Tail problems?

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Tine DH

Tail problems?

Lead

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Posts: 117

(08/05/08 01:28:41)

MVF Post Breeder

I have a question I hope some of you can help me find the answer to.

I have a 2 year old female aru that I bought 1½ years ago. She's FB.
About 4 months ago I notised some stuck shed on the tip of her tail. After soaking her and trying to help removing it, a small tip of the tail was removed as well and she had maybe 3-4 mm. of nerve ( or ?) exposed. I didn't do anything after that.
She's been one of the fatter girls in a long time, tail hanging from time to time.. I've cut down on her meals since she wont be the one rejecting it, but it hasn't changed much. Now it seems like she's not able to use the last 3 cm of her tail. I hadn't notised that before the bad shed. She respondes when I press it, so she's not numb.
Some evenings/nights I can hear her smacking the back of her body, almost throwing it around the cage. This goes on for a few seconds, then she relaxes, but sometimes she does it again an hour later. It's like she feels an irritation around the tail area. She doesn't respond in another way than any other of my snakes if I touch their tail, it's more the noise in the evening that makes me worry. Have anyone of you tried something similar?

sleestack

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Posts: 978

(08/05/08 06:40:36)

Forum Ultra Chondro!

im sorry for your girl tine i hope she recovers ok
i wouldn't say what or what not to do but maybe some more experianced keepers could chime in

Colorado Riverboy

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Posts: 675

(08/05/08 07:03:06)

MVFonator

It could be infected. Do you have a vet?
Amputating the last bit of tail is no big issues, doesnt' even require stiches, only some super-glue.

Can you get some close-up pictures?

Jason Stevens
www.coloradochondros.com

Tine DH

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Posts: 118

(08/05/08 08:59:45)

MVF Post Breeder

It's getting late and there's not much sun comming in from the window on a cloudy day, but I did manage to take these:

Even though I've cut back on the feedings, she's been hanging like that for almost ½ a year. She hasn't changed her temper after the shedding problem. When I lift up her tail she doesn't react until I let it go and it hits the bottom - then, if she only feels the bump from the last part of the tail touching the ground, she'll react by twitching it.
I do have a vet.. a bit far from my place but that wont be an issue if amputation is the way to do it. I'm just not sure. I'll call her tomorrow and ask for her oppinion.

Kim Burge

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Posts: 292

(08/05/08 12:12:25)

MVFonator

Tine, I honestly can't see anything visibly wrong with her tail and it looks like any old injury she had has healed - at least from the outside. I guess it could be a problem with a nerve. Pinched nerves or nerve related problems sure aren't much fun for us. I have a few chondros that will leave their lower body on the bottom of their cages (like your girl) in my larger rack cages that are heated from underneath. They don't do any of the switching and banging that you're talking about, however. I don't really have any suggestions for you and I would be interested to see what the vet says about her strange behavior.

Kim Burge
Southern Chondros
kimberly@southernchondros.com

bigsnakes

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Posts: 357

(08/05/08 14:47:58)

MVFonator

Tine,

The third photo looks pretty normal to me, however, the last photo looks like there could still be skin stuck to the area that is black. My most recent experience with a tail stricture turned out to be on ongoing struggle. A stricture bad enough to cause loss can cause small progressive losses rather than a one time traumatic loss. When a stuck shed constricts to the point that the blood supply cannot sustain viable tissue is seems to leave the remaining tissue weak and susceptible to further loss. I would maintain relatively high humidity in her enclosure but not allow her tail to be wet as this can cause infection. If you have a triple antibiotic ointment it might help to gently clean the area every other day and apply the ointment to prevent infection and help keep any retained skin pliable. This may help prevent further stricture. Make sure that she has access to plenty of water for drinking and really boost the humidity when you see her going into her next shed cycle. I would avoid rubbing the area or trying pick off any stuck skin as the tissue below is probably friable and sensitive to further injury. After her next shed be sure to examine the very tip of her tail closely. If there is any bone protruding, the bones in the tail are very small so you may need to use a magnifying glass, I would take her to a vet to have the area repaired. If skin does not heal over the bone she will continue to have problems with the tail and be at risk of a systemic infection. In terms of the tail smacking, it could be irritation. Or it could just be tail luring. You mentioned that she is a hungry girl. Could it just be a feed response? I have a couple animals that lure above their coils instead of below. Either way, just keep a close eye on it. If you notice that the scales on her tail get a pink/red border or start retaining water like a flat blister, take her to a vet as those are signs of a local infection.

Best wishes,
Carrie

Tine DH

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Posts: 119

(08/06/08 01:40:04)

MVF Post Breeder

Thanks for all your input on this.
I tried calling my vet this morning but she had already left. I'm going to write her an email and attach the pictures. That might just be a better help anyway.

Carrie, I haven't seen any tail luring in the older snakes.. it's mostly the babies and juvies. I'm possitive this is not luring and this is why.. After I had took pictures #2 I let go of the tail and the bottom fell down an touched the grown and that's when she reached by smacking it around. It's a very aggressive kind of "luring", makes a lot of noise and I could be a bit affraid that she might do even more damage to her self that way.

I'll keep a close eye on her when it's time to shed. She did that just one week ago and I'm pretty sure nothing was left on the tail - I always check the shedded skins to make sure no shed is retained. I'll make sure there's a high humidity like you say.

I'll write the vet a mail now and see what she thinks about antibiotics - either way I'll have to stop by her to get them.

Eugene Westbrook II

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Posts: 420

(08/06/08 04:02:06)

MVFonator

I dont know what it looks like. Please let us know what the vet says.

I support single Moms. $1 at a time!

Tine DH

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Posts: 120

(08/08/08 14:17:23)

MVF Post Breeder

So I got a mail from the vet yesterday..

She said that it could be an infection but mostly it sounded like a problem with the nerves, because she can feel her tail but not use it. She also mentioned that it might have something to do with the bones in the tail.. I'm not sure how far down the bones go in her tail.. hmmm.. might be.

Before she can say what it is she will need to examin the snake.. I guess I'll just have to pay her a visit. :/

jscrick

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Posts: 13

(08/08/08 19:25:22)

I'd say it is a circulation issue, as in obese diabetic humans with their extremities. She does look a bit heavy.
I've got to admit I know nothing about Chondros and Chondro husbandry, though. So there's my unqualified opinion.
jsc

Eugene Westbrook II

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Posts: 423

(08/08/08 21:25:57)

MVFonator

unqualified opinion :funnah

I support single Moms. $1 at a time!

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