Brown House Snake Kept As Pet Suffers

The following story about a brown house snake was submitted by Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital in South Africa.

A brown house snake (Boaedon capensis) was brought to our hospital after being kept as a pet. Unfortunately this is not legal. Even worse, bad husbandry caused poor shedding (dysecdysis) that created a constriction near the tip of the tail.

The tip of the tail had no blood supply because of the constriction, and it was necrotic. Fortunately, the damage was posterior to the cloaca. This meant that a tail tip amputation would fix the problem.

Dr. K placed the snake under general anesthesia, and surgically removed the damaged part. Dr. K was assisted by vet student and long-term volunteer, Ashleigh Pienaar, who monitored the snake’s heart rate and anesthesia. It was a great teaching opportunity for a vet student.

While under our care, this snake is receiving the nutritious EmerAid IC Carnivore, which we rely on heavily when treating compromised snakes. Often, these patients don’t eat in captivity. EmerAid is the best way to ensure that they get all the nutrients they need to heal and be at optimal health when they are released.