Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I work at a pet store and one of our balls appears to have defecated and more came out than should have. It seems as though the organs (maybe reproductive, definately not hemipenes although I don't know the sex of the ball) have inverted themselves. The ball is still very active. Any suggestions?

It is unfortunately cheaper to buy another ball than to see a vet so the pet store doesn't do that.

Thanks for any help.

Unforuntately, a prolapsed organ is a veterinary emergency. It's too bad the pet store is not concerned with animal welfare.

The least you could do is gently clean off the tissue with warm water, slather it in a sterile ointment (like BNP antibiotic ointment) and wrap it up in gauze. Hopefully the tissue will retract on its own.

If the tissue does not replace itself in a week, then at least pay for the snake to be euthanized so that it does not have to suffer.

Christina
www.herptiles.net

Thanks Christina.

Another step that can be done is to soak the edemic tissue with a concentrated sugar/water solution or glycerin. This will help to reduce the swelling as long as the tissue is still viable.

As per Christina's reply--a vet is required in this situation.

A better option than sugar or salt water is an ointment containing hydrocortisone, a steroid antiinflammatory drug. You may be able to find it as BNPH (bacitraction-neomycin-polymixin hydrocortisone) ointment.

Christina