I did a really stupid thing:(

[Smeegle]

Hi Experts,

It is with a very sick feeling in my stomach that I write this:(

I have a huge olive that I have kept for 12 years so far, and she means the world to me.

I was holding her last night and she wrapped two coils around my neck to snuggle. After a while it got a bit uncomfortable for me so I gently tried to untwist her. She wasn't coming off easily but foolishly I still tried to unwind her and suddenly I heard a snapping sound and she immediately gave way and went limp!

My first sickening thought was that I had broken her spine. She was definitely uncomfortable and didn't want to move. I let her rest for a while and then took her out and she definitely had a nice serpentine movement along her entire length so I ruled out a spinal injury.

I examined her further and if you run your fingers along her belly, about a foot from her head there is suddenly a soft spot, almost like I ripped her "stomach" muscles.

Has anyone heard of this kind of thing before? Do I just leave her and hope for the best, or can a vet operate on something like that? I gave her a nice warm soak and she seemed much better afterwards, moving around her cage and flicking her tongue...

Thanks for reading.

[demigod06]

Hi Smeegle,

I have heard of this before.. It would be best to take her to a vet. Internal injury or bleeding would be a tragic blow.. and you would never know it.

Even if nothing is wrong, better safe than sorry!

Hope it goes well
Bernice

[kfc223]

It seems similar to the case of people giving snakes massages and cracking their spines.

None of the snakes survived but I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

And some photos might help

[Durban Keeper]

12 years is quite something, shame man the old girl. Good luck with her buddy!

[gareth.hooper]

I'm voting for an immediate vet check.
I am hoping this is not serious, holding thumbs for you.

[Amphibian]

Sounds like it could also be broken ribs...which is not ideal.

[gareth.hooper]

Any update on how she is doing?

[Serpent]

How's the old gal doing?

[Smeegle]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for the replies!

I have no clue what happened but the soft spot in her belly is almost completely gone and she is as agile and as feisty as ever, like nothing happened:)

I will try and feed her this week and see how it goes. I think she definitely pulled a muscle or something, but I mean I didn't try "break her in half", just gently unwind her. People do that all the time, the snake shouldn't "break".

She is very strong and has only ever eaten live rats which she kills with great violence, so I really don't know what happened.

I'll take some pics when I feed her.

Thanks again!

[Bushviper]

Be kind to her and offer her dead rats. You dont need another accident.

[gareth.hooper]

Phew, fantastic to hear.
I agree, dead food is just safer, but I like that "great violence" description, that must interesting to watch.

[Smeegle]

Thanks, yeah the whole cage shakes! I don't know why but I have just never managed to get her to eat dead prey in all the years that I have kept her.

She's deeply in the blue at the moment so as soon as she sheds I'll try feed her and take some pics.

[gareth.hooper]

'Cage Shakes'.... I think some video action is in order :p

[Smeegle]

Hi Everyone!

Just some feedback... Sophie ate a rat on Saturday so I guess that's a good thing













It all went down nicely and has stayed down so I'm feeling more positive. There is definitely still some trauma on her belly, but she didn't have any problems swallowing the rat at all.

Shew, happy days

[gareth.hooper]

Awesome.
This crossed my mind yesterday strangely enough.

Is the trauma noticeable?
Any pics of it if it is?