Need advice, is he ill?

[Sanyassin]

This is a follow up on my thread https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...=1#post2718111

After following Deborah's advise, I went in to feed my 55g baby ball, non eater today, a live fuzzy mouse. Still no interest, and I did a brief health inspection. His cloaca seemed swollen, with the swelling also running maybe 2 cm towards his body. I gently pressed, and about 2 cm of white discharge along with some urine came out. The area inside the cloaca pushed out a bit looking like I have seen in videos of popping to determine sex. I emphasize, I only applied gentle pressure.

Is this normal, is it urates and poop, or is it illness. Was he constipated and not eating because of that, or is he ill and needs a vet?

His weight from when I got him 12 days ago hasnt dropped, although he is still tiny and hasn't eaten now for 5 weeks.

[Sanyassin]

After a bit I reexamined, this looks infected...

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[dr del]

Hi,

I'm a little confused ( it's probably my age ) but you say you got him only 12 days ago but he hasn't eaten for 5 weeks?

How/ what was the previous owner feeding him? Snakes are creatures of habit and any change can put them off eating for a time. I think he looks in the second picture as though he may be about to pass a dookie but a full picture of the snake might help us judge his condition better.

I'm curious why the breeder would let him go as a non-eater - was he going into shed?


del

[Sanyassin]

Hi Del, the place I took him in from clearly had not treated him right. When i first saw him, he was clearly stressed, and hadnt eaten in 3 weeks by their records. He us supposedly 3 months old and only 55g. I tool him in to try and help, as I believe he would have died there.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Bogertophis]

No, the cloaca doesn't look right...maybe someone used sexing probes & did some injury & infection? I'd have him seen by herp. vet.
Poor little snake...

[Stewart_Reptiles]

If there was no food intake for that long and the animal is only 55 grams which is merely the weight out of the egg I would rule out fecal matter however depending on how it feels it can be a few other things.

If the lump feels soft gas are the likely issue.

If the lump feels hard dehydration and blockage due to a large dry out piece of urate is likely the cause.

While those can be assessed and taken care of at home it should be done by one with experience, and this will set you back as it is stressful.

Other option would be an issue with the digestive track which could explain the lack of feeding.

[tttaylorrr]

If there was no food intake for that long and the animal is only 55 grams which is merely the weight out of the egg I would rule out fecal matter however depending on how it feels it can be a few other things.

If the lump feels soft gas are the likely issue.

If the lump feels hard dehydration and blockage due to a large dry out piece of urate is likely the cause.

While those can be assessed and taken care of at home it should be done by one with experience, and this will set you back as it is stressful.

Other option would be an issue with the digestive track which could explain the lack of feeding.

how do you feel about the cloaca? it looks expressed but nothing truly alarming...right?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

how do you feel about the cloaca? it looks expressed but nothing truly alarming...right?

Honestly? Everything looks aweful (even the tail itself look depleated of all fat)

If I did not know better looking at the last third of this animal I would think that this is a hard belly that someone tried to massaged out and created the damage seen which includes the side of the cloaca as well.

This animal should be in the end of someone with more experience because there is more than the non feeding issue going on here.

[tttaylorrr]

Honestly? Everything looks aweful (even the tail itself look depleated of all fat)

If I did not know better looking at the last third of this animal I would think that this is a hard belly that someone tried to massaged out and created the damage seen which includes the side of the cloaca as well.

This animal should be in the end of someone with more experience because there is more than the non feeding issue going on here.

omg now i see it; how obvious. holy heck that animal is not well.

[Sanyassin]

Well, in this case, there is no one with more experience to care for this guy. I am the only one who is taking the time and putting myself fully into helping. And I will give it all it takes. We went to the herp vet yesterday, and a massive poop was stuck, 3 g poop for a 50 g snake. Poor guy was pushing with all his might while we were assisting his poop. Since his last feed with his former owner was Oct 8th, he had that poop stuck for a month. I wouldnt be eating with the equivalent of a nine pound poop in me either! Immediately afterward, he looked what I can only called relieved, and immediately started acting and looking like i am used to a ball python acting and looking. We ran a test for parasites. Vet is working closely with me to monitor and treat. I am letting him de-stress form the vet and will continue feeding protocol. Am hoping we are on a better track. Will keep everyone informed.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk