Sick Ball Python

[dtocher]

Alright, I've had snakes since I was a kid. Usually north america. About a year ago I got my first python. A ball, naturally.

I went away from college on winter vacation and a friend fed all my animals. The last feeding was Monday the 27th. I came home last night, to find my ball in pretty bad condition.

I'll try to keep this as G rated as I can, but it's really gruesome. Right around the vent, there is a nod of flesh that is sticking out. The nod is pink, looks like healthy (yet internal) flesh, and is about 1/4 inch squared in size. It looks REALLY painfull.

No petstores of vets are picking up their phones today, Saturday the 1st of the year, so I'm turning here.

Any advice, or knowledge of what the heck is going on?

Danke

[marisa]

I am NO expert, and frankly wait for more answers before doing anything but it sounds like a prolapse.

I *think* a commonly recommended idea to try is gently soaking in luke warm sugar water. This can make it retract.

Again, please remember this is hearsay I am passing on, not fact, and others can give you some good ideas.

Marisa

[jfmoore]

Sounds like a cloacal prolapse. Click on the link below for some tips on what you can try before seeing a veterinarian. Good luck.

prolapse thread (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=264375#post264375)


-Joan

[BoidKeeper]

No petstores of vets are picking up their phones today,
Don't wast your time calling a pet store for help. Stick to vets. Keep the tissues moist. I would place it in a rubermaid on damp paper towel soaked with a sugary past water.
Good luck,
Trevor

[dtocher]

I tried the paste. Considering I was out of town, the prolapse had been there for about 3 days (last time someone checked up on it was 4, and it had no problem then).

After the paste, I soaked Rompe Todo (his name), and lubed a q-tip with antibiotic ointment and followed the re-insertion method in the link jfmoore posted.

That was 30 minutes ago, and it's still looking like a normal snake. I had kept the organ tissue very moist in the time it was exposed. Right now Rompe is soaking in some water. I'll put him home again in another half hour and call it a night.

Thank you guys, and I'll follow up tomorrow.
~daley

p.s. the only reason I bothered with petstores was because there are two really good exotic stores in my area and I was looking for guidance on which vet to take Rompe Todo to.

[Slannesh]

Yikes, that's gotta be a scary/crappy thing to come home to. Especially not being sure what it was. Hope Rompe's ok. Probably not a bad idea to do a followup vet visit even if he does seem OK come monday or so.

[BoidKeeper]

p.s. the only reason I bothered with petstores was because there are two really good exotic stores in my area and I was looking for guidance on which vet to take Rompe Todo to.
Ah. It's true some are better then other. I meant no offence. As a rule most pet shops are pretty ignorant of herp care.
Cheers,
Trevor

[dtocher]

The only time he ever had hissed at me was yesterday. He was just generally irritable, and can you blame him?

I checked this morning and not only was he in healthy appearance, but MUCH more friendly again. I imagine that's got to feel like having a splinter pulled... but times 1000. Immense pain, followed by ecstatic relief.

Can someone tell me how vets work? This is the first problem I've ever had with an animal. Do they usually charge just to take a look at a critter? Any idea what that costs?

[BoidKeeper]

It depends on the vet. I can get an exam, culture taken and shiped out to a vet college as well as meds and needles for under $100. That same visit might cost you $200 or more depending where you go. My old vet used to charge me $30 just for walking through the door. Every after that was extra.
Cheers,
Trevor