Prolapsed rectum

[RobNJ]

A local person that bought a mojave from me last summer texted me last night asking about a snake with "its intestines hanging out". Immediately, I thought of a prolapsed rectum, which it turned out to be, and it happened to be the mojave I produced dealing with it. I've never seen a prolapse or dealt with one in person, so with whatever quick research I could do, advised him to make sure his enclosure was spotless, try to keep the swollen area moist, and to get to a vet. Well, he got to the vet today, and was told that the snake needed surgery. Unfortunate situation, to say the least. The vet, who I also use, told this person that a prolapsed rectum is caused by feeding too often and/or feeding prey items that are too large, dehydration, stress caused by errors in husbandry, or a combination of all. I have read about using a sugar/water paste on the swollen area, neosporin, preparation H, etc...and help massage it back down and bandage it hoping it will go back into place, but felt it was not my place to inform the person to try such methods, as I can't speak to the effectiveness of them. I'd like to hear if anyone has experience this on their own. I also attached the pic of the prolapse that the person sent me last night...



I posted this so that...

A) For those who have never seen one, this is what a prolapsed rectum looks like. Not a pretty sight.

B) I'm all for cute pics, new pick ups, breeding pics, etc...but let's face it, bad things happen. Granted, this didn't happen to me, but why wait to talk about bad things until they actually happen to one of us?

C) It makes me rethink feeding even further. I only feed once a week, regardless of size, except for females that have bred...they get offered every 4-5 days, but smaller meals. So what I often think about is why, when balls easily thrive off of one feeding weekly, and can thrive on even less food, do people feed more, especially when they are young? This is not me being critical of anyone who feeds every 4-5 days, though I don't see any benefit to it other than the snake will grow faster. Sausage butts are cute and all, but seeing that a big blowout of feces, or passing waste too often can potentially lead to the picture above, is it worth the risk just so a snake grows a little faster? Balls digest much more slowly than, let's say, colubrids, who eat and then crap 2-3 days later. Balls can easily have 2+ meals in them between passing the waste.

Again, this is just open for discussion, and I'm not criticizing anyone or anything, as I truly don't know one way or the other. Would still also love to hear anyone's personal experiences with prolapses. From the reading I've done on them, they can be an easy home fix, though if it's a recurring problem, obviously something needs to be done aside from sugar and/or Preparation H.

[bclose93]

This can also happen if substrate sticks to the spurs when breading and is taken up when they retract. feel so sorry for that BP hope it gets better soon.

[Anatopism]

The vet we go to had to treat a red tail with a prolapse, and she also recommended a lukewarm sugar water bath, that is supposed to reduce the swelling.I remember seeing the red tail, not much larger than a hattchling, and had only been eating pink mice, which makes his situation unlikely to be large meals, and his prolaps stuck out about half the length of one of my fingers. He also needed surgery to tuck it all back in.

I have had luck with a prolapsed hemipene and water based lube (like you would use for probing) Alto keep it moist, and then put our boy in a very clean tub, changing paper towels out regularly.

Maybe you fan also discuss this with the vet, and your findings? Your vet may agree with some methods that may help the snake.

[satomi325]

I haven't dealt with a snake prolapsed rectum, but I have in mammals. The sugar thing does really work. Fill a small container with sugar. Dip the prolapsed hind end into the sugar. Wait a day or so and it will be gone. In the animals I have done, it was unnoticeable that the prolapse even happened.

I'm wondering if this home remedy is effective in reptiles as well as mammals?

Hope that little mojo gets better. Looks painful

[RobNJ]

and she also recommended a lukewarm sugar water bath

The sugar thing does really work. Fill a small container with sugar.

As good as my vet is with reptiles, he is equally as bad when it comes to food. He advised the person against the sugar treatment, saying it would promote bacterial growth, where in actuality, sugar is very bacterial resistant as far as food things go. It also works along the same lines as salt, where a highly concentrated sugar solution will draw water away, which would lead to the swelling of the prolapse to go down.

[Slim]

I'm no Vet, but I have a hard time believing that large prey items are the cause of this problem. There are a lot of people out there who probably over feed, and you don't hear about this happening too often. As far as the husbandry goes, that snake looks to be in pretty good health other than the prolapse.

[Royal Hijinx]

I coud see large prey being an issue, but only to exacerbate something the snake may have been prone to anyway. This happens in all animal types occasionally, including humans.

[jason79]

I have dealt with a prolapse on my friends chrondro. what I did was put sugar paste on the effected area let it sit for 30 mins or so and gently pushed it back in with the blunt side of a probe. We put her in a tub with damp paper towels for a week I did this about 6 months ago and she seems to be fine now she is eating a crapping just like normal. You could definitely injure or kill your snake trying this yourself so do so at your own risk.

[RobNJ]

I'm no Vet, but I have a hard time believing that large prey items are the cause of this problem. There are a lot of people out there who probably over feed, and you don't hear about this happening too often. As far as the husbandry goes, that snake looks to be in pretty good health other than the prolapse.

You don't hear about it happening that often, but truth is, we have no idea how often it happens...sure it's not mites or RI, but we don't know. I'd venture to guess that those who participate in snake/reptile forums are in the vast minority of those who actually own reptiles.

As far as too large of a prey item causing this problem, I would think it's entirely feasible. Give a snake a meal that is too large, and it is automatically going to pass a larger amount of waste. Whatever may be coming out with that larger amount of waste, whether it be bacteria, undigested hair, etc...could easily irritate what is a rather sensitive body part. Same goes for feeding too often. Let's say a snake eats 2,3,4 times, goes into shed, and after shedding let's all that waste out in one shot. That could potentially cause a good amount of stress to the rectum.

[Slim]

I'd venture to guess that those who participate in snake/reptile forums are in the vast minority of those who actually own reptiles.

I used to think this as well, but honestly, the majority of Ball Python owners and quite a few breeders don't have an online presence.