Snakes in Shed

[Doug]

HI,
I frequently review the QA in a local reptile magazine about care of reptiles and Dr Mader this month mentioned something that make sense and here's the meat of the QA.
Handling your boa in shed may cause a bad shed, here's my theory on potential reasons
1. Stress and painful to handle, many boa owners know that snakes are irritable in shed even mean , it could be its a painful process.
2. Fluid that is released to seperate the skin layers is critical to complete shed handling a boa in shed may remove that fluid in places that are in contact with the pressure of the hand this may cause that place to stick to the new skin.
3. Husbandy and diet are critical to go shed, beings the shed is caused by a hormone relased by the snake this will only occur in healthy animals.
4. Any old injury will cause problem with shed things like rat bites, mite bites, scars.
There are many tried and true methods to remove shed, my favorite is a wet damp towel in a ice chest with the snake for a few hours and then ever so gently try to roll the shed off with your gentle finger pressure.
Eye caps are difficult and may require additional training in person by a VET, improperly removed eye caps can cause injury and blindness, be very carefull to have a reptile expert assist you with retained eyecaps.
SO shed is a frequent occurance in reptiles but maybe sensative to numerous factors other than the obvious.
Doug
WHy snakes shed in that reference web page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake
((The skin is covered in scales. Many people are surprised to find that snakeskin has a smooth, dry texture, instead of a slimy texture as might be expected. Some people are afraid to touch them because they confuse snakes with worms. Most snakes use specialized belly scales to travel, gripping surfaces. The body scales may be smooth, keeled, or granular. Their eyelids are transparent "spectacle" scales which remain permanently closed, called brille. They shed their skin periodically. Unlike other reptiles, this is done in one piece, like pulling off a sock, with the snake rubbing its nose against something rough, like a rock, for instance, creating a rip in the skin around the nose and the mouth until the skin is completely removed.[2] The primary purpose of shedding is to grow; shedding also removes external parasites. This periodic renewal has led to the snake being a symbol of healing and medicine, as pictured in the Rod of Asclepius. In "advanced" (Caenophidian) snakes, the broad belly scales and rows of dorsal scales correspond to the vertebrae, allowing scientists to count the vertebrae without dissection.

If there is not enough humidity in the air while snakes are shedding their skin, it can be very dangerous for the snake, because the dry skin does not shed. Skin that remains attached to the snake can harbour diseases and parasites. A tail tip that is not removed can constrict as the snake grows, cutting off the blood supply to the end of the tail causing it to drop off, while a retained spectacle can cause blindness in the affected eye.))



more info:http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/r..._shedding.html