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A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by theemojohnm on July 21, 2008
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I recently vacation arriving home yesterday. I tried to make it to one small show on the way back but I had to miss it... Luckily, one of my friends saw a cottonmouth there for $30 and bought it for me!!! NOW THATS A PRESENT!
His dad is one of those people who shouldnt keep animals most of the time.
It was at his house for quite some time and his dad just HAD to screw with the snake. He pinned the snake numerous times to "see its fangs". He even milked the snake FOR NO REASON!!! Anyway, the snake continued to be teased and smaked the cage probably 200 times before I got it home. Well before I left for home we noticed that its head was VERY swollen. The snake opened its mouth and one of the "steaths" that cover the fangs is red and VERY swollen. The snake is still extremely fired up and very alert. There was blood on the hook after they were teasing it.
I gave the snake a good drink from the spray bottle as soon as I got home, he strikes at everything that passes but I can understand why...
So my question is.... do you think this will heal on its own??
I mean, not too much can be done.. :(
The snake seems fine except it opens its mouth ocassionally to both gape at me and out of discomfort I suspect.. I cant even think of anything I can do for this poor guy/gal (too stressed to probe her).
Any advice on what I can do? She has plenty of hides now...I just dont want her smacking the cage anymore.
I have kept many cottons and have 5 more right now besides her, but I've never seen the mouth so swollen like this.
Any input would be great!
~John.
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by Cro on July 21, 2008
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John, I have allready suggested that the snake will probably heal over time.
The best advise I can give you though is tell your friend to not do you anymore favors by purchasing snakes for you.
His father is a moron.
Best Regards John Z
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by MSTT on July 21, 2008
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This needs veterinary care. Email me with a phone number and I'll see what I can do. snakegetters at usa net, http://www.snakegetters.com for detailed photo tutorials on vet care for these species.
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by theemojohnm on July 21, 2008
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Yes, I origionally suspected she might need to see a vet. I was very worried that the fang may have been lodged in the roof of her mouth somewhere around the right fang.
Today however, she is MUCH calmer and I had her out to examine the swelling. Sure enough there is still a fang there, and the swelling of the tissue around the fang is gone for the most part. Both "sheaths" that cover her fangs are bruised slightly but nothing that looks too bad.
There is still a slight bit of swelling visible by looking at her head from behind, but nothing compared to what it was this time yesterday.
So.... it seems John was right once again... LOL...
Its healing ALOT faster than I would have gussed.
I'm just hoping she will eat!!!
I'm gonna let her be for the rest of the week and check the progress again. Shes fat! LOL so I'll feed her only when I'm sure shes healed.
She really has settled down alot too. Still a gaping mouth to greet me everytime I step into the room, but NO MORE SMACKIN THE CAGE DOOR!!! =) LOL..
Thank you both!
~John.
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by theemojohnm on July 21, 2008
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Oh.. And yes.. John,
"My friend" is most likely no more after today. After I noticed the injury, and studied the swollen mouth it's all I have been thinking about.
His dad, for some odd reason, wants to milk his gaboons, but wolnt do it because "it will stress them too much".
SO WHERE WAS HIS BRAIN when he repeatedly tormented this poor cotton mouth????!!!!!!
What kind of weirdo do you have to be to milk a snake to see venom??? I'm still confused on that! Why on earth does this benefit him?
It is my friends father so I am even hesitant to wish this, but it would not be a total loss if he took a hit from this little cotton. At least the snake be have been spared even a little torment, and he would think twice about playing with (TORMENTING) a venomous snake!!!
I had an hour long talk with my friend about this. He understands me but thinks I'm completely over-reacting. He made a statement like "we'll do whatever we want" when I asked him what kind of strungout individual enjoys watching a struggling snake spay venom into a cup?
I do not know if I will be in contact with him any longer. He was somewhat shocked at my reaction, but I cannot ignore somthing I feel so strongly about.
Maybe a visit for animal comtrol to seize his animals would open his eyes, although I dare not wish to shed light on yet another independant scatter-brained venomous snake hobbyist in Pennsylvania.
I appologize for my ramblings, but the people here are perhaps the only ones out there who can even begin to understand my feelings on this matter.
Well... whats done is done. Now, I just have to get this little thing back in good health.
~John.
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by Cro on July 21, 2008
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John,
Hard to say what is best on this.
It is never good to loose a friend.
For that reason, you might want to try to salvidge what you can. I am guessing that you friend will stick up for his dad, even though there is no reason that his dad should have tormented the cottonmouth.
Sounds like his dad is a nut case if he wants to milk his Gaboon Vipers. What would be the purpose in that ?
Not the kind of person who should be keepin Gaboons. Perhaps you can stay friends, and just try to avoid the dangerous behavior that his dad seems to show ?
If he has a fascination with milking snakes and tormenting them, it will catch up with him eventually.
Perhaps once he gets nailed, he will be less likely to do that.
Good Luck !
Best Regards John Z
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by thereddog on July 24, 2008
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John,
If I'm not mistaken, your "friends" father purchased this snake from me. I will remember them and they will not purchase another snake from me ever again. No animal should be treated like that. Please confirm where they purchased it, so that I know if it truly was the one I also sold that day, to a father and son pair. People like that should be allowed to own any animals. How is the snake doing? Let me know.
thanks
Sam
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by theemojohnm on July 24, 2008
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Sam, I cannot recall what town the show was held in, but I know it was slighty north of Pittsburgh (new castle I believe, and is not listed on the KingSnake directory. It is a VERY small show with VERY little venomous. You would honestly have to be looking to find it, so it may not be the one you attended, as there may be only 30 tables total.
I will post when I find out what the show was called and exactly where it was located.
Glad to say that the cotton mouth is doing much better. The face is still slightly swollen, but I suspect a minor facial deformity or old injury.
The internal swelling in the mouth has also gone down, but she will not eat yet. She killed a mouse in a little under 10 seconds, but never picked it back up. She also refuses frozen/thawed, but I can understand why and am sure I can get her feeding soon.
Thanks for your concern, and if this was in fact my friend who purchased the snake from you, I will not object in any way to you refusing them further sales.
There are PLENTY of other vendors and shows for his father to buy animals to torture, and I'm sure most others would not even care if it meant money for them.
I know alot of vendors like that, and admire you for being one of the "stand outs". Do you sell at Hamburg? Any other shows in PA? If you offer any other Agkistrodon, I'm allways interested.. LOL..
~John.
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RE: A damaged mouth of cotton! Advice?
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by thereddog on July 25, 2008
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John,
That was the smaller Pittsburgh show that I was at and your correct, very little venomous there. It was in Cheswick. Now on the snakes eating habits, they were told that it only eats fresh kill or F/T, but it prefers it to have sit out for awhile. Even leaving it in over night wouldn't hurt.
As far as not selling to people like them; money isn't everything and I have refused sells many times before. There is not much the get me pissed then someone who doesn't take care of there animals. I raise something up and treat it as a member of the family to have someone ignore or even abuse it....well it just goes through me!
Anyhow, I do set up in Hamburg and have a fair amount of venomous there. Mostly long term captive or CBB. Nothing recent captive. Along with many non-ven. Look me up! I'll be on the far left side, along the bleachers, about 4-5 tables down. Reddog Reptiles set up with World-Wide Reptilia. I Look forward to seeing you there.
Sam
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