Prolapse help

toddnbecka · 02-08-15, 01:12 AM

Today we went and picked up a group of sub-adult DRMB's. The seller offered an extra male, no charge, with a prolapsed hemipene. He said it has been out for a month, he tried to put it back, almost had it, then it popped out again and he gave up. If we didn't want him he was going into the freezer.
I'll be taking the snake to a vet.
When we got them home I put the poor guy into a tub with white paper towels, saturated them with saline solution, and put K-Y jelly on the prolapse in hopes of at least making him feel a little better in the meantime. There are some faint bloody spots on the wet paper towels, and some parts of the tissue are black, either dead or from dried blood, while there is still some healthy tissue and blood veins visible as well.
Was wondering if anyone else had encountered something like this, and what the outcome was?
The snake appears to be in good condition otherwise, a bit over 4' and despite not eating for a month (was told he won't eat until/unless the problem is corrected) doesn't appear emaciated, though not as plump as the other 5.

dave himself · 02-08-15, 02:11 AM

I've heard of people soaking them in water with a little sugar in it, I've no idea of sugar to water ratio but it's said it helps the prolapse from drying out until the snake can be taken to a vet. I hope you get him sorted and hopefully someone who's had hands on experience dealing with this will come along with more advice. Keep us posted on how he's doing.

toddnbecka · 02-08-15, 02:19 AM

I found a video on youtube of someone working one back into place, but I don't have a set of probes (or the experience to use them properly) and I really don't think that one was a month old. The saline solution and K-Y seemed to be the best things for the current situation I found on a search, aside from a vet obviously. I'm mainly hoping the snake can be saved in any case, even just as a pet he'd be awesome.
I'll certainly update as we proceed.

David VB · 02-08-15, 02:29 AM

First, put it in a sterile container with enough moist, then go to your vet asap. I had it wit one of my GTP's and the vet pushed it back in, using probes but after a while it came back out... I went back to him and he did it again, but now he sewed it loosely (he could still poo and pee, but not that good). He kept him at his place for a week in that sterile container with moist and warmth. He's fine since then.

Moist is very important, because it's the insides coming out and they will dry out very quick.

SSSSnakes · 02-08-15, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David VB

First, put it in a sterile container with enough moist, then go to your vet asap. I had it wit one of my GTP's and the vet pushed it back in, using probes but after a while it came back out... I went back to him and he did it again, but now he sewed it loosely (he could still poo and pee, but not that good). He kept him at his place for a week in that sterile container with moist and warmth. He's fine since then.

Moist is very important, because it's the insides coming out and they will dry out very quick.

Agreed. Needs to be pushed in and stitched to keep it from happening again.

Derek Roddy · 02-08-15, 09:43 AM

I've had warm sugar water clear up rectal prolapse and hemipen prolapse in several snakes over the years. Give it a try.

1/4 cup of sugar in 28/32 quart tub in mid/high 80 water....for 45 minutes each day.

After soaking, just put back in tub with moist paper towels, keep misting and keep warm.

At least it will keep infection, etc down until you can get to vet if the sugar water doesn't fix it.

Cheers,
D

Derek Roddy · 02-08-15, 09:44 AM

Neosporin will help as well if you're seeing blood spots and is raw.

toddnbecka · 02-08-15, 04:38 PM

How many days of sugar water soaking did it take to work? I'm not too worried about a 4'+ snake not eating for a month, but am concerned about possible infection.
Should the water be kept that warm for the 45 minutes? I could use an aquarium heater in the tub.

toddnbecka · 02-15-15, 02:03 AM

Soaking in sugar water didn't solve the problem, not surprising all things considered. We took him to the vet last Thursday. Got the first shot of antibiotics there and a brace of loaded insulin needles to finish the course at home. He's going back Monday morning to have the dead tissue (most of the organ now) removed. I'm just hoping the anesthetic doesn't kill him, that seems the biggest danger at this point. As long as he survives that I rather think he'll live, seems strong and healthy otherwise.

dave himself · 02-15-15, 05:18 AM

I hope the little one makes it, thanks for the update. Fingers and toes crossed for him

sharthun · 02-15-15, 09:48 AM

Good luck!

**Minkness** · 02-15-15, 11:06 AM

I'm glad you are willing to take care of him when the previous owner wouldn't =/

Derek Roddy · 02-15-15, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddnbecka

Soaking in sugar water didn't solve the problem, not surprising all things considered.

Yeah, you have to catch it fairly early to see good results. How long was it prolapsed before you came here?

I had this happen to a BHP many years ago as a hatchling. It was never able to pull them in.
After a few days of trying to keep it moist, both hemipens fell off and cause no issue with the snake. I gave it to a buddy as a pet and he still has it to this day and is doing great.

So, I wouldn't be too concerned about the overall health of him if he isn't able to use them.

D

toddnbecka · 02-15-15, 10:59 PM

I was told it had been out for a month. The snake was in a relatively small tub on newspaper, not even decent humidity being maintained for the prolapse. After soaking and applying KY and triple antibiotic ointment it looked larger, and obvious that most of the tissue was already dead, but not all of it.
I was also told that the snake wouldn't eat until it was taken care of, which appears to be correct. I left f/t mice in the enclosures for the other 5 healthy ones last night, and all but 1 of them took them. The one that didn't eat was just moved into his own enclosure yesterday, still have 2m and 2f doubled up temporarily, but the 3rd male seemed unusually restless. He's settled down now that he has a separate tank, and I'm thinking to move the 6th one in with him provided he comes back alive tomorrow.
I was also told by someone else that since snakes have 2 hemipenes he may still be able to breed? Not a big deal to me if he can't, still a beautiful red snake with a great disposition.