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snakegirl
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
 Posted - 08/10/2010 : 18:57:40
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My male royal Raj has really long spurs and the left one is irritating his cloaca.
I can’t find anything on trimming snakes spurs in my vet books and am a bit stumped as to what to do particularly as I don't want to upset him (he's a complete wuss when it comes to being handled).
If anyone has seen this before your advice will be greatly appreciated.
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deleted
7384 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 19:11:36
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Hi, sorry to hear that. I don't claim to be an expert, and this is a bit of a long shot, but could the overgrown bit possibly be a bit of stuck shed? I understand they shed a layer of skin off the spurs, along with the rest of the body. Would Raj be amenable to a bath, just to see if it loosened by itself?
Hopefully there will be someone along soon with more experience of this kind of thing. All the best! |
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 19:54:05
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| Any photos, never heard of spurs that long, perhaps he dreams of becoming a lizard? |
 
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snakegirl
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 20:25:18
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He gets bathed regularly when he’s due to shed so I don’t think its stuck skin.
This is a pic of his spurs (hopefully)
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 08/10/2010 : 21:58:33
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Heavens - I see what you mean! They're like devil's horns, bless him. That is definitely not stuck shed, is it?
What are the spurs composed of? Is it ?chitinous ?keratinous substance like hair or fingernails or claws - is there a quick, like fingernails and claws? Never thought about this before.
Interesting topic! |
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lee2308
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
2597 Posts |
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boze
Yearling
United Kingdom
408 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2010 : 11:17:20
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| Wowza.... Sorry I cant help but wowza!!! |
0.1.0. Royal (Salmissra)
0.0.1. Western Hognose (Spiderman)
quote:
Originally posted by ruxpin64
I'm so happy I may lay on my back and pee in the air like a baby!
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7384 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2010 : 11:54:53
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Hi again, I was doing a bit of googling last night - spurs are indeed a kind of claw - as we all know they are rudimentary legs, and the bony 'stump' can be seen on the snake's skeleton. So I imagine a vet would be able to trim the end that's grown like a fingernail ...poor old Raj, you can see where it's digging into him. Or do you know any experienced royal keepers locally, who might be able to advise or even help do the job without a trip to the vet's. Poor guy, I hope you manage to sort something out for him soon.
On a lighter note, any female he bred with would have a rare old time!
(Don't be naughty, Bats!) |
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2010 : 12:53:10
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| lol |
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snakegirl
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
5 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2010 : 19:41:52
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| Spoke to friends partner who’s a vet and keeps reptiles and he told me to just trim them like you would if they where a lizards claws. So I’ve trimmed them down to more reasonable size with the nail clippers and filled down the rough edge. It was surprisingly easy I thought Raj would have through a huge wobble but he didn’t even move, I guess he’s calmed down more than I thought since I got him. Cutting through the spur they don’t feel like lizard claws which are quite tough whereas the spurs are soft and disintegrate easily. |
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Blackecho
Royal Python Admin
United Kingdom
11327 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2010 : 20:26:33
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| Good news and we've all learnt something |
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Over grown spurs
