Medical question

Ok, so i have a female hognose, about a year old, maybe a little older. She ate something bad a few months ago and recouped just fine but i have noticed she seems swollen in the last 2/3 of her body compared to my other hogs. she has grown since she had the bad encounter of the eaten kind, but i just want to double check and see if it's a possibility gastrous problems could ocure or be consistant over several months without any debilitating affects. She eats great, still active, still moves the very tip of her tail, no major lethargy, just feels bloated (almost like she is gravid but she is too young to breed).
Also, never had this happen with any of my others, but could it be her getting mature? Maybe she is getting her little snake time of the month? :rofl: She seems fine, but i always like to make sure, regardless, especially if it's common.

What did she eat that was bad?

Do you have a picture?

Is the bloating right up to the vent area?
If it ends at the vent, then I suggest giving a warm soak until something comes out. Has she pooped or urated for you since this bloating has occurred?

Other than that, the only other thing I know of as of yet that can cause bloating is overheating. So check the temps.

Let us know, and if all else fails, take her to the vet. :gj:

First, I assume you are talking about a Western hognose, not an Eastern, Southern, Tricolor, or Madagascan?

She may be to young, but has she been kept with a male? Just because we think they are to young, does not mean they can't and won't.

Also, what do you mean she ate something bad? Are you talking about a regurge? If so, regurge does not necessarily mean the food was bad, it can be a symptom of several things including parasites.

You mention that she moves fine, eats fine, etc....but no mention of pooing normally. If she is not pooing then she could be backed up or impacted. What kind of substrate do you keep her on, and do you feed her on said substrate?

I agree with Jess, pics would be helpfull.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

What did she eat that was bad?

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She had an eastern newt. It snuck into her cage while i wasn't ooking and she gulped it down with a few pinks.

So she regurged and thats how you were able to identify it? Otherwise, if you weren't looking when it snuck in.... you see where I'm going?

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Originally Posted by whytepizza

She had an eastern newt. It snuck into her cage while i wasn't ooking and she gulped it down with a few pinks.

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Wait, how did it sneak into her cage exactly? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. :weirdface
Also, was it bad food because of it's toxicity?

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Do you have a picture?

Is the bloating right up to the vent area?
If it ends at the vent, then I suggest giving a warm soak until something comes out. Has she pooped or urated for you since this bloating has occurred?

Other than that, the only other thing I know of as of yet that can cause bloating is overheating. So check the temps.

Let us know, and if all else fails, take her to the vet. :gj:

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It is up to the vent, yes. And yes, she is a Western (i'm sorry for the confusion on that). Well, as for substrate she was on Crushed Walnut shell, now she is on carpet. I've used Walnut shell for years and never had a problem, but i switched to stay safe and there is a first time for everything, i suppose.
As for eurates, i've seen a few. First when she was on walnut shell, some nice white blotches being soaked up. As for poops, she hasn't really pooped, but none of my hogs really poop alot, and if they do they bury it quickly. she has pooped a few times in her water dish (only reason i know this is because it makes the whole room smell like dead rat and the water turnes a nice greenish color.). But, yes, she is bloated up to her vent. It looks like she had just laid eggs. Not alot of bloating, but it's noticable to me and only my 3 females bloat at all.
I will definintely soak her. Will giving her a little olive oil on her food to help flush things out be a bad idea?
Thanks so much for the help so far, guys!

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Wait, how did it sneak into her cage exactly? That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. :weirdface
Also, was it bad food because of it's toxicity?

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Snuck in there. Her feeding cage is next to where my daughter keeps her newts and snapping turtle. One eastern newt snuck out and got into her feeding cage through the screen mesh top. Yes, newts are toxic.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

So she regurged and thats how you were able to identify it? Otherwise, if you weren't looking when it snuck in.... you see where I'm going?

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Yep, when she regurged and when my little girl when, "Where is HENERY!!!!"

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Originally Posted by whytepizza

It is up to the vent, yes. And yes, she is a Western (i'm sorry for the confusion on that). Well, as for substrate she was on Crushed Walnut shell, now she is on carpet. I've used Walnut shell for years and never had a problem, but i switched to stay safe and there is a first time for everything, i suppose.
As for eurates, i've seen a few. First when she was on walnut shell, some nice white blotches being soaked up. As for poops, she hasn't really pooped, but none of my hogs really poop alot, and if they do they busy it quickly. she has pooped a few times in her water dish (only reason i know this is because it makes the whole room smell like dead rat and the water turnes a nice greenish color.). But, yes, she is bloated up to her vent. It looks like she had just laid eggs. Not alot of bloating, but it's noticable to me and only my 3 females bloat at all.
I will definintely soak her. Will giving her a little olive oil on her food to help flush things out be a bad idea?
Thanks so much for the help so far, guys!

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Hmm, I don't know the liver properties of a snake to know if that could be healthy, useless, or dangerous to the snake. I'd say wait and see if anyone can chime in with a true answer before you do that.
Give her a few soaks, if her waste is looking green, that might mean a vet appointment is due. She could also have parasites from the newt. (seems likely that a water dwelling animal would transfer more nasties easily)

Soak her and see if the bloating goes down. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

Hmm, I don't know the liver properties of a snake to know if that could be healthy, useless, or dangerous to the snake. I'd say wait and see if anyone can chime in with a true answer before you do that.
Give her a few soaks, if her waste is looking green, that might mean a vet appointment is due. She could also have parasites from the newt. (seems likely that a water dwelling animal would transfer more nasties easily)

Soak her and see if the bloating goes down. Good luck!

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I think i'll take her to the vet anyway. I never thought of the parasite thing. I know nearly any sickness a rat or mouse has is not transfered to a snake, but my newts were WC and i don't want my little hoggie to get sick!
The one thing i sm curious about, though, is that she has been eating alot, hasn't had the bloating get bigger, and hasn't regurged anything. I wonder if it may just be normal? I only notice it because it's different than my male westerns.

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Originally Posted by whytepizza

I think i'll take her to the vet anyway. I never thought of the parasite thing. I know nearly any sickness a rat or mouse has is not transfered to a snake, but my newts were WC and i don't want my little hoggie to get sick!
The one thing i sm curious about, though, is that she has been eating alot, hasn't had the bloating get bigger, and hasn't regurged anything. I wonder if it may just be normal? I only notice it because it's different than my male westerns.

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That probably is a sign of parasites. Take her to get a fecal done.

You might want to think about feeding in the enclosure to avoid this from happening again. :]

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Originally Posted by blackcrystal22

That probably is a sign of parasites. Take her to get a fecal done.

You might want to think about feeding in the enclosure to avoid this from happening again. :]

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Ironic that i finally decided to ask and post today. I just got home from work and my reptile room smelled. I looked over and she had defecated, not alot but it was still something. Black in color, white eurates not too far away. Figures. She isn't quite as bloated but her belly still seems a little 'soft' down near her vent.
Anyway, i'll take her to the vet to double check regardless, still seems like there is a parasite possibility.
As for the enclosure, since then i had changed cages and this one allows me the ability permanently segregate a section which i use specifically for feeding, unless she looses the prey then it's in a sprinkles container until they annoy her.
Subsequently, the newts are looong gone. My daughter decided that leaving them with a babu snapping turtle would be a good idea. She poured all her newts in there with him because he 'needed company.' Well, the turtle is fat now.
Thanks Jess, Littleindiangirl, and floridahogs for all the help! I'll keep youy guys updated on what the vet says.

Unfortunately, there are two things about WHSs that I don't know: breeding and health issues. It still looks like you got a lot of good answers though. I hope she gets better soon.

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Originally Posted by Onua Nuva

Unfortunately, there are two things about WHSs that I don't know: breeding and health issues. It still looks like you got a lot of good answers though. I hope she gets better soon.

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Thanks very much!
If you have breeding questions always more than happy to answer any that i can for you!
I think she'll be fine now that she finally 'went' and i can take a look at her when she feels normal. But, regardless, best to check with a vet.