Constipation - running out of ideas...

[anatess]

I have a very constipated young ball python hatched on 7/31/2010.

She hasn't gone to the bathroom for the last 6 feedings. I have stopped feeding her, took her to the vet who then gave her metronidazole and enrofloxacin. The vet was also able to express some urates.

The vet sent us home with antibiotics that I am administering orally every 2 days. I am also soaking her in warm water for 20 minutes every day. I upped the temperature in her enclosure to 85/95, humidity still running between 45-55%.

So far... 3 days after the vet visit... still nothing. She hasn't eaten in almost 2 weeks and her stomach is still "full".

What else can I do???

I heard about castor oil - but I can't find any instructions on how to administer it besides putting it in a rat - which I'm not wanting to do because I'm not sure I should be putting more food into her.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[koloo921]

This is just an idea. I have never run into Constipation with a snake. I did bottle feed a puppy from birth recently and had constipation problems. The only thing that worked for her was mineral oil. It can be purchased at your local drug/ food market.
I would check with your vet to make sure that it is safe for snakes and the correct dose. You could open the snakes mouth and squirt some in, but I would give the correct dose to the food and then feed it. That would be the easiest way to get it into the snakes stomach.

[Brstin2flames]

I seem to remember reading on here one time (but dont quote me on this) that putting them in the bath and letting them swim around helps. I know one time I put my BP in the bath and after a minute of swimming I got a nice present. lol. You could try that maybe?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I am curious you say that this BP has not pooped and was fed 6 times, now based on that information I am not seeing anything abnormal.

Did the animal appeared to have a blockage in other words having a bulge near the vent area?

If the animal is constipated and has a bulge near the vent area, I can see being worried and taking measures otherwise I do not.

Those measures can be anything from warm bath followed by a gentle massage of the area, which can be repeated as needed.

You can also consider an enema which I am surprised the vet did not recommend.

If constipated and again I do not know since I have not seen the animal, it could be due to a large urate and the above method will likely work.

[anatess]

I am curious you say that this BP has not pooped and was fed 6 times, now based on that information I am not seeing anything abnormal.

Did the animal appeared to have a blockage in other words having a bulge near the vent area?

If the animal is constipated and has a bulge near the vent area, I can see being worried and taking measures otherwise I do not.

Those measures can be anything from warm bath followed by a gentle massage of the area, which can be repeated as needed.

You can also consider an enema which I am surprised the vet did not recommend.

If constipated and again I do not know since I have not seen the animal, it could be due to a large urate and the above method will likely work.

I took her to the vet because she has a bulge in her lower body all the way to her vent area that felt "firm" and she hasn't passed urates nor poop in almost 2 months. She's the bp that we had to force feed, she now eats on her own but she sometimes skips meals. We upped her prey size and she's been on that prey size for the last 6 feedings. The vet confirmed she is constipated and gave her the antibiotics with a follow-up appointment after 2 weeks. The vet also applied enema and was able to express the mass of urates that was close to her vent. The vet expects that the "rest of them" should pass within the next day or so. It hasn't yet.

Also, I was concerned because the last shed, she shed in tiny pieces with some stuck in her eyes. Her husbandry hasn't changed and is the recommended bp.net setting. So I feel something is definitely not right with her for shedding in pieces with the humidity being within correct range. The vet took care of the stuck shed and it's not a problem anymore.

Something is definitely not right with her. I'm just taking it one step at a time as symptoms surface.

I'll try the mineral oil in her bath and see if that helps.

[rdoyle]

she may not be anymore if the mass was express. unless you fell more. If you do then give it a few more days

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I took her to the vet because she has a bulge in her lower body all the way to her vent area that felt "firm" and she hasn't passed urates nor poop in almost 2 months. She's the bp that we had to force feed, she now eats on her own but she sometimes skips meals. We upped her prey size and she's been on that prey size for the last 6 feedings. The vet confirmed she is constipated and gave her the antibiotics with a follow-up appointment after 2 weeks. The vet also applied enema and was able to express the mass of urates that was close to her vent. The vet expects that the "rest of them" should pass within the next day or so. It hasn't yet

Thanks for the details, I would definitely try to bath your BP and massage the area moving your way down towards the vent area very gently, I would do that for 3 days and if there is no result after 3 days I would go to the vet and have an enema again.

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

As everyone els has said a good soak will help. Every time we soak ours we end up with a nice gift lol. Ours also always tend do go right after a shed.... Never fails a nice big poop some skin and a pretty snake. as for the bad shed all snakes will have a bad shed every once in awhile. It's really nothing to worry about and if you ever have another bad shed no need for a vet bill just soak her for 20 min or so and then pick it off. If the eye caps stay on just be careful and make sure they are loose before you pull them off. If they seem to be sticking a little soak for a little longer. Good luck and hope all goes well.