSPoppeT]

Since this the season, I wanted to post a link for all of you Gaians out there that might have questions about heartworm.
As many of you know it is very common in dogs and owners use prevention. However very under diagnosed for cats, the common symptom is sudden death. To learn more about HEARTWORM IN CATS or DOGS PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS LINK. American Heartworm Society