First vet visit...shedding, but do I wait for poop?

[jjc]

So, my new BP (of about 3wks) seems to be ready to shed, and I'm still waiting for a poop to take him to the vet. My vet's office (Dr. Stahl's -SEAVS- practice in Vienna -- they currently treat my ferrets, and I love them, so I'm extra thrilled to have a fantastic herp vet in the same practice) didn't seem all that interested in (or insistent upon) seeing him until he poops (well, they weren't pushing for a visit in the meantime...I'm sure they'd be fine with seeing him, regardless), so should I expect a poop in the near future? I was reading various threads and forums, and the idea of waiting 5+ months for a poop (and subsequently, a vet visit) seems like a long time. If he doesn't poop after he sheds, should I still take him to the vet, or should I wait? I have no reason to believe "he" has mites or any other problems, but I am a bit anxious to get a vet's eyes on "him", get "him" sexed, and to rule out any other issues. Presumably, they can sex him and check him for mites without a fecal sample...is it worth taking him in before we can get the fecal sample? Or should I just chill out and wait to get the most bang for my buck?

Snakes are new to me, so I don't want to be slacking, but I also don't want to spend money on extraneous vet visits simply because I'm a newb. I've got a cat getting some pretty extensive dental work within the next month, and the ferrets need their Lupron injections (also at Dr. Stahl's practice) within the next couple of months (they need them during the winter months), and I've got a cat who eats inanimate objects on a regular basis (and seems to enjoy emergency vet visits and exploratory surgery), so I'm fine with being frugal, but I still want to be thorough and responsible with the new BP. The fact that he's "cheap", a reptile, and not particularly affectionate toward humans doesn't mean I want to neglect him, you know?

[Kaorte]

It for sure does not take 5 months for them to poop. At most a month.

If you are anxious to get to the vet then go ahead. When the snake poops, bag it and stick it in your fridge and then bring it in later for a fecal float. You shouldn't need a vet visit for this. They only cost like $20.

[jjc]

Well, I was reading the Blood Python forum pretty extensively last night, and I guess I got pretty freaked out at the idea that a snake could "hold it" for five months, lol. I guess my little guy will probably go sooner than that, right?

On a related note, when should I be concerned by the lack of poop? If 5mo is ridiculous, I'd like to know when I should start to be concerned.

[bobbittle]

Well, I was reading the Blood Python forum pretty extensively last night

Blood Python =/= Ball Python

I typically get a bowel movement at a minimum of every 2 weeks. Typically weekly (I feed weekly).

[WingedWolfPsion]

They USUALLY poop as often as they eat--sometimes they'll hold it for a few weeks. If he's in shed, expect a BIG ol' poop right after his skin's off.

[jjc]

Well, there you go. I know a Ball isn't a Blood, but the fact that a Blood can "hold it" for 5mo made me wonder how long a Ball can "hold it". Mine eats like a champ, so far. I've had him for a little over three weeks, and we've seen no poop (after one mouse fuzzy, then two more mouse fuzzies, and an adult mouse at his last feeding). I figured I'd be taking him and a fecal sample to the vet within the first month. How long should they reasonably "hold it"? If you're saying you get poop every two weeks, at a minimum, then we're past that. At what point should I be concerned?

As I said, he looks like he's about to shed, so maybe he'll poop after that. My plan was to take him to the vet after his first poop (so we can test for parasites at the same time he gets a general check-up and gets sexed). My concern is when I should sound the alarm about the lack of poop.

[jjc]

Well, he shed (perfectly...yay!), so I guess the countdown to poop is underway.

[jjc]

Cancel that last post...we have poop, too! Once I pulled his hide, I found that he decided to multi-task today.

[dr del]

Glad you got a nice present.


dr del

[mapleman]

Cancel that last post...we have poop!

Congratulations!