found my snake in the washer!

My ball python has been missing for almost a week. I found him tonight when I was pulling clothes out of the washer. He was on top of the clothes. When I pulled him out and wiped him down I placed him in his tank. He took a drink of water a threw up twice. Before that he went to the bathroom and it smelled really really bad. Im worried! ! Has anyone experienced this?! Please help!

Did he go through the wash?

Speachless

I'll try to contribute. I'd take him to the vet. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by elbee

Did he go through the wash?

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When I put the clothes in he wasn't in there.. and when I opened the washer he was on top of thr wet clothes.

Yes obviously I would say take him to the vet to be flushed out. Depending on the soap and if your BP was ran throw you might have poisoned the snake. BPs can hold their breath for a long time and can take a breath in pretty quick. I think that your animal most likely ingested detergent and if it has bleach in it you need to go to the vet ASAP as that is fatal. I would recommend either leaving it alone or research flushing toxins out. Most common thing I hear is take a syringe with water and flush it out to the back of the BPs mouth. Please read and post the contents of the soap or detergent you use.

How did the snake get in do you think? Via the clothes? I highly doubt that there is an opening in the machine where he could have been inside the machine and got into the washing part so he either got in via a load of clothes or climbed in when the door was open. Is it a top load or side load washer?
Was the water set to extra hot, hot, medium or cold? Did the washer get ran with him in it? How is he doing now? Any visible injuries?

So you think that he climbed in after the clothes were washed? Is it possible he was in while it was washing? Also my previous questions still apply.

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Originally Posted by elbee

Did he go through the wash?

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I tore the house apart looking for him and I had separated the clothes pretty good I thought... its a top load washer amd I use gain soap no bleach. But when I went to take the clothes out they were still really wet amd he was on top of the clothes I feel like he wouldn't have survived a spin cycle and I opened the washer twice who I it was washing. Hes doing better now.. but I am still concerned. Amd his vomiting has ceased as well. He is breathing fine and has good tongue movement.

Im new to this forum. So I had replied to someone else on accident. But im sure you can see this thread.

Cold water. Hes getting better. Do you think he would have been on the top of the clothes if he went through the cycle? I heard a clinking sound right after the wash ended and I went to check it out and there he was. I wish I could post a picture of him when I opened the washer to show you..

Yes a top load spin cycle would have been rough. I think that he could have survived it. The fact that he threw up would tell me that he must have been thrashed around, held his breath or ingested something. If the wash was set to hot I would with out a doubt take him in. Obviously I dont know exactly but I would guess a vet visit for something like this will be 50 dollars for the appointment and that might be it! If the vet flushes him some how or gives meds then maybe add 30-60 dollars on top of that if I had to guess. Just in case I would check his belly for injuries. I would hold him and let him slither from my hands into his enclosure while I inspected down along his spine for any kinks or visual injuries. If you are not taking him to the vet I would ensure (of all times to do this now would be the best)he has 2 great hides, exactly proper temps and humidity where he can be on the hot or cold side in a hide. He will need to relax. I would also make sure that his water bowl is filled 3/4 high roughly at all times with fresh water. Try to maintain your feeding schedule and update us on when he eats. I would probably wait 2 days from now and offer him food to hopefully help flush out the nasty until then do a quick inspection and then leave him alone. I'm sorry this happened but now you'll just have to wait it out and see or take him to the vets. I hope that after he relaxes and gets some fluids in him and maybe some food that he will recover!

Yes if he went threw the cycle I think he would be on top trying to gasp for air and stay afloat. Be very thankful that it was cold water and not x-hot!!!! He would have had a hell of a ride and probably injested a good amount of soap as well as getting belly injuries from the agitator in the center of the machine where he most likely tried clinging to in order to stay afloat.

Yes, I would definitely take him to the vet. Besides injesting the soap, between the agitator and spin cycle he may have internal injuries or even broken ribs as well.

You opened the doornand he was there? Sounds like he went through the cycle. Doubt he would open the machine, close the lid and then have these symptoms. It probably threw up due to the spin cycle. You need to get it fresh water, leave it alone and at least call the vet.

Please keep us updated. I'm curious now.

Speechless. It sounds to me like it was in the clothes when you threw them in the wash. Poor snake... I hope everything ends up OK.

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Originally Posted by MrLang

Speechless. It sounds to me like it was in the clothes when you threw them in the wash. Poor snake... I hope everything ends up OK.

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Definitely what I'm thinking.
A vet visit is definitely in order to have him analyzed for internal complications or injuries. Until then, he must be left alone with fresh water.

This might be way of topic but how do you start a post in this part of the forum?

Off topic

Just noticed this thread. I had a very similar experience a number of years ago. At the time I had a Ruthven's Kingsnake that got out of his cage and dissappeared. I looked through my whole small apartment, but didnt find him. So I went on with life like usual. About a week after this, I did my laundry in the apartment washroom- washed and dried it, pulled the clothes from the dryer and threw them into a hamper. I took the hamper back to my apartment and let it sit there for a couple days (I was a lazy bachelor). So now it was about a week and a half after the snake had escaped, that I take the hamper of clothes, dump it on my bed, and I discovered the snake was among the clothes.

Along the top of his back about one scales width, nearly the entire length of his body, it was scuffed and had numerous spots that were bloody (dried). He was alive, but very lethargic and didn't respond much to my picking him up. I honestly didnt hold out much hope for him, but I put him back in his cage and gave him some fresh water. He drank for a solid 30 minutes or so and then just rested. The next day I checked on him, and he appeared a bit more responsive. His back was scabbed up pretty well and there was no active bleeding. So I watched him for a few more days and he appeared to be improving, and I successfully fed him about a week after his ordeal.

So I believe he went through the wash and a dryer cycle, and lived to hiss the tale. Other than a scar along the top of his back, he came through it without any noticeable problems. The scar became less and less noticeable as he has shed. I still have him years later, though he getting to be an old snake (at least 18 years old now).

Okay here's the update:
After putting him back in his tank he soaked in his water bowl and drank his fill (I then Changed the water) he was slightly lethargic. But his body and tongue movements started to go back to normal. I stayed up all night with him. Keeping close watch on him. His condition improved little by little. This morning he is I would say about 90% better. He has some slight heat marks on his scales. But his ribs and everything are okay. Hes responding to his environment. I was so happy that tears were streaming down my face.
This has been a horrifying learning experience for me. And I have taken precautions so this can be prevented from happening again.
I also contacted a vet (I live in medford oregon) and for some reason they told me there was there was nothing he can do.
But as of now his condition has improved alot and I am very grateful for this. And thank you everyone for your support!

By some miracle hes survived this ordeal. Body movements and tongue flicking is normal his locomotion is okay. I felt his body and there seems to not be any sign of internal trauma (from what I can tell). I am planning on holding off feeding him till Wednesday or so depending on how he is. I also checked the washer (its an older model) and there's a hole above the basin where when i shine a flashlight and use a mechanics mirror it actually leads to the back of the inside. Its a seperated section. So im hoping he had crawled under it and climbed the wires searching for escape after the cycle was over.

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Originally Posted by Caspian163

This might be way of topic but how do you start a post in this part of the forum?

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I went to my profile and selected the tap start thread and it gave me a list of where to put it and I selected this one.

Oh wow an Orgonian. I am in Portland now but have lived all over. I'm glad to hear he's seeming better but I still worry about his internals. I had a pretty stressful situation recently too and worried one of mine had sustained an injury from a fall. Good luck with her!

oh hey i didnt even realize that you were up there. and yes i am still leery of his conditon. but everything seems to be better, i am goin to take him to the local reptile experts here and just see if he has any advice or can look at him for me.

Of possible get an Xray. That way u can see if there's anything internal damage. I really hope he's ok. Must have been a really hard ordeal for both of u. Keep is posted.

My goodness, what a nightmarish occurrence. I'm pulling for your little boy. I know I'd be crying from relief too. Keep us posted!

Please take him to a vet. I find it very hard to believe a vet would tell you that there was nothing he could do. If he did, find a new vet and take him there. It's worth the small exam fee to ensure the health of your animal.

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Originally Posted by Soterios

Please take him to a vet. I find it very hard to believe a vet would tell you that there was nothing he could do. If he did, find a new vet and take him there. It's worth the small exam fee to ensure the health of your animal.

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Actually I thought about this a bit and I'm not sure there is anything a vet could do. If it has a broken rib, what are they going to do? If it has a bit of poisoning, what are they going to do? I don't think you can sedate and pump the stomach of a ball python. At the end of the day fresh water and a little peace and quiet is probably best. I'm inclined to say that a vet visit is unnecessary stress and the stress itself might make things worse.

I think the vet should have provided an explanation of why they can't help though, so given the description I'd be inclined to get a second opinion from someone else who specializes in reptiles.

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Originally Posted by Soterios

Please take him to a vet. I find it very hard to believe a vet would tell you that there was nothing he could do. If he did, find a new vet and take him there. It's worth the small exam fee to ensure the health of your animal.

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The OP said she contacted "a vet". If that vet doesn't typically see exotics or even snakes then he truly may have felt there was nothing "he" could do, but if that were the case then he could have suggested a different vet.

Definitely bring your ball python to a qualified herp vet! A radiograph may determine if your snake has internal damage, including broken ribs, fractured vertebrae or possible damage to internal organs! Also viewing the radiograph, the thorax and lung fields can be assessed for aspiration pneumonia (fluid getting into the lungs starting an infection or inflammation), pneumothorax, or other possible pathologies. Your snake may seem fine visually from the outside, but may slowly wither away if you don't know what's going inside!