Emergency! Is it Constipation?

[marya1962]

I have a five year old RTB. I gave her a jumbo rat, one that was almost too big for her because I didn't want to waste it by throwing it away. (I won't do that again!) Up til last night everything was fine. She defecated urates in solid form, then had a bowel movement that was normal in composition and size. Then last night she began flailing her tail and acting as if she was very uncomfortable. She would lift her tail as if wanting to have a bowel movement but was unable. I spent most of the night massaging her. This morning she seeemed fine, but there was no BM in the enclosure. Is this constipation? If so, what do I do for her? Does she need to see a vet? Her humidity is 62-67 percent. Temp are high, house temps of 95-100, with wet towels and frozen, wrapped water bottles provided. (This is the normal for every summer around here.)

[wilomn]

Give her a few more days. Make sure she's got water and she should be fine.

[Evenstar]

^^ Agreed.


You can gently handle her a bit too. Sometimes just the natural movement and holding on that they do when you're just normally handling can get things moving.

[PitOnTheProwl]

Give her time, If it went in one end.............it will come out the other and stink like no other

[S.I.R.]

Keep an eye on her. She should be fine. You could always soak her in warm water for 30 minutes and see if that relaxes her enough as well. Works great! Good luck!

[marya1962]

It took about four days and a drink of water, but she produced a large hairball. I don't know of that's normal and don't really want to experiment to find out.

[MootWorm]

Mail it to me, I'll experiment!!! Lol Jk. But did you happen to get any pics of it?

[bcr229]

But did you happen to get any pics of it?

Seriously? I have a four year old BCI so, while large, she's likely smaller than the OP's. When that snake goes my first reaction is not to grab a camera!

[MootWorm]

Hey, if my snake produced a giant hairball, you bet your sweet butt I'm taking pictures!!!! Lol I'm picturing something like the owl pellets we dissected back in 5th grade And trust me, if it was really weird looking, I'd be busting out my tweezers faster than you can blink.