Help - Advice Please!!!!

[silatman]

I really need some advice. Our 6 month old Southwest Carpet Python seems to have a prolapse. Should we take her to the vet immediately or do you just leave it? Any advice would be appreciated, really worried about our little girl

 

[Waterrat]

Cover the prolapse with sugar (preferably raw) and take it to the vet unless you know how to insert it back, tape it, etc..

 

[Funkstaa]

personally I have a thing of 'if in doubt get it checked out'...Have never had anything like that happen knock on wood but doesn't sound good...Best of luck!

 

[silatman]

Thanks guys, I will ring the vet now. Best to be safe than sorry.

 

[Megzz]

Good luck with her

 

[LadyJ]

Put her on some paper towel so no substrate can get where it shouldn't be and I've HEARD that you can apply lube to the area and hope it goes back in (don't do it until someone can clarify)! Best of luck, keep us posted!

 

[Waterrat]

Put her on some paper towel so no substrate can get where it shouldn't be and I've HEARD that you can apply lube to the area and hope it goes back in (don't do it until someone can clarify)! Best of luck, keep us posted!

It's not hard to get it in (if it can be pushed in), you don't need to use lube. What is important is to make the exposed bowel shrink. By putting sugar or saturated sugar solution on it, the osmotic reaction takes the fluid out of the swollen bowel and it often contracts in by itself. If it doesn't the sugar will do no harm.

 

[redbellybite]

It's not hard to get it in (if it can be pushed in), you don't need to use lube. What is important is to make the exposed bowel shrink. By putting sugar or saturated sugar solution on it, the osmotic reaction takes the fluid out of the swollen bowel and it often contracts in by itself. If it doesn't the sugar will do no harm.

agreed I have seen it on cows ...and the sugar being used ..kinda gross but it works ..

 

[ezekiel86]

Make sure the vet has done this b4 or has a great understanding of pythons..i have Hurd some and seen some shocking things from vet...they are all pretty much amazing with dogs n cats but when it comes to reptiles not so much!
Mates python got killed by the local vet ..used the wrong thing in a needle and killed the snakes within 2 mins...

 

[silatman]

Thanks for the horror stories, now I'm really worried :shock:

We don't have much choice for herp vets down this way but I took her to the closest one (still a 45minute drive!) and they pushed it back in, and stitched it closed. I've been told that her bowel is empty now and not to feed her for 2 weeks, then they'll remove the stitch. They also gave her an antibiotic to stop any infection. Hope this treatment is OK and she'll be alright.:?

 

[Snakelove]

wait so they stitched up the cloaca? is that standard procedure for a prolapse?

 

[Waterrat]

They only put in one suture, alternatively it can be taped up with a soft sticky tape (strip cut from a band-aid).

 

[Snakelove]

Ahh okay. Just the idea of having a 'hole' stitched up..not a good image lol

 

[Waterrat]

Better than having your bowel hanging out and dragging it behind. LOL

 

[LadyJ]

wait so they stitched up the cloaca? is that standard procedure for a prolapse?

Doesn't sound right... maybe they're trying to keep it all in place and allow for it to retreat?

EDIT: Posted that before the more recent posts showed up - thanks for clearing that up waterrat.

 

[silatman]

Yeah, thanks Waterrat. I too was a bit worried about stitching up an orifice, but not being experienced on the subject, didn't wan't to tell the vet what to do! It was only a small prolapse but we didn't want it to become a big problem. She seems quite fine now and we'll have to keep an eye on her. The vet said once they've had one prolapse it makes it more likely to happen again in the future. Is there anything we can do in regards to her diet to prevent this from happening? At the moment she is feeding on fuzzy mice but we only have a couple of these left then we were going to up it to pinky rats.

 

[Waterrat]

It may not re-occur for the rest of her life. Just feed her sensibly and make sure she has the opportunity to exercise, that's about all you can do. Good luck.

 

[silatman]

Cheers

 

[silatman]

Cleo has just prolapsed again, even with the stitch in place!
Looks like she did have one more deposit to make and has burst herself in the process.
Mrs Silatman has just taken her back to the vet now.
Hate not being able to do anything about it, its killing me to think she is suffering.
Hopefully this will just end up being a good story to tell in a couple of years time.

 

[Mordum]

Sorry to hear mate really do hope that everything goes well and its a one off situation!!