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Two regurges.... wish me luck for Sixx

I want you to know that, if the worst happens and he doesn't make it, (which you should prepare yourself for, now) this is NOT normal. Most hatchlings take off and thrive with no problems whatsoever. This is NOT your fault. It's just bad luck, getting a hatchling that was sold before this problem had a chance to present itself. Of course I hope there is a miracle, and he pulls through. With three consecutive regurges, though, I'm not hopeful. Please don't let this scare you out of keeping snakes. It is very, very unusual and it would be sad if this unhappy occurrence scared you out of keeping snakes entirely.
 
Thanks, Nanci. I get what you're saying and truly appreciate it. It does have me down, and does put a little blow to my confidence. But it has not deterred me from keeping snakes. I've had all manner of critters over the years, and they've all lived to healthy old age, including my bearded dragon who I got as a hatchling and he was in his teens when he passed away just recently.

I am prepared for the fact that Sixx likely will die. The vet today remarked that he still acts and looks very well. However, I will not let him suffer. If he goes into obvious decline or if attempts to feed him a liquid diet fail, I will take him back to the avian & exotics vet and ask him to be humanely euthanized so that he doesn't have a lingering and ill existence until ultimate starvation. And then if I decide again to have a corn snake, I'll look for a plain ol' motley with a little more age to it.
 
Please keep us updated. I agree that three regurges do not often see recoveries, but I have seen it myself, it does happen. It *could* be a bacterial pathogen, etc., but I'd as likely suspect either a bad start before your care or just "one of those genetically weak snakes."
 
48 hrs ... still no regurge... CROSSING FINGERS

Going ultra-conservative, tiniest portion, liquid diet here with first feeding of this type two days ago on Monday. We're now at the 48 hour mark with no regurge yet.

I don't want to read too much into making it to the 48hr mark. But the other regurges had occurred within about 24 hrs. I'm not exactly sure what a regurge of this type of meal would look like, but I haven't found anything out of the ordinary in his tub and nothing smells odd. On the other hand, I'm not moving hides to look for it, either, because I don't want to disturb him.

I haven't stopped praying that this works. But I know not to get too excited until I see a well-formed poop (I can't imagine how tiny that's going to be!!), and even if I get to that point, there's every meal beyond that to pray through.

Will be back with an update as soon as I see something definitive of this "meal" staying down or not.
 
HE POOPED!!!

He pooped! :dancer:

Who ever would think to be so happy about snake poop! He POOPED! That's one successful meal down...
 
Nice!!!! Way to go, poop! I honestly think that is HUGE.
 
Hi everyone! Here's a little update. My husband helped me again tonight to deliver a little 1cc "liquid meal" with the tube feeding kit I got from Kathy's store site. It sure is kind of nerve-wracking to hold a tiny hatchling and pass the catheter tube and deliver a meal. He's so tiny - so it takes both of us to accomplish.

I still am very cautious - he seems a little weaker than previously. But then again, I could just be imagining it since I avoid handling him at all times except for at feeding. He just didn't coil his tail around my finger as strongly has he has in the past. Sixx has pooped twice more - normal looking little hatchling poop, so I know he has gotten some nutrition.

I appreciate all your thoughts and interest - we can still use prayers!
 
Hey all - it's with sadness and tears in my eyes that I say I think it is time now for me to ask the vet to euthanize Sixx. We found his last "liquid meal" regurgitated and he is undoubtedly weaker. I can feel a limpness in his muscle tone when I pick him up, which I had to do to clean the regurge from his tub today. He doesn't coil around my fingers anymore, and kind of droops. I think these efforts to feed him have merely delayed the inevitable and it would be a kindness to let him go in peace. And it just tears me up. I must be crazy to be sitting here in a puddle of tears at my age over a tiny little snake. I only pray his tiny little spirit forgives me for any suffering I may have inadvertently caused in my efforts to help him up to this point.
 
Sorry to hear the bad news. You did all you could. One thought might be, rather than euthanize, to simply brumate. A weak snake will usually pass within days at 50 degrees. Would seem a peaceful way to go to me, and my go-to when it's this time of year.
 
You should at least be proud that you did absolutely everything you could to give the little guy a fighting chance. Many people would not have gone through the troubles that you did to try to save him. You have my respect for that.
 
I'm sorry...You did everything you could to save his life. Sometimes they just don't thrive.
 
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