Hi herps! Can anyone tell me what could have gone wrong here?
In September last year 2006, I took one of my adult male copperheads to a vet because it had swallowed a very large bark chip whilst eating; the vet decided that an op to remove it would be my best bet, because the bark chip was to big and would not pass. so I decided to go along with it, now after costing me a hefty some of money, more then 3 times the snakes value, I took it home for it to recover, the wound healed up nicely and it shed well after that, about 6weeks afterwards, it ate its first meal, and to my surprise it never ate again after that, and subsequently started going blind?? I know this because what used to be pitch black pupils, turned into what looked like grey empty fish bowls, which looked very different to my other copperheads, however the pupils would still dilate and contract as normal.
The snake has never been the same since, it aimlessly moves around the viv, bumping into things and vigorously tongue flicking etc, it is now nearly 6months since the op and three months since it last ate a meal, IV tried treating it with panacure and fenbendazole but still to no avail? It is defiantly not interested in breeding because I have put him with females that my other males go bananas for, and he has not interested in the least. It still has fairly decent body weight and looks to be in good shape apart from what looks like liquid filled eyes, or some sort of cataracts.
I think the only explanation could be that the drugs the vet used to anesthetise it, had some sort of adverse effect on it...I really am clueless here can anyone help me clear my guilt and enlighten me? And would it be more humane to euthanize the poor guy?
I can post images if need be. Thanks