Cleo goes to the vet
I'm posting Tuesday morning having gone through every imaginable emotion over the weekend.
On Friday afternoon I discovered some smallish bumps, mostly on Cleo's left side, but a few on the right side. They are all at the same level in a row. I immediately knew they were not normal. So within 15 minutes I called our vet and got an appointment for Monday (yesterday) afternoon.
I had already filled out a general history form for Cleo and the vet gave her a thorough exam. He was so gentle with her. Everything checked out, mouth, nose, skin. We agree she's just a little chunky, but she's a growing snake.
So the vet did a fine needle aspiration on the largest bump and found non-specific fluid and one inflammatory cell. Whatever this is, it is not immediately obvious.
Cleo was so cute there and nearly crawled into the vet's pocket. I didn't have a fecal sample since she had been last fed a week ago Sunday and had a nice big poop mid week. Not to disappoint, after crawling around on a towel on the exam table, she gave us a sample. The vet brought a container and I laughed and said, "it's all yours, doc."
After that we agreed that blood work was in order so the vet took her in back to see if he could get blood from her tail. It was reported to me that she musked him. She must have been pretty upset with being poked in the tail. Cleo has never musked before.
Here's what was done:
We talked for a while about what to watch for. We are waiting for the blood results and in the meantime he's going to do some research. Whatever this is, it not obvious or usual. He told me some things to watch for. So far so good. The puncture in her tail is looking fine this morning and so is the bump where he took the fluid.
I did have a great time talking snakes with the vet. He has a true feel for them. Cleo wrapped around my hand as we talked and we discussed how they "know" their people.
It is funny how life can turn upside down in an instant. I'll keep you posted. Prayers and good wishes appreciated.
Pictures of Cleo last week-- the bumps don't show up in photos and you can't feel them when you run your hands down her sides. They are all in her last third but not the tail.
