Female laid slugs, still has an egg left

My female pastel had her pre-lay shed around 5/6 and is currently on day 28.

Over the course of a few days last week, she laid multiple slugs. She clearly still has at least one egg to go and I am hoping that it is fertile. The last slug she laid was the one in the middle that looks fairly decent compared to the rest.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/8...7877cc40_b.jpg

I don't have a picture of her right now because I am trying to leave her alone to pass the egg. It is right at her vent.


When do you guys think I should start worrying? I am prepared to aspirate the egg if needed, although I'd really rather not! Right now I am just giving her some time to work it out on her own. My hope is that the egg is good and just hasn't finished cooking yet. Even if it is a slug, its no big deal to me, I just want to make sure my girl is okay :)

No advice? Similar scenarios? She is still in the same condition.. :(

I've not been in this situation, yet at least (knock on wood,) but from similar stories I've read I would think give her a few days (like 3) to pass it. If she still hasn't on her own then visit a vet for an oxytocin injection and advice and go from there. Hopefully people with more experience chime in. I'm sure it's a good thing that it's down lower and not high up in her body, seems more likely she'll pass it. Good luck!

Yeah, I think other threads like this said to wait like 5 days and then go get an oxytocin shot. If you're lucky she will pass it between the oxytocin shot and a date to aspirate. Don't try to massage it out because you can damage the oviduct. Maybe a luke warm soak will help.

Thanks guys. Didn't know about the oxytocin shot.

Looks like I might need to make a vet appt for next week then if she doesn't pass it. I will try a warm soak tonight.

You posted earlier on my old thread... but reading now you said its near her vent..... Mine had her egg about where she ovulated... we had two shots given to her, then they aspirated it........ the vet was AWESOME.... if you lived in AZ I would recommend him to you....... hopefully your girl will pass hers with no problem.. .again fingers are crossed....... :please:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ms_jojo

You posted earlier on my old thread... but reading now you said its near her vent..... Mine had her egg about where she ovulated... we had two shots given to her, then they aspirated it........ the vet was AWESOME.... if you lived in AZ I would recommend him to you....... hopefully your girl will pass hers with no problem.. .again fingers are crossed....... :please:

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Oh I didn't realize you were in AZ, which vet did you see?

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WE went to Doc Mackenzie In flag........it was one of the closest Vets... I really REALLY liked him.......... his handling.... his knowledge... he just loved our lil girl........ all the Vets around here wont touch a snake.. W T H... lol

Oh. Good to know if I ever move up north. I'm down in Phx, I do know a couple good vets down here.

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I talked briefly with a well known local vet here in Chicago, Jason Olech, and he suggested to aspirate the egg if she isn't in distress. He noted that Oxytocin is not very effective in snakes. He offers a mobile veterinary service so I will be giving him a call.

Looks like poor Starbuck is off to the vet :( Poor baby!

Hey there! I had a very similar experience with a clutch a few years back now. In that case, the female laid a number of slugs over the span of a week or two, sort of at her own pace. The last egg took several days longer to pass than the others, but did pass naturally. I think without the 'momentum' of the eggs behind it, and the surface area of a normal egg for contractions to work against, a slug as the last egg in a clutch can be difficult to pass. Like yours, each successive egg seemed to be formed slightly better, but in the end, they all ended up infertile and oblong.

That being said, I would avoid oxytocin for sure. The efficacy of oxytocin in snakes is at best questionable, and in some cases (not all by any means) it has been suggested to cause issues like the rupturing of the oviduct and/or eggs, which can have fatal results. From what I understand, if it's effective at all, it would be in the very early stages of laying, say within the first several hours laying was induced. Aspirating the egg is a viable option, but should probably be done by a professional. I either case, I would give it several days before taking that step, and see if she passes it normally. I would also say try to gently but firmly milk the egg out, especially if it's near her vent. If for some reason it hasn't moved down the oviduct, it's probably something that can't be solved by manual milking. Try not to worry too much in these early stages though. Although a ruptured egg is a serious threat, I don't believe it's an immediate one with slug clutches. If weeks have passed and there is no progress, I would be be much more concerned. I think hormonal signals and contractions just become confused for slug clutches; slug clutches don't seem to follow all of the normal laying patterns. Anywho, that's just my advice, and should be taken with a grain of salt as I am by no means among the more experienced breeders on this forum! Good luck either way, and keep us updated!

Cheers,
-Matt

Thanks for the input! After talking with my vet, he said best course of action would be to aspirate the egg and not bother with the Ocytocin, as it is usually ineffective on snakes.

I did try a warm soak and a gentle massage, but no luck :( She will be seeing the vet shortly.

Poor girl. Let us know how the vet trip went. Hopefully once the egg is aspirated she'll be able to pass it no problem.