WTF?????!!! Strangest snake poop I've ever seen...

Will0W783 · 01-17-11, 07:33 PM

Ok, so as some of you know, I rescued an adult male albino Burmese back before Christmas. I know that he's been fed live and has a number of healing bite wounds, as well as bug eyes (probably due to a large head scar), he'd been bred heavily, and was underweight.
I got him December 22, and he ate January 8 (3 large f/t rats). He had not passed any waste for me until tonight...I went to check on him and I saw a very small stool with tons of what sure looks like STRAW in it. I've been keeping snakes for 6+ years and I've never ever seen anything like this- it smelled like horse manure and as far as I can tell it's straw or hay. It is round, tubular, some pieces were over an inch long, and thready. I am terrified that he may have damaged his intestines passing it. Is there anything else it could be? It's definitely not worms of any kind- very hard and brittle. I snapped some pictures as I was cleaning the cage and gave the Burm, Silas, a good long soak in the tub. Poor big old snake...I wonder what the heck he's gone through?

NennaMeerkat · 01-17-11, 07:37 PM

Oh wow he passed that?!?!? Didn't even think snakes were capable of passing straw. Though it sure looks like straw. Hope the guy is okay, bet he feels better to...if it didn't hurt him along the way.

Will0W783 · 01-17-11, 07:39 PM

I am assuming it's straw...what else could it be? The only other possibility is if someone fed him a bird recently and it's feather quicks, but don't they digest those? At any rate, it looks nasty and I really hope it didn't damage his insides.

infernalis · 01-17-11, 07:45 PM

If the snake was kept on straw or fed bunnies while on straw, the snake may have ingested it.

Seems as if it would have broke down, but the digestive tract of a snake is not the same as a cow.

I too hope none of it poked holes in your snakes insides, that would be a real pity.

NennaMeerkat · 01-17-11, 07:46 PM

Yeah if they fed him a chicken I am pretty sure they digest them. I know at the zoo I worked for we fed ours stunned or live chickens and I never saw anything like that in their poo...I should know I cleaned plenty of it! Maybe he had gotten out and ate a hutch rabbit or a rat? Did the people that used to have him have a barn or any other animals bedding in straw?

Will0W783 · 01-17-11, 07:53 PM

I have no idea what they had. They told me they didn't use bedding of any kind so the snake "couldn't have mites"...in other words, they were pretty idiotic about the snake. Who knows what they let him get into?

infernalis · 01-17-11, 08:06 PM

Keep an eye out for rectal bleeding or discharge.

Chances are the snake is fine, but careful is always better.

marvelfreak · 01-17-11, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I am assuming it's straw...what else could it be? The only other possibility is if someone fed him a bird recently and it's feather quicks, but don't they digest those? At any rate, it looks nasty and I really hope it didn't damage his insides.

A friend of mine use to feed his ducks and it never had anything like that come out. It would digest the feather.

Damion930 · 01-18-11, 12:27 AM

Wow feathers were my first thought hope all is well

Will0W783 · 01-18-11, 08:41 AM

I am wondering if I should call my vet? I hate to drag the snake in for a visit if it's not necessary, but this is weird.

infernalis · 01-18-11, 08:50 AM

I would just keep an eye on things, If the snake is not bleeding and eats for you again, then I'd say your doing OK.

Unnecessary vet trips are stressful to the snake and your bank account.

Will0W783 · 01-18-11, 10:42 AM

They definitely are stressful to my bank account! The animals' health comes first though. I had him out for a good long soak last night as he smelled like manure. I didn't notice any bleeding and he'll be due to eat again this coming weekend.

bighog85 · 01-18-11, 03:44 PM

I wouldn't be surprised if it was straw because I have seen people keep their snakes on it. Snakes have pretty tough digestive systems and though they are not designed to digest plant matter, that doesn't mean they can't pass it. If he was kept to cold or not fed much then that stuff could have been in there for a while. If it had caused problems you would most likely see blood or something in that poop. Keep an eye on him for sure but I would say a vet visit is unnecessary right now. Keep the heat and humidity up as well and that will aid his digestion in passing whatever else may be in there.

presspirate · 01-18-11, 05:18 PM

I was wondering if it could have been fed a rabbit that had undigested straw in its stomach, but I have to think that Wayne might have the right idea, if there is no blood and he otherwise seems fine, why stress him out with a trip to the vet. Could you get a phone consultation?

Will0W783 · 01-18-11, 06:31 PM

I could probably get a phone consultation, but I'm going to check him out tonight as soon as I get home (working late) and see how he is. There was no blood or even what looked like blackened dried blood in his stool. I'm hoping he'll be ok. I guess if he ruptured an intestine at this point a vet couldn't really do anything anyway right?