Baby Corn Snake Eye Problem

[brad.brinkman]

My baby Corn Snake is experiencing an issue with his left eye. I have taken him to an exotic animal vet with no resolve other than them telling me because he is still so young the only thing they can do is remove the eye altogether which will cost me a lot more money than I can afford not to mention the risk of complications to this procedure. The vet did determine that the most likely cause of this issue is a blocked nasolacrimal duct (tear duct) which isn't allowing the fluid to drain like it is supposed to. The Vet did try removing the outer membrane (eye cap) over the eye and treating it with a antibiotic eye drop and a anti-inflammatory drop, but after his next shed there was a new eye cap but the issue was still present. The vet also tried antibiotic injections just to be sure there wasn't any infection. I am at a point now after spending around $600 and driving about 300 miles with no results, that I really don't know what to do. I did purchase some small surgical scissors and have been cutting a very small slit in his eye cap to drain the excess fluid which is a very temporary solution because it heals very fast but right now that is all I know to do. I am making sure to put antibiotic drops on after I make the cut and also sterilizing the scissors after each time I do it to help prevent infection. I will post some pictures to show what his eye looks like, and if anybody has dealt with this issue or has any ideas anything would be appreciated. Thank you all in advance.







These last 2 pics are post shed of the new eye cap after the vet removed it

 

[Susan]

As a veterinary technician with over 30 years experience, and as a corn snake breeder for over 15 years, I don't have an answer for you. I would, however, recommend that you please stop cutting your poor snake's eye as, despite all your precautions, you are going to cause more problems. You aren't using anesthetics and even though your poor snake can't say anything, I'm sure it hurts when you do it.

I hate to sound cruel, but sometimes, you just have to let Nature take it's course. Not every hatchling is 100% perfect and is going to survive to reach adulthood. It happens with dogs, cats, birds, even humans. You've done more than many and I commend you for that. I know many people have one-eyed snakes that are perfectly healthy in every other way and that do just fine. You need to see where this goes. You may be surprised and it resolves itself as your snake grows. Of course, it may also rupture and your snake may lose it's eye. Constantly messing with it is not the answer.

I know other parts of the country have varying veterinary fees, but $600 for what your vet did sounds a bit unreasonable, IMO. I would love to see a breakdown of charges just to satisfy my own curiosity.

 

[HVani]

My baby boa has a similar issue. He was born with a large eye. It ruptured at one point. I had to put ointment on it each day but it's been ok. He had some trouble with it when he shed though. It keeps seeping and I fear I may have to remove the eye.

I think the eye of this little snake is a bit worse. My boa's does not fill with fluid in that way. I think you need to look into/start saving to have the eye removed or put him down. By messing with it so much you run the risk of infection.

 

[HVani]

Here's my boe's eye

 

[brad.brinkman]

As a veterinary technician with over 30 years experience, and as a corn snake breeder for over 15 years, I don't have an answer for you. I would, however, recommend that you please stop cutting your poor snake's eye as, despite all your precautions, you are going to cause more problems. You aren't using anesthetics and even though your poor snake can't say anything, I'm sure it hurts when you do it.

I hate to sound cruel, but sometimes, you just have to let Nature take it's course. Not every hatchling is 100% perfect and is going to survive to reach adulthood. It happens with dogs, cats, birds, even humans. You've done more than many and I commend you for that. I know many people have one-eyed snakes that are perfectly healthy in every other way and that do just fine. You need to see where this goes. You may be surprised and it resolves itself as your snake grows. Of course, it may also rupture and your snake may lose it's eye. Constantly messing with it is not the answer.

I know other parts of the country have varying veterinary fees, but $600 for what your vet did sounds a bit unreasonable, IMO. I would love to see a breakdown of charges just to satisfy my own curiosity.

Firstly I want to make sure you understood that I am not cutting the snakes actual eye, just the outer membrane (eye cap) when it swells like shown in the picture. I absolutely would not do that if it meant cutting the eye itself. You might have already understood that I just wanted to make sure. I should have said that I have a family friend who is a Vet Tech. that worked for an exotic animal vet while in college who showed me how and where to cut to limit pain and chances for infection, she also told me the same thing you did that doing so could do more harm than good but she also didn't know what else to tell me to do.

Unfortunately I don't have the Vet bill breakdown anymore, they are issuing E-Receipts now and I recently lost all the saved emails from my email account. I will say though they're regular office visit and exam aren't unreasonable but any procedure they do even the small ones are a bit ridiculous. Unfortunately for me they are the only exotic animal vet I could find without having to drive another 100 miles or so.

I have been thinking it may be time to stop draining the fluid and see what happens if I leave it alone for a while, I'm just really hoping and praying it will resolve itself before anything progresses for the worse. I really love the little guy, other than his eye issue he is the best snake I've owned! He has never turned down food even with the eye issue, also he has the most laid back temperament of any reptile I have handled. I also do share this guy with my 10 year old son who has grown very attached to him and would be devastated if anything happens to him, all I can do is try and make sure he is prepared for the worse the best I can.

I really do appreciate your response and I in no way thought you were being cruel saying what you said, sometimes no matter how hard we try to beat it, nature has it's own plan. On a side note though I have been researching different Vet Financing Options so maybe if worse comes to worse I will be able to get the procedure done to have the eye removed, so we will see. Thanks again for you response.

 

[brad.brinkman]

My baby boa has a similar issue. He was born with a large eye. It ruptured at one point. I had to put ointment on it each day but it's been ok. He had some trouble with it when he shed though. It keeps seeping and I fear I may have to remove the eye.

I think the eye of this little snake is a bit worse. My boa's does not fill with fluid in that way. I think you need to look into/start saving to have the eye removed or put him down. By messing with it so much you run the risk of infection.

You have a beautiful Kahl Sunglow, I am sorry you are also having issues with your snakes eye! Hopefully it to will work itself out as it grows.

I am looking into possibly get Vet. Financing to pay for the eye removal procedure if things don't start getting better soon. I just can't bear to have him put down, he really is one of the best snakes I've ever owned even with the eye issue, he has never turned down a meal and he has the most laid back temperament as well! Hopefully things turn around for him.

Thanks again for your response!