Snake threw up water?? Need help immediately!!

[Black_Shark]

Hey all

I just bought a 2006 Florida Goini Kingsnake from Repticon in Columbia, SC and on the way home, he pooped in his very small, clear plastic container and managed to get himself covered in it (very watery, most likely diarrhea due to major stress from show). Naturally, I put him in the bath tub, got a bar of soap and gave him a thorough bath (Rubbed my hands with the soap and ran them up and down his body while he was in the lukewarm water). He was not happy whatsoever with this arrangement but it couldn't be helped. After I finished his bath, I was taking him out and i hear a blehh sound and see water splattering on the ground (at least it looked like water. perfectly clear liquid and didn't smell). I'm assuming he threw it up. He was also hissing the majority of the time during the bath but like i said, it was either a bath or being covered in poop.

He was last fed tuesday/wednesday and there was NO food item/anything that resembled digestive fluid whatsoever. Now, im going to leave him alone for a week at least to let him get settled and calm before I feed him. He is on 1 ex-breeder (F/T) a week. Should I feed him after a week or wait 10 days and feed him a smaller food item? Was this a regurge or just getting rid of water he may have swallowed while swimming? Kinda like a human who swallows too much water? Please advise.

-Andrew

[JLC]

First off....don't use soap on your snake! I hope you made sure the poor thing was very thoroughly rinsed off. It's possible the soap irritated him enough that he threw up whatever water he swallowed.

While I don't think tossing up excess water after a bath will have the same "regurge" affects that throwing up a rodent will....if I were in your shoes, I would give it at least 10-14 days before trying to feed anything, to make sure any residual soap is out of his system. Make sure he has LOTS of clean water to drink.

[Black_Shark]

will do. I went back and looked at the throw-up and it actually has dried out and looks whitish/soapish so im assuming that he threw up some water/soap.

I did not know that soap was bad for a snake. It was your standard dial bar soap which I thought was safe for use on a snake? Will this harm him? And considering he was covered in poop, I thought a combo of water and soap would be more effective than just water.

[steveboos]

Yeah even soapy residue in a tub can affect a snake, so never use soap on a snake, the warm water would have done the same thing for you. Also make sure the breeder knows whats going on so if anything happens down the road, it isn't just like it popped up all of a sudden.

[Black_Shark]

How much damage can soap cause? As in death?

[JLC]

Well...just imagine how you'd feel if you swallowed about a gallon of soap and water. And they only have one functional lung...so if any chemical irritants get in there (ie: soap) it can be seriously harmful. Soap is simply not necessary. I understand the "ick" factor if he was covered in poop...but for future reference...simple, clean clear water is fine for cleaning, even if it may take more than one rinse to get all the mess off.

Will he be ok? I hope so. If he seems fine now, then he'll probably be ok. But keep an eye out for any respiratory distress that might develop. (Wheezing, open mouth breathing, or mucus in the mouth)

[Black_Shark]

Ok. sounds good. I examined him just now (opened his cage and listened) and there are no wheezing sounds coming from him. Nothing abnormal. I feel awful for making such a huge mistake but thats what ignorance does for you.

As far as I can tell, he looks and sounds normal but like you said, all that could change. And to clarify, I DID NOT use dish soap, antibacterial soap or anything liquid. I used regular Spring bar soap if that helps even a little bit. Blah

[cinderbird]

. I used regular Spring bar soap if that helps even a little bit. Blah

Doesn't matter. If the animals head is anywhere near where you are cleaning, don't use any additives. Warm water will be just fine for cleaning up messes.

[Black_Shark]

Roger that. Well, nothing left to do but wait. Unfortunately im stuck in Charlotte until early tomorrow morning when I get back to Raleigh and he gets put into his appropriate tub with heating and thermostat. Until then he is at room temp because the breeder told me he would be fine until tomorrow, but due to my ignorance addressing a simple unforeseen issue, he might not be fine at all. Might be a good time for me to start praying.

[cinderbird]

Roger that. Well, nothing left to do but wait. Unfortunately im stuck in Charlotte until early tomorrow morning when I get back to Raleigh and he gets put into his appropriate tub with heating and thermostat. Until then he is at room temp because the breeder told me he would be fine until tomorrow, but due to my ignorance addressing a simple unforeseen issue, he might not be fine at all. Might be a good time for me to start praying.

I would give him a nice soak in lukewarm water for 20 mins or so. It will allow him to hydrate (just rinse him off a few more times before soaking him to get any residue off). He'll drink some more. Most likely he will be fine, but his stools may be very lose since soap kind of acts as a lubricant in there.

You said he is an '06 so hes an adult animal with some size and reserves. He should be just fine. If he keeps acting strangely I would absolutely take him to a vet but logic tells me he'll be ok. (Granted, I am NOT a vet and do not know anything about how soap interacts with the digestive tracts of reptiles).