What's going on.

[Slithered]

Hi guys, first time posting and unfortunately under these circumstances.

I'm slightly worried about my spotted python. A few months ago he lost complete interest in feeding, I've had him for approximately 2 years since a hatchling and he's never missed a feed. After about 4 weeks of not taking a feed he developed a strange issue where I could hear him making a hacking like noise, when I investigated I found a vomited substance that I've never seen before. (Picture below that looks like mashed oats?) I also started noticing green on his urates. I consulted two different herp vets, and took samples along. The vomited matter the first vet said under the microscope 'looked organic', and also said he looks healthy and hes not too concerned at this stage. The vet also took a quick x-ray to make sure there was not any sort of blockage.

A week later I heard the same noise again and quickly went to look what was going on. This time I saw him screwing himself up while making the hacking sound, he ejected some fecal matter (pic with liquid) and I found some more of the first waste which I believe he regurgitated/vomited? (I noticed a different smell than usual, and I would say borderline offensive in nature). This is when I consulted the second vet, who I showed the samples again, he didn't seem overly concerned and decided to treat for a possible RI, prescribing some injections. Moving on a few weeks, he has now taken two consecutive feeds ( adult mice 7 days apart) I noticed some green on the urates again after checking up on him. I got him out to give him the once over and returned him to the enclosure (fed a week prior) 20 minutes later I walked past and noticed he had defecated (last picture) and am a bit concerned he's not digesting the food properly as it looks abnormal to me and not fully digested (pic with aspen). I've closely monitored the temps, and have kept his basking spot around 35, higher than the usual 32. I made another appointment with the second vet again and took the new samples along, he's not to sure whats going on, and gave me some more injections for him.

On Friday I tried a smaller size feed and gave him a weaner mouse to see if he can digest it better. A few ours ago I heard him making that hacking sound again and found a very runny stool, not completely digested, and him opening and closing his mouth.. he does this every time I hear the hacking sound, and I have seen him running his face trying to wipe it across the enclosure.. This only occurs when he seems to go to the toilet... Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I'm really not sure what's going on.

Cheers.

 

[pinefamily]

Did either vet bother to send the samples away for testing?

 

[Slithered]

Did either vet bother to send the samples away for testing?

Not that they said, I kept asking them is it possible it's some sort of parasite or worms. The current treating vet doesn't seem to think so.

 

[Wally]

Is he being fed on the wood chips and what's the temp like in the enclosure? A little bit of ingestion of foreign matter isn't of much concern but if it were persistent that could be a problem.

 

[Pauls_Pythons]

Is that woodchips as in shavings or aspen I ask myself.
Could he be swallowing the substrate when he's eating? Maybe try putting him on something simple like newspaper for a while & see if the problem settles down.

My concern would be the mention of green urates. Not a good sign & one that points towards something more sinister. If your vets are not specialised in reptiles I would suggest seeking informed medial advice if you are concerned.

 

[Slithered]

I've always fed him in a separate container on paper towel. The wood shavings are chipsi. The current treating vet is specialised.

 

[SKYWLKR]

What he said.

 

[Wally]

I've always fed him in a separate container on paper towel. The wood shavings are chipsi. The current treating vet is specialised.

Sounds like one for the vets to work out. Forgive me, I overlooked that you had already stated enclosure temps. Best of luck, I hope all works out for your little spotted.

 

[Slithered]

Sounds like one for the vets to work out. Forgive me, I overlooked that you had already stated enclosure temps. Best of luck, I hope all works out for your little spotted.

Thanks mate appreciate it.

 

[robwilco76]

Amoebic dysentery.

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Amoebic dysentery.

 

[ronhalling]

I have never had a problem with any of my spotteds like you describe, but i read you normally keep it at 32 deg C that is a bit on the cool side, should be 34-35 deg C all the time, this will aid in digestion quite markedly, I say this because there seems to be (and you mentioned) quite a bit of undigested material in his stool. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) -ronhalling

 

[Slithered]

I have never had a problem with any of my spotteds like you describe, but i read you normally keep it at 32 deg C that is a bit on the cool side, should be 34-35 deg C all the time, this will aid in digestion quite markedly, I say this because there seems to be (and you mentioned) quite a bit of undigested material in his stool. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) -ronhalling

Not saying 34-35 is wrong, but in the 2 years I've had him he's never had any digestion issues, always fully digested and never missed a feed up until recently. The undigested material from yesterday was with the temps bumped up.

Cheers.

 

[Slithered]

Amoebic dysentery.

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Amoebic dysentery.

That is what I mentioned when asking the vet about the possibility of parasites, and the reason I took the samples.

 

[Bluetongue1]

I am no expert on the subject but the symptoms you describe sound much more consistent within intestinal parasites, as you suspect, than RI. I would ring around until you find a vet willing to do, or get done, a faecal examination (smear and float), which requires a fresh stool. That is the only way to confirm or rule out this possibility. If it is a parasite, then this will allow it to be identified (at least to general group) to determine the most appropriate medication to administer. They are also readily gotten rid of with the appropriate treatment.

 

[mikey_mike]

Doesn't dysentery require diarrhoea with blood? Not really any sign of either.

 

[pythoninfinite]

Amoebic dysentery.

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Amoebic dysentery.

Mmm - would be my first guess if the stool has an unusual "offensive" odour - could very likely be amoebiasis, if so, the most common treatment is Flagyl. I would definitely get rid of the chipped substrate too, it has heaps of sharp edges and corners which will compact easily if the snake ingests it, and may be what the oatmealy looking stuff is. I saw quite a bit of it at the Port Macquarie Expo yesterday, and thought at the time it looks dangerous to me. I think all of those fine, easily ingested substrate materials are trouble waiting to happen.

Jamie

 

[Slithered]

Mmm - would be my first guess if the stool has an unusual "offensive" odour - could very likely be amoebiasis, if so, the most common treatment is Flagyl. I would definitely get rid of the chipped substrate too, it has heaps of sharp edges and corners which will compact easily if the snake ingests it, and may be what the oatmealy looking stuff is. I saw quite a bit of it at the Port Macquarie Expo yesterday, and thought at the time it looks dangerous to me. I think all of those fine, easily ingested substrate materials are trouble waiting to happen.

Jamie

I should have mentioned, I moved him onto the chipsi after this started, I had him on kritters crumble originally. And then when the issue first started moved him onto newspaper. Unfortunately a house mate is squeamish with the smell that was being produced from what ever is going on, so I decided to put him on the chips in attempt to control the smell if I'm at work. A few breeder were recommending this chipsi brand but I can see your point, I'll start looking around.

 

[pinefamily]

The best thing to help reduce odours is the recycled paper kitty litter, like Breeder's Choice.

 

[Slithered]

The best thing to help reduce odours is the recycled paper kitty litter, like Breeder's Choice.

Funny you should mention it, the picture with the oatmeal looking substance in it has a few pieces of breeders choice, I found it really dusty and the vet recommended against using it. I had him on it for 10 minutes when he hacked that stuff up. So quickly changed.

 

[pythoninfinite]

I'd definitely get a stool sample checked for protozoan parasite infection - healthy snake poo has a characteristic but bearable smell, but a parasitic infestation can cause it to smell really off - often has a strong ammonia base to it. If left untreated it will cause ulceration of the bowel, leading to bloody stools and probably the death of the animal in the long run.

Jamie