Miriam vent-- normal?

[Lori P]

Hi guys-- just snapped this pic of Miriam's vent area-- does this look odd? Might just be me. She goes back to the vet tomorrow for her second Metronidazole treatment, so can have him look at her then. She just looks thick right up to her vent, then goes down so suddenly, and there is "stuff" around her vent.

And Mordecai sticking his nose in where he doesn't belong, lol!

[Lori P]

Here's a better close up.

[Stefan-A]

Looks familiar, sort of.

I don't know what it is or what the cause is in your case, but in mine, the stuff around the vent was uric crystals and it was a sign of dehydration. More about that case in the thread "Dingleberry".

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

soak her in a warm water bath or wet bag her overnight i dont wet bag because it scares me

[GarterGuy]

Hmmmm....not sure about that one. Maybe as Stephan was saying, it's just some uric crystals around the vent. It does look like the body is disteneded just before the vent (not sure if it's just the pic or if that's actually how it is). I'd definitely say something to the vet about it.

[adamanteus]

As the others have already said, that looks like uric crystals. It appears to me that the crystals have formed a blockage in the cloaca and other 'debris' is backed up behind it. Definitely let your vet know.

In the meanwhile I would recommend a luke-warm bath and some very gentle massage/manipulation, to try to clear the obstruction. Good luck, Lori.

[Lori P]

Thanks guys-- will soak/bathe her when I get home tonite. Silly snake, always coming up with new ways to test me!!!!

[Lori P]

THANK YOU GUYS--- I got home tonite, let Miriam swim and soak in warm water, and then very gently felt long her vent area... I felt something really hard... so with a warm, damp paper towel I gently massaged and lightly pushed and THIS came out, followed by loads of poops:






The poop that followed was mucous-y and very smelly. Also, she has some tissue protruding from her vent area now, which I assume is from the irritation/swelling?? She seems ok; she went back to her tank and proceeded to check around for a meal! I will bring the stone to the vet tomorrow night, and have him check her over very carefully.

She HAS to feel better with that gone... but I still felt a smaller hardness further up, but did not want to push anymore on her. Geez, she's so tiny, I feel like I could crush her, you know??

Ideas on what this is, and why... think she got dehydrated when she was ill??

[adamanteus]

That's a uric crystal, Lori. What you describe happening is exactly what I hoped for. The second 'hard lump' might need to be teased out in the same way... keep an eye on it as it moves down Miriam's' body, as it nears the vent repeat tonight's exercise. I suspect that the dehydration started before not since the formation of this stone, dehydration can often be a contributory factor in this kind of thing. Good work getting it out. Was the mega poo a surprise? I should have warned you!

Of course you should know.... you probably saved her life tonight. Well done you!

[gregmonsta]

lol I think some normal snake poos can be mega enough Nice to see another problem solved.