Retained eye caps

LuvMyBoa · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 05:08 AM

Hi guys,
ok, something I have never had to deal with is retained eyecaps, but now I find myself in need of a little guidance. Lil' Girl had a terrible shed a month ago, and started to shed again a few days ago, and this shed has been even worse than the first. I soaked her for 1.5 hours every day this week and worked gently with the skin on her body, and every bit came off until I got to her head. The skin on her head will not come off, and I can see that she has retained the eyecaps.

I tried misting her head heavily several times over the period of about an hour, but that didn't help it budge at all. I also tried a wet wash cloth, but she wouldn't sit still long enough for the moisture to do any good.

We moved last month into a temporary living situation, and until we moved, both of my boas shed just fine, and the humidity stayed at a good level. I've now found that the humidity in this house is virtually non existent and I have started misting them several times daily and keeping a moist towel over 1/2 of their tanks through the day. That has definately helped tremendously. Kahlua is now in blue and so far everything is going just fine, so I have the levels back where they need to be, but I need to help Lil' Girl with those eyecaps. It certainly can't be comfortable, let alone healthy for her eyes.

Can someone give me a suggestion or two?

Thanks so much!
Jackie

Ed_r · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 05:22 AM

What i would do is while soaking her in a tub, to lightly massage the eye from snout back to try and loosen them. If its really bad you CAn use some stuff called Shed ease. Its like mineral oil i think, it may stay on her better and soak in more. I never have had to use this.
As you LIGHTLY massage the eye, keep emersing her head in the water to keep the eye and eye cap moist.

If that fails just use duct tape , or super glue. J/K dont do that.lol

LuvMyBoa · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 05:28 AM

Hmmm... duct tape. I think I'll try that!! LOL ...

I hadn't tried the massaging while soaking, but it sounds like a good idea. That'll have to be the next thing I try. Good thing I'm off work tomorrow, cause I think I'll be with Lil' Girl all dang day, tho that certainly isn't a curse

Thanks Ed_r!

suzi · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 05:43 AM

Could it be damaging in any way to "help" your snake shed? I don't mean eyecaps, I mean a general shed? Pick at stuck pieces, like a sunburn? Help them peel it off? Just being nosy...

Ed_r · #5 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 06:08 AM

Suzy its not bad, just never do it dry. It could tear the new skin. always get te snakes skin wet before you do that.

suzi · #6 (**permalink**) 12-07-2003, 06:15 AM

No worries, Ed_r. It took me forever to get everyone shedding in one piece, now we walk on eggshells as soon as I see "blue".

LuvMyBoa · #7 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 03:14 AM

Hi again!!

Wanted to toss an update in here about the eyecaps. I worked with the skin on Lil Girl's head, very moist, of course, and managed to get the skin off of all but her chin, and those stubborn eyecaps. I was convinced I was going to have to take her to the vet to have them work on her. However, she quickly went into blue AGAIN and shed, taking off every bit of skin and the eyecaps. I couldn't be happier!

Is there a possibility that a shed could occur to "correct" a bad shed? She certainly wasn't due for a shed at that time, but it certainly corrected a bad situation!!

Thanks!
Jackie

suzi · #8 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 03:26 AM

Hurray for Lil Girl! You know, that's a good question. It happened here on Wednesday, my BP, once. Humidity probs, bad sheds, got the humidity up and she shed like two weeks after a previous shed. Perfect that time. Weird.

louise · #9 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 04:04 AM

mine did the same thing went into shed 2 weeks later after a bad shed.

LdyDrgn · #10 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 04:33 AM

Yup, they will do that.

LuvMyBoa · #11 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 04:34 AM

Excellent!! Glad to know that I'm not the only one who experienced this bizarre happening, and that I'm not crazy for thinking that there is a reason behind it

captainmorgan · #12 (**permalink**) 01-05-2004, 01:18 PM

tried salene solution? My vet showed me to soak it with that and brush lightly with a soaked cue-tip
Mine came off. But that was a vet who did that while I watched.

LuvMyBoa · #13 (**permalink**) 01-06-2004, 05:21 AM

I didn't try that...I'd want to talk to my vet about it first, but I'll keep that suggestion in my notebook in case I ever have to deal with it again!

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