Posted by:
MsTT
at Tue Nov 11 20:36:47 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by MsTT ]
I see green urates frequently in association with prolonged anorexia. I flashed your picture around to the instructors and the other vets in Intermediate Reptile Medicine class last night, and asked about the underlying physiological mechanism.
Basically the coloration is caused by an excess of biliverdin in the liver. Bile stasis was also suggested by the instructor. These conditions can be associated with liver disease, but biliverdin production also occurs normally in snakes at varying levels. So if you occasionally see green crap in an otherwise healthy animal, it's not to worry. When you see it in an anorexic animal that looks like crap, it's time to worry. This animal needs veterinary attention.
Your only option may be to give treatment on your own if you cannot find a vet nearby who will treat her. See www.snakegetters.com/demo/vet for some good articles on safe veterinary restraint. Veterinary articles on venomous snakes
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