My Lucy died late Monday afternoon.
Sheesh...I dont ever think I cried so hard in my life. She regurged about two weeks ago when I moved her into a new cage. I did blood work and everything was normal.???
Im sure she died of aspiration pnemonia though. After she regurged, I soaked her while I cleaned up the mess and she aspirated a bunch of water. She sounded horrible. We put her on Lasix and a few other things and thought she was all clear. She sounded great, no mucus, no bubbles nothing.Lungs sounded clear...ect... I attaked it quick. Well, as much as I thought she was OK, I went into the snake room yesterday to take her picture, and she was resting peacefully. She didnt go belly up, she didnt look too distressed, so I am in hopes she passed in peace. Gawd, I am in tears writing this. This happened so fast...all in two weeks time.I chose not to do a necropsy because I felt I wanted her to rest in peace, and she was just blood checked for EVERYTHING, including IBD. It was all normal.
She was a rescue with a rough past.I took her in from a man who kept her in a 5x2 cage and I had to treat her for some terrible burn wounds. Other than that she has always been 100% healthy and problem free. She was only estimated approx. 10-11 yrs old.
I played with her(as much as you can a 170lb snake) at least 3 times a week, so she could get her excersise and she had the best personality. Whenever Id go near her, she would try her hardest to climb up on my shoulders and run me over. She was sooo sweet, never one bit of aggression, and she seemed to love attention.
This is my first snake death(not including a few sick hatchlings) and Im having a rough time taking it well. I spent an hour digging a hole in my rose garden to lay her body to rest in. I made her a brick tomb about 6 ft under and am gonna go to the mountains to find a special rock for a headstone today.
I feel so aweful, kindof like I am worthless in a way, but I also know I should not kick my self over it.
I am a vet tech and deal with death daily, not to mention being a snake owner, and its so amazing how hard it is when its your own pet.
I have never heard of a snake aspirating, so this was an extra shock to me.
So in short, if Lori or anyone knows of a HUGE burm who needs a good home, I have the space and would like to someday fill her cage again(not her memory) with a snake that is in need of some lovein or just a good retirement home. I know big snakes can be hard to place, so Id like to have another to help out.
Well, Id like to say thanks for letting me vent, and would like to share a pic of her.
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