Need help please!

jlsamsel · 12-26-03, 12:20 AM

My 8 month old BP has a bloody ''sack'' hanging out of his/her rectal area. I'm not sure really how to describe it as anything but that. I called my vet and he wanted me to get in touch with the zoo but today (Xmas) is the one day of the year they are closed. Has anyone else dealt with anything like this before? I cleaned him as best & as gently as I could, and have him in a separate area from the other BP. I'm at a loss as to what to do until I find find someone locally who can help.

I've attached pics but they are not the best. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

_Johnny

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sapphire_moon · 12-26-03, 12:57 AM

Other bp? Were you housing them together?! Well first off alot of people are going to tell you that housing them together is a major no no.

You said you moved him. Higher his temps a little (to about 97-98 degrees) make sure it is a little more humid than normal. Keep him on WHITE paper towl so you can take the paper towl in to the vet with you to show how much blood there is/or isn't. and to see if there is any mucussy stuff.

You MIGHT (maybe not) want to try a warm water bath, just set her lower end in the water and see if she goes to the bathroom. If it is that keep the fecal as best as can and go ahead and take it to the vet with you to have a fecal ran to make sure there are no parasites and such.

I don't know what's wrong with her, but I seen something like that in a pet store and the snake didn't live.
It was trying to go poop, but it seemed to be stuck.

foman · 12-26-03, 01:21 AM

Ouch. I don't know what to tell ya except take him to a vet ASAP. That looks very sore. Good luck with your BP, Hope he gets better for you.

jlsamsel · 12-26-03, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sapphire_moon
I don't know what's wrong with her, but I seen something like that in a pet store and the snake didn't live.
It was trying to go poop, but it seemed to be stuck.

Last night was when he used the bathroom. I didn't think anything of it at the time except...well...yuck...and I cleaned the area out and he seemed content to go back into his hidebox. Today was when I noticed this. He was laying his head out of the box and when I got nearer the cage, he came out completely, tail raised like he was using the bathroom again. I got him out and bathed him and now have him in a separate cage with the paper towels and such.

I do have him with another BP because they were together when I got them. It's a 40 gallon tank; separate hideaways but they stay together most times. At such a young age I honestly didn't think it would hurt but now I will re-think this. TY for the heads-up!

And foman, TY for the concern. First thing in the A.M I'm gonna get him some help!

Eric · 12-26-03, 02:58 AM

Try emailing Corey Woods, I think he had this problem before with one of his snakes. He maybe able you give you some good advise. Good Luck!!

jfmoore · 12-26-03, 08:29 AM

Johnny –

That is called a cloacal prolapse. The very end of its intestine is protruding outside of the body. It probably happened while the animal was defecating. I know you were holding it that way to get a good photo, but you should now stop holding it with its tail pointing downward.

Immediately put it in a small container containing an inch or so of tepid water. Make sure that there are not any bits of debris like cage substrate adhering to those delicate tissues. Then just leave it alone for an hour or so. Believe it or not, that prolapse may resolve on its own. It doesn’t look too bad yet. The important thing is to keep those tissues wet and healthy.

If the prolapsed tissue has not been withdrawn back into the snake’s body after an hour or so, you can try to help further. First, get something the size of a q-tip or a little smaller. If you have a perfectly smooth, metal snake probe (or something similar), that would be good. The object is to gently push the tissue back in exactly the way it came out. Let gravity help you. Hold the snake with most of its body level, but with the tail end pointing upward slightly. With your probe, carefully, slowly, gently push the tissue back into the cloaca. You may very well find that it pops right back in and stays there. If it does not, you will need to visit a vet who will repair the prolapse and probably put one or more purse-string sutures there which you would leave in place for a couple of weeks.

Keep the snake on plain paper substrate. If you cannot get the prolapse re-inserted by yourself, make sure you keep the snake in very shallow water or on wet paper towels until you see a vet. Some possible causes I would investigate are: too low humidity, dehydration, gross overfeeding, or parasites. Or a combination of any of those.

Best of luck to you,
Joan

Vengeance · 12-26-03, 10:13 AM

Wow, I have no idea how to help, wish I did, keep us updated on his progress and I hope he ends up being ok.

mykee · 12-26-03, 02:35 PM

Joan, after looking at the pic again, I would definitely rule out gross overfeeding. He looks TINY for an 8 month old ball, my hatchlings were that size at a month. Jl: When you resolve this problem, I would definitely increase either the amount, or the size of the food that gets into that little guy. Good luck, and hope everything turns out well.

Linds · 12-26-03, 03:14 PM

Mix up some sugar and water to form a paste and try applying that to the prolapse. I'm not sure why, but it often cause the prolapse to retract. It is very important not to allow the tissues to dry out.
After your snake's condition is resolved, I would not increase his food intake yet. You may want to even start out with some smaller meals for a little until everything is a little stronger, so your snake does not end up prolapsing again. Although I do agree with Mykee that your snake is definitely tiny for being 8 months. I've had 8 month old balls be as large as 3.5'. Looks underweight and about the size a month old baby. Either way I would recommend finding a qualified herp vet to look at him and definitely have a fecal done. I wouldn't go back to your vet, even if they aren't experienced with reptiles, a prolapse is easy to diagnose and provide temporary care for (ie, keep it wrapped and moist until you find someone that can provide assistance).
Good luck with the little guy, and please keep us updated on his condition

RandyRemington · 12-26-03, 04:08 PM

I had an adult prolapse a little recently and my vet thinks it was from trying to pass a big clump of urates caused by dehydration. Did you see a large chalky chunk of white stuff in his last stool?

Mine got antibiotics and an hour or two soaking every other day in luke warm water. I closed up the excess vent holes in his box and am working extra hard at keeping humidity up now. He is doing well now and started eating again and his vent is almost flat now.

Definitely find a good snake vet and take a stool sample to check for parasites as soon as possible in addition to taking the snake to be looked at.

Where did this guy come from?

sapphire_moon · 12-26-03, 08:50 PM

Keep us updated!

jfmoore · 12-27-03, 01:11 AM

Linds -

It wouldn’t hurt to soak the prolapse in a glucose solution, the idea being that it might help shrink the swollen tissue. But applying a PASTE of any kind should be avoided; it would only tend to dry out that which should be kept moist at all costs. Applying glycerin or an antibiotic ointment while trying to reinsert the prolapse would probably be as helpful as anything.

Mykee –

Yes, the snake is small. Feeding a small, relatively thin snake like the one pictured a lot of food (especially furred prey) in a short period of time can cause constipation/obstipation resulting in prolapse. Just one of several causes I mentioned that this owner might consider.

Johnny –

Is it possible there is a small tear in the snake’s skin about 4 inches behind its head and in the middle of its back? Or am I just seeing a pale spot?

jlsamsel · 12-27-03, 12:11 PM

Well, Nova has all his stuff back inside now. It was indeed a prolapse and the doc said it was from being constipated. He suggested coating the mice in vegetable oil to aid in digestion. Would you think thats a good idea?

Someone mentioned above that he was small for an 8 month old...and yeah, that's true. Nova has always been a tiny thing ever since he come to live here...one of the reasons I have him now. He & his 'sibling' were one of those baby balls you see in an aquarium at the snake shows where there are 50-60 others just just like them crawling over one another...no identity, just a mass of snakes. Now, I know some people say to not support these shows, that the snakes could be sick, have parasites..etc etc and I do agree to a point. I guess if I was a breeder and looking to make money I'd find a better place to get my pets...but I look at it as giving them a home. Nova and Mason were just pitiful, at the bottom of the heap and my heart was just crushed seeing them so I bought them and brought them here where they seem to be thriving. Nova eats regularly while Mason is a bit more finicky. I have an older ball (10 years this month!) and he is beyond picky! LOL Nova though has always been scrawny....not droopy skin or anything, just small. Usually well packed (as I guess his constipation proves) but I never overfed him. He is still on large hoppers (just a step below regular mice) because I'm afraid anything larger would be just too much for him. Mason is a bit heftier but not by much and he is very headshy whereas Nova really does love to just be held.

Anyways, I want to thank you all for your advice and best wishes. I'm sorry to have not found this place before an emergency came up and just jumped in interrupting your board. I have it bookmarked now and will probably take some time to skim the other posts and admire your own beautiful babies! I just have 'nice regular' BPs...no special breed, but they are special little guys to me! LOL

**Andy_G** · 12-27-03, 04:06 PM

Glad to hear the prolapse fixed itself! Vegetable oil will work, but you could go as simple as water.

Trust me when I say he is more than ready for adults.

sapphire_moon · 12-27-03, 06:19 PM

ready yes, but someone else stated that starting him on something bigger right now might cause it to come back. Keep feeding him like you are then in about a few weeks or so, when ever it is properly healed try to switch him to larger mice or rats of the same size (rats will make him grow really fast! Lol)

Goodluck, beautiful bp's and I'm glad he's ok!