Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Good morning:
My GTP has had Prolapse 2 time in the past - once last christmass and again the previous summer ($550 each time). Both times I have had the vet deal w/ the issue w/ suitures antibiotics and anti parasite meds (he has been tested for parasites and has come clean every time) Humidity is between 75-85% Glass enclosure w/ screan top is 2'2'2'. He eats a small rat about once a month. I spoke w/ the vet and they mentioned the prolapse can be pushed back in w/ a q tip and a baindaid can be used tempoarily as a replacement for a suiture. I have tried the sugar every time. Do some snakes just have chronic prolapse- Any advice would be much appreciated.
Best,
Tom

Some animals are just prone to it. I have one female that's done it twice. Luckily, I caught it the second time and fixed it myself. I'm so glad I have the vet I do. He only charged me about $100 for the surgery. $550 sounds like they know they have you by the ball pythons. Good luck.

Brandon Osborne

I agree with Brandon. I had a vet attempt to fix a prolapse for one of my animals (it never came out of the anesthesia) and the process (even if the animal lived) only cost me $80. Your vet is taking advantage of you.

I recently had one of my animals prolapse the other week. I used a q-tip lubed with ky to re-insert it and the procedure was flawless. I did not apply a bandaid as suggested by many, but had my wife monitor the animal daily (I was out of town). Had it prolapsed a second time, I would have used the bandaid. As for now it is doing great. I am just skipping one of its scheduled meals to give it time to rest.

I would definitely go with the q-tip/bandaid before paying $550. Learn to deal with it yourself, especially if it appears to be a reoccurring event. By the way, use fabric/flexible bandaids, not plastic.

Good luck,
Bart

As a current veterinary student I can tell you your vet is mischarging you. If the animal was under general anestheia (minimal drugs used) and you probably have only a few mls of drugs were is the $550 coming from. I would like to see the break-down. Also, is he an exotic vet or a small animal vet attempting to fix your problem?

***If the parasite exams were negative why did he put him on parasite meds? And why did he use antibiotics? Does he know there's an infection and did he culture to see if the right drug is being used? These are all questions you should be asking him/her.***

Jeff

I am guessing he is a small animal vet attempting to fix the problem. Probably figures he is going out of his way to treat an animal, he assumes, most vets wouldn't. That or he is afraid of snakes and needs the incentive to deal with them.

Bart

Here's my 0.02 on teh matter...I agree with Brandon in that "some" animals are just prone to prolapses...argh! However, given that you have a screen top with the humidity that you stated. I would cover your screen top with either some plastic or better yet a piece of cut to fit acrylic. Next, and I feel this might be a bit important than covering the screen top is the size of your feed offerings. OMG...I have 5 ft 1800 gram females that I mainly feed jumbo mice to but on occasion I offer them "small" rats...to be offering a male "medium" rats....the steamer gifts from that should be of megga size....try going to adult or jumbo mice.

Rich C