Cloacal prolapse

I really didn't think my first post would be about this. :P

I purchased a baby ball on July 4. I followed the *excellent* guide on this site to set up his vivarium (a 20L glass tank), temps were great, humidity hovering between 55-60%. He ate the Sunday after I purchased him, ate last Sunday. No poops. I haven't been handling him much because I wanted to avoid stressing him, but still handling him at least once a week to look him over, check his condition, etc. I think "Yay, he's eating, he's happy, life is good!"

Took him out of his container this morning, and he had a prolapsed cloaca. Off to the vet he goes! They took x-rays while I was at the vet's office, didn't see anything on the x-rays that would indicate a problem with foreign matter. No poop means they can't do a fecal (serious, no poop? Where the hell is the poop?), but they did a cloacal wash and that came back clean. They tried re-inserting the tissue, but he prolapsed again.

Recommendation is Flagyl and Panacur to treat any potential parasites, along with sutures to hold the tissues in place while he heals. Poor little guy :(

Hi,

I hope he pulls through for you ok.

One of our members had his red tail boa prolapse - I'll try and find the thread for you.

**edit**

Here it is - the prolapse happens on post 30.

**end edit**


dr del

here are some tips

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xqHzEYzXEuA

Thanks for the quick responses. I'll be watching the video as soon as I get home from work. I have my cellphone out on my desk just waiting for the vet to call me to pick up my little guy.

Quick update: vet called. They gave him some pre-surgery medication and the prolapse cleared on it's own and is staying back in, so they're holding off on the surgery for now. There's a risk that the prolapse may occur again when this medication wears off, but they're hoping by that time they Panacur and Flagyl will have kicked in and that will keep the prolapse from occurring.

He can go home tonight! :banana:

what exactley causes a prolasped rectum?

According to my vet there are multiple potential causes -- the snake, for whatever reason, strains too hard to defecate which causes the prolapse. Reasons for the straining can be intestinal parasites, a blockage, impaction, etc.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by atp151415

what exactley causes a prolasped rectum?

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Its almost like a hemoroid, think of it as the snakes rectum is turning inside out, this can happen to humans also...