So I went to hang out with my snake, Charley, when I noticed he had a giant lump of crap on him. Then I realized it was mostly coconut bedding, a little bit of poo, but a giant turtle neck organ thing about 3/4 inch long hanging out of his vent. I called my husband, he told me I just picked him up mid poo, and to put him back, and he went back outside to do more yardwork. I felt very uneasy. I took Charley out and soaked his bottom in warm water to loosen the stuck shavings. His membrane was still very lubricated, not drying at all, so I think I caught him at the beginning of this problem.

I watched a youtube video and a guy said to use Preparation H on it to let it shrink a little. I used a qtip to apply. Then I read here that someone used antibiotics, so I put some neosporin on it. I let him wrap around a paper towel in my hand. It didn't recede.

I used a rubber glove and qtip to put everything that was hanging out back into the vent. I stumbled on a thread here where a woman said that is what she had done, only after using a sugar/water paste instead of Prep H. She said she held it closed to keep it from popping out (Charley was already straining and I just kept thinking of hernias so I tried to keep him still until it was all settled) I followed the rest of what she had done, I made sure it was back ok, and I put a bandaid with neosporin on it around him. I am a little uneasy about putting it directly on his skin, but when I used just a bandage and tape, he slid right out of it.

The vent looks as though it was ripped, split on both sides when it opened so much. It is also very swollen. But it is closed. Thats when I put the bandaid on instead of a bandage. I am so worried about my baby. I've only had him 2 months. I got him from a Petco where I got terrible care information and every resource I looked at said don't buy from them but it was too late.

I'm going to continue to follow what the other woman did, checking on him daily, removing the bandaid in a few days. I have him hanging out in a paper towel filled plastic bin near a space heater to keep the temperature right. I just don't know what other precautions to take. The thought of losing my baby sends me into full on freak out but I'm trying to just keep calm and treat him the best I can. He keeps wanting to come out and be with me and I don't know if I should just keep him away and monitored or give in to his pleading little eyes. I just was NOT prepared for this as even a possibility. I am proud of myself for acting quickly and doing what I did, but I still worry about all of it. My husband just keeps freaking out worse than me, completely clueless as to what to do, so he keeps leaving the house and I'm just doing all this alone.

I don't know exactly how old he is, I don't know how much he weighs, I just know he is being his usual sweet self and breathing well and things. Its not feeding day until Wednesday so I really hope all will just be back to normal by then. I am open to any and all advice, encouragement, criticisms, whatever, just tell me he's going to be ok