George finely pooped...

sattva · 03-08-17, 11:43 AM

After 62 days and 8 meals later, George finely pooped... I took George out last night to clean his cage and let him get some exercise. He pooped right in the middle of my livingroom on my freshly cleaned carpet... I didn't mind cleaning it up since I hadn't seen him poop in so long...

Is this normal for him to go so long without pooping? He has been growing in leaps and bounds but 62 days! Is it possible that every bit of his meal is going into growth? Very strange...

Kathryntheclean · 03-08-17, 11:46 AM

Is he new to your home, or have you had him awhile? Maybe he was waiting for the perfect place. My corn snake won't go in anything but warm water- so far, anyway. He's really little now though, just a baby. He goes twice a week.

sattva · 03-08-17, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathryntheclean

Is he new to your home, or have you had him awhile? Maybe he was waiting for the perfect place. My corn snake won't go in anything but warm water- so far, anyway. He's really little now though, just a baby. He goes twice a week.

No... I've had George for almost a year now...

GyGbeetle · 03-08-17, 01:17 PM

I have a boa that will only poop in the bathtub while he's soaking. He hasn't pooped for 2 feedings (almost a month). He has the poop bulge, but unless he's in the water on a regular basis, he holds it in. It could be that your George needed some additional stimulation and exercise to work out his feces. How often does he get exercise?

sattva · 03-08-17, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

I have a boa that will only poop in the bathtub while he's soaking. He hasn't pooped for 2 feedings (almost a month). He has the poop bulge, but unless he's in the water on a regular basis, he holds it in. It could be that your George needed some additional stimulation and exercise to work out his feces. How often does he get exercise?

I actually have had him swimming in the bathtub, in warm water, a couple of times, hoping it would trigger a BM... But he never got a poop bulge that I could see... I'm just glad he went; I would hate to have to give him an enema...

Kathryntheclean · 03-08-17, 01:56 PM

Woah, you can give a snake an enema? May I ask how? I took my 3 year old water dragon to get one at the vet, but she was huge by that time! How would you do that for a snake?

sattva · 03-08-17, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathryntheclean

Woah, you can give a snake an enema? May I ask how? I took my 3 year old water dragon to get one at the vet, but she was huge by that time! How would you do that for a snake?

Sorry! I was kidding... I'd hall his butt to vet if I was really worried...

Kathryntheclean · 03-08-17, 02:02 PM

Oh, ok... I was thinking how brave you were to stick anything in a snake's rear... I'm guessing if a vet can give a water dragon an enema it could also be done for a snake, but my girl died afterward from the stress.

sattva · 03-08-17, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathryntheclean

Oh, ok... I was thinking how brave you were to stick anything in a snake's rear... I'm guessing if a vet can give a water dragon an enema it could also be done for a snake, but my girl died afterward from the stress.

Oh I'm sorry... Poor thing, what a way to go!
I wonder if anyone has ever tried stuffing a rat with a mild laxative, like maybe a very small pinch senna...
Probably not a good idea!

Scubadiver59 · 03-08-17, 02:44 PM

Now that would be a niche occupation...reptile colonic irrigation!

I think I'll pass...

TRD · 03-08-17, 03:24 PM

They will poop when they have to poop. Some snakes like to poop when it's raining, hence those snakes poop when it's wet, or they are provided a 'rain room' sometimes to make them poop.

I would never go the route of putting laxatives or the likes in the snake's food, or poking stuff into it's cloaca, or massaging it, or whatever.

GyGbeetle · 03-08-17, 03:49 PM

i love the fact that we are talking about snake poop like this is an everyday conversation. Hahaha!

But yeah, don't do the laxative stuff. And I'm fairly certain a trained vet can provide a safe enema to a snake. I just don't want to be in the room. I had a sick cat that required daily enemas for 2 months. Brought her to the vet every day; not a chance I was gonna stick my finger up there

Scubadiver59 · 03-08-17, 04:21 PM

Hope you have small hands if you do!

I've expressed my dogs' anal glands a few times...now, that's something that DEFINITELY stinks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

i love the fact that we are talking about snake poop like this is an everyday conversation. Hahaha!

But yeah, don't do the laxative stuff. And I'm fairly certain a trained vet can provide a safe enema to a snake. I just don't want to be in the room. I had a sick cat that required daily enemas for 2 months. Brought her to the vet every day; not a chance I was gonna stick my finger up there

**Minkness** · 03-09-17, 10:06 AM

No human laxitives buuut, filling a feeder with mineral oil is a good way to get things moving. However, like many have said, just let it happen naturally. Be aware of the signs of compaction though and seek a vet if needed.

**Andy_G** · 03-09-17, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRD

They will poop when they have to poop. Some snakes like to poop when it's raining, hence those snakes poop when it's wet, or they are provided a 'rain room' sometimes to make them poop.

I would never go the route of putting laxatives or the likes in the snake's food, or poking stuff into it's cloaca, or massaging it, or whatever.

This is great advice. A warm bath is always the best way to go if a snake is backed up. I have heard of people trying to massage out masses and it inevitibly caused impaction leading to death of the individual. Saying that...if a snake only passes waste when being soaked, there may be a humidity issue at hand. I've never had a snake that only passes waste in water.