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Metal in a mouse...My Poor Festivus

Personally I would try giving a deep rub along the body to see if the shed can be loosened up. Hopefully that would not stress him out too much. If you see it separate, you'll see it come loose, then you could try rubbing around his nose and mouth to see if you can get it started. This is what I did when my snake took a long time to shed. But then again mine wasn't injured. I hope things will be fine, my thoughts are with you.
Donna
 
Beth I am so sorry this happened to your poor baby. I've been reading this for a couple weeks now and was in complete shock and still am. I hope that he sheds and feels good enough to eat for you. I send you wishes and lots of good thoughts that your baby gets better.
 
Beth, I'm so sorry that this is happening to you and Festivus. A few of my hatchling snakes were having trouble shedding and they just looked like crinkled peices of yarn. They would move or respond and I thought they had died. I soaked them and worked with them and then repeated it as necessary. It was a long process but once the shed was off they were like different snakes. I really think that his inactivity is due to how uncomfortable his skin is on him. I might be an optimist but I am still holding out the highest hopes that he'll make it. I know you're doing all you can and you are probably at your wits end about the whole thing. Again, I'm very sorry to hear about all that has happened. He still has all the chance in the world though. Good luck!

*sends a prayer your way*

(((((((Beth&Festy))))))))
 
I soaked him again last night and tried again. It was a no-go. The skin looks loose, but doesn't come off and I'm so afraid of hurting him.
He's moving even slower this morning, if its possible. I will try again tonight if he's still.......when I get home....
 
starsevol said:
I soaked him again last night and tried again. It was a no-go. The skin looks loose, but doesn't come off and I'm so afraid of hurting him.
He's moving even slower this morning, if its possible. I will try again tonight if he's still.......when I get home....
Click to expand...

IF the skin is loose enough to a point where you can tell the difference between the new skin and the old skin, you can try using a small toothpick, or any other sharp yet still dull, object to try and break the skin for him. I tried it with my baby boa that had IBD, and it did work for small sections (I was particularly concerned around her cloaca because she hadn't defecated, and was looking very full in that region). About 5 minutes after I broke the old skin, she did defecate. Maybe this is something you could try after a nice long soak.
 
Thank you Robbie.
I will try it tonight. I'm afraid of hurting him, but I don't think there's anything to lose at this point...
 
starsevol said:
Thank you Robbie.
I will try it tonight. I'm afraid of hurting him, but I don't think there's anything to lose at this point...
Click to expand...

If your very gentle, you can get the toothpick "stuck" on some of the old skin, and if you pull very gently, it will separate so you can see where you can break the skin. Just be very gentle.
 
Thank you, Robbie,
((HUGS))

I just hate that it sounds so easy...and it should be, right?
But I feel like I can't do anything right....
 
starsevol said:
Thank you, Robbie,
((HUGS))
Click to expand...

((((hugs))))) I really do feel for you, because I know what it's like to watch something like this. Not your exact situation, but my boa had passed of IBD. That's why she wouldn't shed/eat and was crinkly. When I held her, it felt like I was holding overly dry tissue paper (even after viv mistings and soakings). I know how frustrating it is when you want to try and do something, but know that there's really nothing else that you can do. Have you tried tube feeding him some wet cat food, just to get something in his belly?
 
I was going to try an eggyolk/calcium mixture, but wasn't sure if I could do it with the iv tubes that Nanci sent. I think I can if I clean it out really good.
 
Beth you said he acted a little better after his soak on 11/11. How about last night? Did there appear to be any difference in the way he acted after his soak?
 
starsevol said:
I was going to try an eggyolk/calcium mixture, but wasn't sure if I could do it with the iv tubes that Nanci sent. I think I can if I clean it out really good.
Click to expand...

The easiest way to clean out an IV tube is to first pour cola down it, and then rinse it out with water. The cola will get rid of almost anything that may be stuck on there, and the water gets rid of the cola residue. My grandfather had a feeding tube for a while, and that's how we cleaned his out.
 
Cola, huh?
Looks like I need to hit the supermarket!
The only trouble with having cola in the house is, I'll drink it! :)

Thank you again :)
 
starsevol said:
Cola, huh?
Looks like I need to hit the supermarket!
The only trouble with having cola in the house is, I'll drink it! :)

Thank you again :)
Click to expand...

And what's wrong with that? Pick up a little bit of Bacardi, and you're set for a celebration WHEN he gets better :cheers:
*sending happy blue fuzzy snuggle monsters and lots of good vibes your way*
 
I'm not an expert, and I didn't read up on the whole thing, but it sounds like it hurts to eat or drink, so he doesn't.

If he's still on antibiotics there's not much you can do, except shoot a little water down his throat.
Got a dosing needle?
If the antibiotics are done, I'd start him on some probiotics to get his stomach working so he can digest the baby food or egg you're dosing him with.
It sounds like he's dehydrated, I wouldn't worry about his shed just yet.
His skin will look like that if he's dehydrated.
 
Robbie...:)
THANK YOU!!

caz, he's been off the antibiotics for 20 days, and he drinks everytime I put him near water...so I know he can drink.
 
Well, in that case, I'd give him a touch of benebac and egg or watery baby food.
A small amount every few days until his stomach starts working again.
Good luck with the poor guy. He must have felt like a fish on a hook.
 
I think I'd try tubing a SMALL amount of food / water. I don't know.

And the shed....I've hand-shed many snakes before....and they certainly do NOT like it. Usually I start by using my fingernail on their bottom "lip" near the corner of their mouth. Sometimes getting it started takes a lot of persistence and i used to think i was going to hurt them....but once you "break the seal" it just seems to lose it's hold and come off.I would bet that a LOT of his inactivity is from the stuck shed....imagine how you'd feel if your entire skin got tight and dry and you couldn't get it off....and I bet it's because he is dehydrated.

What about making him a moist hide on the warm side of his tank?

Hugs and good luck!!
 
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