Injured Boa during Strike

Heather123 · #1 05-23-2004, 11:42 PM

I have a boa named Rio whom I've had for a couple months. This evening, after eating, she struck at me when I was returning her to her home. She hit the glass pretty hard and it looks like the left side of her mouth is out of alignment/joint. She started to open her mouth widely and stretch it out as if to fix it and it has helped some but it appears to be still a little off. Anyone run into this before and what did you do? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as this is my first reptile. Thanks so much for your time.

Heather

Isis2002 · #2 05-24-2004, 03:28 AM

dont know what to do, but mine did the same thing today. the front of her bottom jaw kind of folded back in her mouth. she yawned once or twice and it came out a little but still looks a little bad. not sure if i should mess with her, dont want to stress her after eating 2 small rats.

Heather123 · #3 05-24-2004, 07:26 AM

Thanks for replying. So far what I've found out is that its not that uncommon. Most of the time they work it out on their own. I had one person suggest using a q-tip if needed. I'm just hoping that someone else can share what they've done so I know whether I should take her to the vet.

Isis2002 · #4 05-24-2004, 07:58 AM

same here. i really don't want to have to take her to a vet but if i have to i will. when i got home this morning she had buried herself in the substrate so i cant even see what her mouth looks like. and im still afraid to bother her too much. dont want to chance a regurge. i guess ill wait a couple of days and then dig her out and check her mouth then.

SnakeKing · #5 05-24-2004, 08:26 AM

I'd take her to the vet asap. She needs medical attention if you're that worried about her. Call your vet, explain the situation, and ask if they recommend medical attention.

TopNotchBoas · #6 05-24-2004, 09:05 AM

They unhinge their jaws and re-align them when they eat, so its not uncommon for their jaws to become unhinged.

But this is a different type of unhinging due to trauma...

If they are still looking like their jaws are messed up I would give the vet a call to find out what steps need to be taken. If they look fine they probably are fine. Observe next time you feed to ensure that their jaws are unhinging and re-aligning properly. Might should call the vet to get his/her opinion either way.

Isis2002 · #7 05-24-2004, 02:13 PM

i was really worried about isis today and couldnt sleep(i work nights) so i finally got up and dug her out of her substrate to check her out before calling the vet and her bottom jaw looks good now. i will definately watch her the next time she eats and check her jaws out. thanx for the advice.

tofutedm · #8 05-24-2004, 05:16 PM

[quote author=Nefarion link=board=3;threadid=7292;start=msg64261#msg64261 date=1085407520]
They unhinge their jaws and re-align them when they eat, so its not uncommon for their jaws to become unhinged.
[/quote]
Not to get off the subject, but I have heard that this is a common misconception. If I'm not mistaken, the hinges of their jaws mearly stretch, not unhinge. In any case, if it's just the jaw being out of alignment, chances are the snake will eventually correct it. Then again, a vet trip couldn't hurt. The bones in their heads are fragile and if your snake hit the glass very hard, it could have broken something.

TopNotchBoas · #9 05-24-2004, 06:06 PM

[quote author=tofutedm link=board=3;threadid=7292;start=msg64343#msg64343 date=1085436989]
[quote author=Nefarion link=board=3;threadid=7292;start=msg64261#msg64261 date=1085407520]
They unhinge their jaws and re-align them when they eat, so its not uncommon for their jaws to become unhinged.
[/quote]
Not to get off the subject, but I have heard that this is a common misconception. If I'm not mistaken, the hinges of their jaws mearly stretch, not unhinge. In any case, if it's just the jaw being out of alignment, chances are the snake will eventually correct it. Then again, a vet trip couldn't hurt. The bones in their heads are fragile and if your snake hit the glass very hard, it could have broken something.
[/quote]

Snakes have additional bones known as quadrates, which are long and movable, which is said to allow them to "unhinge" their jaws. I think the term "unhinge" comes from the fact that during the stretching of their jaw the bones actually seperate. Also, their lower jaw is actually not solid like our jaws are... its in two pieces connected by a ligament, allowing the jaw to stretch independantly from side to side. Maybe unhinge isnt quite the right term...

tofutedm · #10 05-24-2004, 11:40 PM

I guess that ligament must be what I was thinking of. My bad.