Poop is hanging out of snake.

[mjledbetter]

We just adopted our 5 yr old ball python. She has what appears as rat feet sticking out of her poop shoot (sorry for not knowing a technical term)(also she eats live rats, she won't take dead ones). I am wondering if I should gently pull it out to help her pass it so that she will eat again (she hasn't been wanting to eat and we think this may be the reason). She is moving around fine, comfortable with her environment and with us, very docile. Please help, first time snake owner. Thank you.

[wolfy-hound]

I'll be the first. A pic would help determine what's up.

How large are the "rat feet"? Does they appear to be like a couple of toenails sticking out? Or is it a larger mass? Is the lower portion of her body swollen?

[sarahlovesmiike]

Yep we definitely need a pic. Sounds like spurs, but could be feet I guess. If it is feet, i definitely wouldn't pull on them. If it stays that way for a while, take it to a vet and have it removed. Pulling will only hurt the snake since it must be stuck on something.

[Boanerges]

I am going to 3rd that a pic would help out a lot. Google "Ball Python Spurs" and see if that is what you are seeing and make sure you are not mistaking them for rat feet.

[JLC]

I've never heard of a rat making it that far down the digestive track and still have recognizable body parts. Snake poop looks like...poop. If it's NOT the spurs you're seeing, but is indeed some portion of rat body sticking out, I would immediately seek out the help of a vet accomplished in treating reptiles/snakes, because there'd be something far more going on than a mere case of constipation.

(Technical term is cloaca, by the way, in case you were curious! )

[smd58]

you sure its a female, if its a male could be a hemipeen {cant spell it } thats not retracted.

[Lolo76]

Their spurs DO kinda look like rat feet, now that you mention it... so I'm going with that possibility, at least until we see a picture of your snake.

[Lolo76]

Does it look something like this?

[mjledbetter]

ok. it doesn't look like spurs at all. It's coming out of the middle of the spurs in the picture and it truly appears to be rats feet and looks like part of poop (BUT I am going to take a picture here in a lil while and I will post it because if I need to get her to a vet I'd like to do that soon). She is moving around fine, no pain. It reminds me of how our dog has to scoot along on her butt sometimes to get stuff that is hanging out in their due to hair & such. Doesn't appear to be swollen at all.

ok gotta get the kiddo to school and then i'll take a picture and post it. thank you for all the help, this forum is wonderful!!!

[mpkeelee]

i gotta subscribe to this one, i have never heard anything like this. we will be waiting for that pic to help

oh and also, what state are u in, either someone can help you or atleast recommend a good vet