This woman slept with her pet python every night until her vet uncovered something deadly
More under this adThis woman had a python for a pet that she cuddled every night, until her vet told her something very very scary.
Every night, this woman used to sleep with an enormous seven-foot python, which is certainly different to sleeping with dogs.
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When she lay on her stomach the reptile would lay from her head to her toes in what she thought was a beautiful bonding moment. That is until she noticed that her snake had started to starve itself.
More under this adMore under this adAccording to Animal channel, the publication that shared her story in 2017, the worried owner took her pet snake to the vet to make sure the animal wasn't sick. But, when he asked about the snake's daily routine the owner was greeted with a horrifying surprise.
What the vet told her was shocking.
Why did the snake lose so much weight?
It turned out thatthe python was fasting in order to prepare itself for a big meal - its loving owner.
The vet explained that when the python moved and curled up around her during the night, it was to better judge the size and weight of the young woman. In other words, the python was sizing the woman up and getting ready to eat her!
More under this adMore under this adHer concern for her snake undoubtedly saved her life.
Her story has been making the rounds on the internet, serving as a learning lesson on why you should never cuddle your pet snake.
Read more: 2-year-old chews a snake to death after it bit her on the lip
Pythons, an unlikely companion
That being said, are pythons safe to keep as pets?
Owning any animal requires some kind of education and responsibility, what kind of food does it need? What kind of environment does it like? What are the signs it's trying to kill you? Besides the controversy involving the trade and care of exotic pets such as pythons, owning one can be very dangerous.
More under this adMore under this adBack in January 2018, National Geographic reported that one man, Dan Brandon, had died after sharing a photo online of his eight-foot pet python 'Tiny' curled up around his shoulders. Now, anyone who knows how a python hunts and kills their food would know that this isn't a good sign and definitely not a 'sign of affection'.
More under this adMore under this adIn fact soon after the image was posted, the man was found by his parents, dead in the very same spot. Brandon was found with the python in the room where he also kept another ten snakes and 12 tarantulas, which you'd think is a sign that he knew his stuff about exotic pets.
So, next time you consider buying a snake as a pet, keep in mind that they are essentially wild animals and accidents do happen.
More under this adMore under this adCheck out the video above and get the full story, as well as check out some footage that'll have you definitely second-guessing the sanity of this woman!
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Sources used:
Animal channel: Woman Sleeps With Python Every Night. Then He Stops Eating And Vets Learn His True Colors
National Geographic: Why an 8-Foot Pet Python May Have Killed Its Owner