Really ill :(

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crofty1984

Original Poster:

15,830 posts

203 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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Just a vent really. Nigella, one of our snakes* had an operation on Friday to remove a massive lump which turned out to be a tumour. We were told the operation went well, but then she went downhill Saturday morning. We got to see her yesterday and she's very slightly better but we're still talking 50/50. She's still at the vets but if she's not on the mend soon we're going to have to start thinking about "what's the kindest thing to do". My Mrs is in absolute pieces with not knowing.
Gelly's only about 5 of her 20 years, so she's not even had a good innings. Keeping everything crossed that when the vet calls today it's with better news.

* I know not everyone's into snakes, so substitute "adorable doggy" if it helps.

carinatauk

1,408 posts

251 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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What snake is she and how large?

crofty1984

Original Poster:

15,830 posts

203 months

Monday 6th February 2017
quotequote all
carinatauk said:
What snake is she and how large?
She's a Mexican black king snake, about 5 foot. We're hoping she's just been really slow coming round from the anaesthetic.

garythesign

2,056 posts

87 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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Not a snake lover, but really sorry for what you are going through

Cool Mart

131 posts

213 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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Fingers crossed she'll be ok, they are tough creatures.

We adopted a 4ft Albino Kingsnake 19 years ago, around 17 years ago she had a large lump come up on the side of her head, so we found a specialist vet and had it removed (at a cost of £450 !) The vet had to take half her lower jaw away and she lost the sight in her left eye, but she's been fine ever since. It took some practice (and some smaller mice) before she could eat properly with half a jaw, but she's soldiered on. I guess she was 3 when we got her in 1998 so she's got to be at least 22 now.

crofty1984

Original Poster:

15,830 posts

203 months

Monday 6th February 2017
quotequote all
Cool Mart said:
Fingers crossed she'll be ok, they are tough creatures.

We adopted a 4ft Albino Kingsnake 19 years ago, around 17 years ago she had a large lump come up on the side of her head, so we found a specialist vet and had it removed (at a cost of £450 !) The vet had to take half her lower jaw away and she lost the sight in her left eye, but she's been fine ever since. It took some practice (and some smaller mice) before she could eat properly with half a jaw, but she's soldiered on. I guess she was 3 when we got her in 1998 so she's got to be at least 22 now.
Wow, that's some good going! Know what you mean about vets bills. I'm not going to have much change out of £1000 by the time we're done, but what can you do? I'm fortunate enough that I'm saving for a motorbike, so have the money to hand without missing out on paying my bills. Financially I'm just seeing it as I'd rather have Gelly and a Fazer than have no Gelly and a Daytona 😀
Today is crunch day, so I'm hoping I hear back from Karen this afternoon.

carinatauk

1,408 posts

251 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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crofty1984 said:
carinatauk said:
What snake is she and how large?
She's a Mexican black king snake, about 5 foot. We're hoping she's just been really slow coming round from the anaesthetic.
What are the symptoms?

Unfortunately, snakes suffer with respiratory and / or infection issues post op, broad spectrum antibiotics and slight increase in temperature usually help but there is still a risk.

When the snake recovers it may take some time to get it to eat, fussy beggars! Although being a king snake you may not have an issue, however I would leave it a week or so.

Does the vet know alot about exotics?



crofty1984

Original Poster:

15,830 posts

203 months

Monday 6th February 2017
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Just had some good news from the vets - we'll be picking her up tomorrow evening. She's not out of the woods yet, but it's looking more and more like the anaesthetic properly fked her over and she's having a bit of trouble coming round. She's getting there, but really slowly. But fingers crossed she's on the mend. I've got Wednesday off to pinch and maul her every hour on the hour to keep her awake. Thanks for the kind words all.

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Tuesday 7th February 2017
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Aww, good to hear, keeping my fingers crossed for her.

garythesign

2,056 posts

87 months

Tuesday 7th February 2017
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That's good news.

crofty1984

Original Poster:

15,830 posts

203 months

Thursday 23rd February 2017
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Nigella is currently a happy little wiggle. Recovered from the anaesthetic well so is just getting over the surgery now, still has stitches in but doing fine.
Turns out she had ovarian cancer, so unfortunately it's likely to come back at some point, but that may be years away. Thanks for the kind words all.

crofty1984

Original Poster:

15,830 posts

203 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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As an update, sadly the "may not come back for a few years" was not to be and wildly optimistic. Yesterday we had to take Gelly to the vet for the last time. The tumour almost immediately came back and was worse than ever.
Really horrible day, my Mrs was devastated but it was the kindest thing to do.
Can't fault the vets, they did their best, and were so kind at the end, but you can't have them suffer just to rear your own conscience.
Thanks again for the kind words.
Dan

bexVN

14,682 posts

210 months

Sunday 23rd April 2017
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Oh I am really sorry to read this frown. Cancer is so bloody unpredictable.

You are right of course you can't leave them to suffer for our own needs but it doesn't make saying goodbye any easier.

garythesign

2,056 posts

87 months

Monday 24th April 2017
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RIP Gelly

Sorry for your loss