My Ball Python is bleeding? =[

[lnewgard42]

my Ball Python just urinated and i noticed that there was a bit of blood in it.. =/
is this normal?

[sookieball]

uuuuhhhhhhh????......... probably not.

is it a female or male?

how big?

pics would help

[JLC]

Did the snake also just shed, by chance? Shedding can sometimes tear a little tissue around the vent and cause a small amount of bleeding. Normal and nothing to worry about.

If it's JUST urination...were there urates as well? Maybe the snake passed something a little harder than normal? And tore a little tissue? I've never noticed blood in the urine/urates, though. Are you sure that's what it is?

[lnewgard42]

urates? =[
i dont know if its a male or female... i and two of my friends who have ball pythons have tried popping it but found nothing.. but the tail is shaped more like a male's.

the blood was a very small amount. two little spots.

[lnewgard42]

also, the snake hasnt recently shed

[JLC]

Ok...

Urates are the solid part of the urine....most reptiles and birds produce a solid waste as well as liquid. If the snake has had a lot of water though, it may be mostly liquid. (This is in addition to poo...which looks and smells like...poo. )

It's possible you caused some injury when attempting to pop the snake. Please don't. Save that for someone knowledgeable and skilled at it to show and teach you. You can seriously injure a snake if you do it wrong.

Hopefully two little spots of blood don't mean anything serious, but it's impossible for us to diagnose something like that over the internet.

[lnewgard42]

we were very careful when we tried. the friends who tried have an emmense love for snakes. they know a lot more about them than i do and doubtfully did anything to hurt...him...?

but that couldnt be what it was. at least i dont think. it was months ago when we tried and this is the very first time i've seen something. otherwise. he...she.. is acting normally. hopefully its nothing.
thanks for your help :]

[JLC]

we were very careful when we tried. the friends who tried have an emmense love for snakes. they know a lot more about them than i do and doubtfully did anything to hurt...him...?

but that couldnt be what it was. at least i dont think. it was months ago when we tried and this is the very first time i've seen something. otherwise. he...she.. is acting normally. hopefully its nothing.
thanks for your help :]

Oh, I've no doubt about all of your sincerity and care for the animal. Popping just isn't something you want to try without at least some skilled instruction. Your other post made it sound like it was the first time any of you had tried it.

Regardless though, if it was that long ago, then I agree that it's extremely unlikely to have anything to do with any spots of blood.

Were I in your shoes, I'd keep an eye on the snake and see if there is ever any more blood when she passes wastes...or any other time. If she continues, then I'd definitely consider a trip to a qualified herp vet. But it's likely just a fluke and not much to worry about.

One question though...what kind of substrate is she on? Maybe she just poked herself on a sharp piece of aspen or bark or...?