Hasn’t pooped but isn’t bloated… does sound gassy?

[mcusername]

I have a ball python who’s close to 13 years old. He recently had a pretty bad RI that I had to give shots for for nearly 6 months before he got better. Since his last round of shots he hasn’t pooped. He’s probably been fed 3 times. Maybe coming up on 2 months since he’s pooped. He’s passing the solid white pee bits but that’s it. He’s been eating fine, he’s not bloated at all. I soak him regularly since I was advised to do that during his infection and now do it once a week maybe and more when he’s getting ready to shed. Was suggested by the vet.

When I run my thumb down his belly, he sounds like he has some bubbles in there but I don’t really feel any blockages. Today the bubbles were really prominent in one part of his body. I’ve heard that you can feel when they’re gassy but never experienced that and it doesn’t feel like it’s getting moved along. It almost sounds like hollow bubbles if that makes sense. Is this something to be concerned about?

Should I continue feeding him every two weeks and just hope he’ll poop eventually or do I give him a break?

temps don’t drop below 80s. He’s gotten on the high side lately being summer and hot in the house. Humidity is mostly controlled by giving him a humidity box since the full cage is difficult to keep proper.

thanks.

[KMG]

I wouldn't stop feeding.

I would think about the caging to keep better humidity. Are you using a glass tank? I would guess you are. If so, I would create an insulated cover for the screen.

I would also look into upgrading to a PVC cage.

Six months seems like a long time to be fighting a RI and I would make the changes to insure it never happens again.

When I got my GTP he had a RI but I didn't have to do anywhere close to six months of injections.

[Bogertophis]

I have a ball python who’s close to 13 years old. He recently had a pretty bad RI that I had to give shots for for nearly 6 months before he got better. Since his last round of shots he hasn’t pooped. He’s probably been fed 3 times. Maybe coming up on 2 months since he’s pooped. He’s passing the solid white pee bits but that’s it. He’s been eating fine, he’s not bloated at all. I soak him regularly since I was advised to do that during his infection and now do it once a week maybe and more when he’s getting ready to shed. Was suggested by the vet.

When I run my thumb down his belly, he sounds like he has some bubbles in there but I don’t really feel any blockages. Today the bubbles were really prominent in one part of his body. I’ve heard that you can feel when they’re gassy but never experienced that and it doesn’t feel like it’s getting moved along. It almost sounds like hollow bubbles if that makes sense. Is this something to be concerned about?

Should I continue feeding him every two weeks and just hope he’ll poop eventually or do I give him a break?

temps don’t drop below 80s. He’s gotten on the high side lately being summer and hot in the house. Humidity is mostly controlled by giving him a humidity box since the full cage is difficult to keep proper.

thanks.

I would keep feeding him but do add probiotic powder to his prey (Bene-Bac for reptiles, or other brand). Remember that the antibiotic injections you gave him for "6 months" also destroyed a lot of his healthy gut bacteria that helps his digestion. I believe that's why he's now digesting poorly & sounding 'gassy'- he could use some help, putting back the beneficial bacteria now missing from his gut.

I'm glad he doesn't seem blocked up but that's a concern, & you do want him to be getting the nutrition he needs out of his meals: I would feed prey that's on the small side for a while, as it will be easier to digest & therefore less likely to contribute to constipation (which is best avoided).

But include probiotics every meal for a while- I assume you're feeding f/t? If so, the best way to add probiotics is to pry open the rodent's mouth & put the powder in the oral cavity, then push the mouth closed. (The alternative is to sprinkle it on a damp rodent, but when the snake swallows it, most of the powder falls off & never makes it into the snake.)

[Jamiekerk]

If he’s been given anti biotics they will also destroy the snakes good flora in there gi tract, soaking for rehydration along with probiotic to increase the snakes natural flora should help. Also soaking can help a snake poop


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