The color/consistencey sounds normal to me...the urates can dry out and harden just as any other poo can.
09-28-2006, 12:33 PM
slartibartfast
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TekWarren
The color/consistencey sounds normal to me...the urates can dry out and harden just as any other poo can.
Except that it was hard -before- it came out.
09-28-2006, 12:42 PM
wildlifewarrior
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Possibly dehydration?? ive seen dehydrated animals that have very hard feces, assumming because the body continues to draw as much water as possible from the feces.
~mike
09-28-2006, 12:44 PM
TekWarren
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Sorry I skimmed over that. If it was coming out hard already definately have the snake checked.
For others: Does anyone know if there was a blockage/impaction that may have naturally moved on its own causing it to be "hard" on exit?
Is the whiteish urate chalky to the touch? (sounds gross but after a while a little poo on your hands doesn't mean much). It just seems odd that the urate would be that hard and dry on exit.
09-28-2006, 12:45 PM
TekWarren
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior
Possibly dehydration?? ive seen dehydrated animals that have very hard feces, assumming because the body continues to draw as much water as possible from the feces.
~mike
I was thinking this also but it would seem like the animal would have to be pretty dehydrated (physically looking unhealthy) for a urate like that? I guess I've never see a urate come out purely solid.
09-28-2006, 12:46 PM
Freakie_frog
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Is urates a by product of the kidneys or bowels.
09-28-2006, 12:47 PM
Freakie_frog
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
It could be a organ not working properly like getting kidney stones or galstones, Couldn't it
09-28-2006, 01:04 PM
cassandra
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
It sounds weird enough that a trip to a good herp vet would be what I would do. =)
09-28-2006, 01:05 PM
slartibartfast
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TekWarren
I was thinking this also but it would seem like the animal would have to be pretty dehydrated (physically looking unhealthy) for a urate like that? I guess I've never see a urate come out purely solid.
It's not stool...it's white (or off-white, anyway) like urates. Slightly chalky to the touch.
I'm a vet tech....got a pretty strong stomach. :-) I've picked live maggots out of open wounds and then sat down to fried rice. Getting a little poo/pee on my hands is no biggie.
He's not dehydrated...he's fat, sleek, shiny. Just as gorgeous as you could ask for. Sheds out perfectly. Humidity and temps are right.
09-28-2006, 01:16 PM
Evan Jamison
Re: Rock-hard Urates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freakie_frog
Is urates a by product of the kidneys or bowels.
Kidneys. Uric acid is a by-product of protien metabolism, and its production is a very efficient way of getting rid of nitrogenous waste without using a lot of water in the process. Mammals excrete urea, which is much more soluble in water. We use a lot more water in getting rid of waste than birds and reptiles do. :pee:
