My Snake Has a Lump...

Yeah he will!!! Speaking of age. How old is he?

Oh wow he is a pretty good size Blood. Handsome fellow. :)

Again, thanks for the compliments guys/gals! I do hope Jelly turns red with age! He's almost 1 1/2 years old - that's what I figure since I acquired him 4 months ago and was advised he was a yearling. Everything's going very well with him...just hope this lump issue (literally) passes and we can continue nourishing him with love...and of course rats too! :)

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

He is gonna be a RED daddy when he grows up. How well is he taking all the massaging and stuff? Calm or agitated?

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Thanks you! Most of the time he's huffing and puffing when I'm massaging him in the tub...but he's gentle as can be so I have no worries of him attacking and can focus on massaging him (and praying at the same time he defacates soon enough). At times I wish he'd just let it go while I'm massaging him so I can finally relax (both physically and mentally), haha!

When massaging Jelly during his soak yesterday evening, I thought I felt more hard urates further up his tail. I'm going to continue massaging him tonight and try to move everything inside downwards towards his tail end.

The vet told me not to feed Jelly until he defacates and will call me Monday to follow-up on Jelly's progress. What concerns me a bit is that I'm wondering if I don't feed him...there will be no "new" waste to push the existing down his tail end. I think the vet is advising not to feed him as he fears it'll just further clog Jelly's lump.

What do you guys think? Will the existing waste automatically travel down his tail and eventually come out when it's time? Or will it require Jelly continuing to feed on a regular basis in order to accumulate more waste before he lets it go?

In all things with a digestive tract (as far as I know) waste is propelled through the intestines by peristalsis. I would assume that it's the same in snakes and that there shouldn't need to be new waste for the other waste to be moved.

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Originally Posted by Bojangles37

In all things with a digestive tract (as far as I know) waste is propelled through the intestines by peristalsis. I would assume that it's the same in snakes and that there shouldn't need to be new waste for the other waste to be moved.

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Hi Bo, thanks for your comments, it's really appreciated! Thought for a while there I was forgotten! :P

On a separate note, I spoke with my vet and will be taking in Jelly in this Saturday morning for another check and enema if required (as I mentioned I thought I felt some hard urate...but further up the tail opposite end of the tip). The lump still remains...so if there really are urates still blocking the lump from moving down the tail...then this time it'll clear it. The vet reminded me once again not to feed Jelly.

As I wasn't sure if the vet knew bloods are known to really hold it in before letting go big time, I let them know...and in reply they said it's not normal. They said it happens very often due to temps and humidity in their wild and domestic environments ...but it's not "supposed" to be that infrequent (though it is). Just some food for thought that made me go :confused: ...

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Originally Posted by Dvas_Romeo

As I wasn't sure if the vet knew bloods are known to really hold it in before letting go big time, I let them know...and in reply they said it's not normal. They said it happens very often due to temps and humidity in their wild and domestic environments ...but it's not "supposed" to be that infrequent (though it is). Just some food for thought that made me go :confused: ...

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Hmmm...my Vet said the opposite. I'll PM you her info. She is very familiar with Blood's so it couldn't hurt to at least talk to her or maybe get your Vet to speak with her.

PM coming.

Thanks Earl...looking forward to the PM and see what we can make of this situation! I did think it strange what my vet had told me about bloods not being "regular". :weirdface

I'm sure this whole ordeal has had you bouncing off the walls with worry and the least thing you need is someone telling you "WRONG!!! That Vet is all WRONG!!!" :8:

I figure a second opinion couldn't hurt. Just make sure you tell her "the guy who's snake pooped all over your walls sent me". I'm pretty famous in that part of town as of late. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Earl

I'm sure this whole ordeal has had you bouncing off the walls with worry and the least thing you need is someone telling you "WRONG!!! That Vet is all WRONG!!!" :8:

I figure a second opinion couldn't hurt. Just make sure you tell her "the guy who's snake pooped all over your walls sent me". I'm pretty famous in that part of town as of late. :gj:

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Haha, your're a good guy, Earl! Got your PM, thanks! I'll give her a call tomorrow and also discuss with my vet to possibly give her a call to discuss and share info as well. Will let you know how it goes!

And yes, you're right...I am going nuts with the strange lump on poor Jelly...and not feeling that the situation has been resolved...hoping he's not in major pain...and also receiving conflicting information from my vet which makes me wonder if I should really be seeking another professional opinion. Doh!

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Originally Posted by Dvas_Romeo

Hi Bo, thanks for your comments, it's really appreciated! Thought for a while there I was forgotten! :P

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No problem, unfortunately, I can't be positive, I'm an animal science major at UConn, but we deal mostly in domestic livestock as well as dogs and cats, not so much in snakes. I should really get me an A+P book on snakes because I'm sure that it would be really easy for me to get to know well, then I could be sure about these things. I would assume that their tracts are very similar to chickens, which I know pretty well, so what I said should be the case. I will try and do a little research when I can.

(I was supposed to take Herpetology this upcoming semester but my school is really cool and decided not to offer it.)

Bringing in Jelly this morning for a follow-up and possibly another enema for the poor guy. I'll give an update when we return, thanks!

:banana::rofl: FINALLY!!!!! Woohoo!!!! As soon as the vet inserted the enema tube into Jelly all hell broke loose and all the poo came right out with a bit of massaging/squeezing. This was another vet at the same location and she said she's never seen anything like this...but kind of fascinating.

I was right in that there was just a tiny quarter-sized urate left in him...and that came out first. It wasn't rock hard and shouldn't have prevented him from passing the waste through. Rather, the vet thinks Jelly was so expanded with the lump that it wasn't possible for him to pass the waste squished inside the lump on his own.

The lump remains but it is definately not as big as before. The vet said it's just the result of the area having been stretched for a period of time and should eventually go back to its normal size.

The main thing, and best of all, the poor guy is now completely empty of stored/clogged feces and urates and he should be feeling a whole lot better.

Thanks to all who provided their support and shared their comments/suggestions these past few weeks! Mission is finally accomplished - what a relief!!! :rolleye2: Woot woot!

Oh what good news! Glad to hear Jelly is finally unclogged. Bet you and Jelly feel much better now.

I wonder if constipation in snakes is anything like with people. One of my older kids, as a toddler, had awful problems that way. I remember a doctor explaining to me that once the process started, it can become a vicious cycle. As the lining stretches it loses some nerve function, so there's no "signal" to pass feces. So basically the more they are constipated, the less they end up feeling the urge to defecate because the nerves aren't sending the right signals efficiently.

I do remember that after a bad bout, we had to be very careful he didn't back up again because the organs are all stretched out and still a bit "dulled" so it was terribly easy to start the cycle all over again before full healing had occurred.

I wonder if that's similar to what happened to your Jelly.

That is fantastic news! :)

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Oh what good news! Glad to hear Jelly is finally unclogged. Bet you and Jelly feel much better now.

I wonder if constipation in snakes is anything like with people. One of my older kids, as a toddler, had awful problems that way. I remember a doctor explaining to me that once the process started, it can become a vicious cycle. As the lining stretches it loses some nerve function, so there's no "signal" to pass feces. So basically the more they are constipated, the less they end up feeling the urge to defecate because the nerves aren't sending the right signals efficiently.

I do remember that after a bad bout, we had to be very careful he didn't back up again because the organs are all stretched out and still a bit "dulled" so it was terribly easy to start the cycle all over again before full healing had occurred.

I wonder if that's similar to what happened to your Jelly.

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Thanks, yes, I'm not even sure if I'm more relieved than Jelly, haha! I'm hoping no nerve damage was done but the vet did mention it's possible for these type of situations. As Jelly basically pushed everything out himself immediately after being given the enema, the vet doesn't think this is the case with him, thank goodness.

I'm just letting the guy rest and the vet said to hold off on feeding Jelly for another week. I wonder if Jelly will actually snatch the f/t rat next weekend when I offer it as it will be 3 weeks since he's eaten. Normally he just slowly slithers up to the rat (no rat dance required), gently places the head in his mouth (no coil/constriction) and begins the swallowing process! Not sure if it's because he's become accustomed to being fed f/t on a scheduled basis...or whether he stopped snatching/constricting because of the previously impacted heaviness at his tail end.

Thats great to hear! :gj:


Do you have an updated picture of Jelly? We wanna see the unlumped jelly...:)

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Originally Posted by Krazy99CL

Thats great to hear! :gj:


Do you have an updated picture of Jelly? We wanna see the unlumped jelly...:)

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Don't have any at the moment but will take a few and post them here tomorrow or day after. Just rying to let him rest a bit from today's "massive" ordeal, haha! :D

Man i was gonna be disappointed if i read the entire 7 pages only to find out he still didn't pooh. J/K.

Congrats on the passage. I bet jelly feels a lot more better good. I was getting sick just reading the posts having mental images...

I know that both Jade and Onyx did not show any interest in constricting their FT prey. Jade was given live, and so we are currently trying to go back to FT, but she did the same thing. Grab the rat while on the tongs gently and start swallowing. lol

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

I know that both Jade and Onyx did not show any interest in constricting their FT prey. Jade was given live, and so we are currently trying to go back to FT, but she did the same thing. Grab the rat while on the tongs gently and start swallowing. lol

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Maybe some bloods are just chillaxed like that, haha! Glad to hear mine isn't the only one. We'll see how he reacts to his food offering next Sunday! :) It'll be 3 weeks since he's eaten so I would think he'd be getting pretty hungry by then!

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Originally Posted by Krazy99CL

Thats great to hear! :gj:


Do you have an updated picture of Jelly? We wanna see the unlumped jelly...:)

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Here ya go! :) The lump is still there but the vet said it's just stretched tissue...and that it should eventually go away. He's definitely empty now! :P

http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...illaxin002.jpg
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...illaxin004.jpg
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...illaxin007.jpg
http://www.ball-pythons.net/gallery/...lliaxin009.jpg

A looker!!! I can't wait for my boys colors to come in. He's about a year old I think I've put him at. With NO reds coming in yet. :(

looking at the updated pic didnt see much diff but after comparing your prev pics, your doing a good job! keep it up. i trhink i see a smile by jelly.:gj:

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Originally Posted by Krazy99CL

looking at the updated pic didnt see much diff but after comparing your prev pics, your doing a good job! keep it up. i trhink i see a smile by jelly.:gj:

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Thanks! Yes, the lump is there but a bit smaller as well as the overall tail end. I noticed he is now able to move his tail end freely...whereas before defacating he could barely move it at all. As well, he is quite a bit lighter after dropping those loads the past few weekends, haha!

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

A looker!!! I can't wait for my boys colors to come in. He's about a year old I think I've put him at. With NO reds coming in yet. :(

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Never know with these guys! Like you, I can't wait until they get a year or two older and fully develop their colors! :snake:

Well my guy just pooped after 4 months. No joke like a freakin 12 inch turd. It was rediculous!! And dropped about 300 grams in weight.

Like yours he's now moving a lot more. With more ability to contort. But now he's also got a lot of stretched tissue. Did your vet say how long it would take for it to go back to normal?

How's yours doing?

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Well my guy just pooped after 4 months. No joke like a freakin 12 inch turd. It was rediculous!! And dropped about 300 grams in weight.

Like yours he's now moving a lot more. With more ability to contort. But now he's also got a lot of stretched tissue. Did your vet say how long it would take for it to go back to normal?

How's yours doing?

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Haha...glad to hear he finally let go! At least he did it on his own! :) Like your guy, Jelly feels quite a bit lighter now. Amazing, eh?!

Unfortunately, my vet didn't mention specifically how long it would take nor did she say 100% for sure it would go back to normal. I'm just hoping, as Jelly's case involved a specific area which was abnormally stretched, that no internal nerve damage was done...and of course that the area does shrink back to normal over time. I really can't do too much at this point but to be patient and wait to see. As your instance involves what seems to be a more natural case of stretching, I would think you should have no worries in that your boy will return back to "normal" size.

Perhaps others can share their experiences and knowledge of blood "stretching" for us as well! :P

I know this is quite an old thread but I was having a problem with my blood having hard urates. After reading this thread I soaked my blood in about a foot of water. I pulled him out to massage him a bit and ended having to run to the toilet so that he didnt drop three huge urates on my carpet. Now hopefully he will poop on his own. Thanks everyone who put in info on this thread.

My blood didnt poop for 6 months, and I put him in water just deep enough to force him to swim a little, I had to watch him very closely to make sure he did not drown, but he eventually started to try to poop, as he did so I very gently massaged his backside and 3 giant urates came out, and I mean GIANT...

1 week later he took a giant super dump, it was freakin huge, he literally dropped a turd that was more than 1/3 his body length it was ridiculous. I feel like the large hard urate stones were blocking him up, and the swim got those out along with the massage and this freed up his feces so he could have a bowel movement on his own.

How's the snake doing, I had a female that was like that a some months ago that I thought was a blockage but turned out to be something worse and I lost her.