HELP! Green urate!

Oh boy so I'm super on edge right now because I just got back from a 6 day trip, checked on Tapioca and found a very green urate inside his hide. It's more like a pine green in person. I will post a photo in a moment.

Should I be alarmed? Could this be a sign of sickness? I've been reading how it's considered normal as long as it's infrequent, and the green is caused by bile, but I'm worried about how it's super green. However I've also seen a minority mention it could be a sign of kigney failure??

Please, can anyone tell me if this is bad or normal? Should I take Tapioca to the vet and/or send a stool sample?

I'm very anxious because I STILL haven't heard back from the vet with Kallari's necropsy result.

Quick context: For those who don't know about this sad news, Kallari has passed away unexpectingly February 1st. The immediate necropsy results were that her heart seemed fairly large for her body, but this could be a result of post moterm.

They also found an obstruction in her lower GI and what they suspect was the cause of her death. Seems she ingested some reptibark. Her organs have been sent to the lab which I am still desperately waiting for the results.

I am terrified if somehow something is also wrong with Tapioca or I'm just being paranoid because of what happened with Kallari? Please give feedback

All 9 of my snakes pass green bile from time to time, one of which is a 19 year old BP.

I can understand your concern considering what you have just gone through, but I don’t think there is anything to worry about unless it was a massive quantity.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

All 9 of my snakes pass green bile from time to time, one of which is a 19 year old BP.

I can understand your concern considering what you have just gone through, but I don’t think there is anything to worry about unless it was a massive quantity.

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Thank you so much for replying! It really helps take a load of anxiety off my mind. I wasn't sure if I was overreacting because of what happened to Kallari or if I had a legit concern.

Forgot to post a photo. It looks more neon bc of the lighting, but it's more of a pine green in person. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...c6f2dec3cc.jpg

Considering your recent loss of your other snake: I would recommend that you speak to your Vet regarding this issue. What we consider normal under regular circumstances is evidence during an investigation.

I agree with other posts above...colorful urates are fairly "normal" now & then but it wouldn't hurt to show & ask the vet, all things considered. It's probably
"nothing" but asking means you're a caring owner, even though I think it's a small chance of it being significant.

I've seen my share of greenish, yellowish or gray urates. The color of most concern is orange (or reddish), as I recall.

It's a real shame that Kallari ingested some Reptibark. It's not as if snakes in the wild don't ingest debris too (as some always like to point out) but when they're our pets, I think prevention is the better way. Snakes have strong digestive enzymes but only for their normal foods...they cannot, unfortunately, digest wood or other plant fibers, & such debris can cause an obstruction or even a perforation...it's very hard for a vet to fix that, even if you had realized in time.

Under normal circumstances I wouldn't sweat a green poo, I've seen a handful through the years. Never one quite that green though. It almost looks like chewed gum.

But, considering, I wouldn't hesitate to make a vet appointment. It certainly won't hurt and will hopefully give you the peace of mind you deserve.

Please keep us posted.

Yeah I think preventative measures are key ..
I use orchid bark in all mine BUT feed over pieces of card to minimise the chance of ingestion


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Thank you for the advice everyone! I got Kallari's lab results back and it was reported her pancreas, liver, a section of intestine, and spleen were all normal.

I admit I was disappointed her heart was not sent despite it being noted to be "large for her body".

My biggest disappointed and upset was this;

"Submitting the brain may have given us more information regarding Kallari's neurologic status, but we could not do that and preserve her skeleton as you requested."

I wish they told me this. I did request to take care of her skeleton IF POSSIBLE, because I wanted her body back to have her skeleton preserved. They could have atleast informed me that meant restrictions and skipping out on the brain being submitted all together.

If I was told this from the beginning, I would have told them it was fine to do so because knowing the truth and what happened to Kallari was a higher priority.

They just assumed and didn't even ask, just told me after the fact. Even when I got her body back I wasnt told this.

Very disappointed and upset. Never going to that exotic vet ever again.

In regards to Tapioca, since Kallari's digestive organs were fine, is it safe to assume Tapioca's green urate is unrelated? When I mentioned I had another snake they only said to watch for any "neurological signs."

With this new info, should I still have Tapioca seen (by a different exotic vet) or wait since I don't have any feces/urate samples to give right now. (The green one was stupidly lost)

My husband thinks I should hold off taking Tapioca to the vet until he passes his next urate or feces to see if it's green again.

Thoughts?

Preserving your pets skeleton? Dark stuff--I like it!

As for necropsy results: There is a wide variety of skill levels between necropsy technicians. It is good to know what they think, but, unless there is something obvious...I wouldn't risk the health of another pet on their results.

Bringing the snake to the Vet without a sample may not be productive unless there is something that can be spotted/palpated. If there is nothing obviously wrong with the snake I personally would check all of my heating elements to make sure they are functioning properly and wait for the next sample with fingers crossed that it comes out 'normal'. If you get another weird excretion: I recommend you refrigerate (don't freeze the sample) and make an appointment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Preserving your pets skeleton? Dark stuff--I like it!

As for necropsy results: There is a wide variety of skill levels between necropsy technicians. It is good to know what they think, but, unless there is something obvious...I wouldn't risk the health of another pet on their results.

Bringing the snake to the Vet without a sample may not be productive unless there is something that can be spotted/palpated. If there is nothing obviously wrong with the snake I personally would check all of my heating elements to make sure they are functioning properly and wait for the next sample with fingers crossed that it comes out 'normal'. If you get another weird excretion: I recommend you refrigerate (don't freeze the sample) and make an appointment.

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Thank you for your thoughts!

Yeah, Kallari's goodbye was tragic but I want her memory to be beautiful. She was very dear to me, and I feel having her bones preserved would in a way, have her reborn and be at peace.

I'm beyond furstrated at this vet and will not risk going back to them again! It also rubbed me the wrong way I never got a single "sorry for your loss." Or any sympathetic attitude. Just make notes, ask what services I wanted and accepted payment. For record keeping the receptionist asked Kallari's name but when I handed her body the receptionist just said 'Okay I will take your snake now".

Yet, she referred to other people's exotic pets (parrots, and a bearded dragon) by their name when they saw her.

It's just added insult to the injury :/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lord Sorril

Preserving your pets skeleton? Dark stuff--I like it!

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Ha! I thought the same thing!!! I think it's a really cool idea and preserved would make a really cool tribute.

As for what to do regarding a vet visit...
I think I would be inclined to err on the side of caution, but like mentioned above without a sample it's probably worth waiting.
I will defer to those more experienced with illness and vets though, as my experience there is limited to research and no first hand experience regarding illness and vets.

Best of luck. You're in my thoughts.