Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I have an albino corn that is about 8 years old. I fed her several days ago and noticed some blood in her poop today. I noticed it seems swollen around her anal scales and from there down her tail it is all purple. She doesn't seem to be able to move her tail or even feel anything because she doesn't respond when I touch it. I haven't handled her much lately so I do not know if this is something recent or not, but it is the first I have seen blood. It seems she may be bound up with something, but I am not sure. I was wondering if anyone has seen anything like this before and could help me.

Thanks for any help.

Greg
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Gregory S. Hake

>>Hi,
>>
>> I have an albino corn that is about 8 years old. I fed her several days ago and noticed some blood in her poop today. I noticed it seems swollen around her anal scales and from there down her tail it is all purple. She doesn't seem to be able to move her tail or even feel anything because she doesn't respond when I touch it. I haven't handled her much lately so I do not know if this is something recent or not, but it is the first I have seen blood. It seems she may be bound up with something, but I am not sure. I was wondering if anyone has seen anything like this before and could help me.
>>
>>Thanks for any help.

Did you notice an odor?
I had one a few years back that had renal failure and what you described sounds like what I saw in him.
I fed him on a Sunday and didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary but a few days later on Wednesday I noticed the same thing you mentioned. Puple/black from the cloacae back a few inches with seemingly no movement beyond the vent. The one thing I noticed that you didn't mention was an odor almost like decaying flesh.
Two days later he was dead.
>>
>>Greg
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>>Gregory S. Hake
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____

There is no odor. I do have to adjust her age though. She is about 10-11 years old. I have had her for 7 and she laid eggs that first year. I guessed she may have been 3 years at the time, and I have never breed her.

Thanks. But, I have to admit, I hope my results turn out better than yours did.
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Gregory S. Hake

Show some love, take that critter to the VET ASAP.

If your snake has gangrene, it will die untreated.

If the vet cannot help, at least he could end your friend of all these years' suffering.

Peace,
Wayne A. Harvey

I have to agree!! Jeff

life or death here it sounds like to me, this isn't just a bad shed or something, this is something nobody on ANY forum can help you with. The only "REAL" help you(but mainly the snake) will get, is from a good qualified reptile vet....ASAP!

I just hope it already isn't too late...........best of luck with getting it treated!

~Doug

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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I just wanted to thank everyone. I took her to the vet yesterday and he really doesn't know what it is. There is a lose of blood flow causing nerve damage and lose of muscle tension. Since the damage is the whole way up to the rectum he can't even amputate. His only guess would be a tumor that has grown to a size that is cutting of blood circulation. In any case, he felt real confident that there was nothing that could be done for her. It is probably only a matter of time.
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Gregory S. Hake

I'm sorry to hear that it was something he couldn't help with, that is too bad. Things like this can certainly happen from time to time with our snakes.

I just hope it doesn't cause the snake too much pain.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I would imagine the vet already talked briefly about this, but if not, it would probably be in the snake's best interest for you to CLOSELY monitor this, and at the very first sign of ANY more decline, to have the snake humanely put down.

With no bloodflow to the animals tissue, necrosis sounds certain.

best regards, ~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Yes, the vet said he would put her asleep for free at the time I notice a decrease in quality of life. He asked if he could do an autopsy for learning matters and I agreed.

I brought her home because she has been a big part of our life and I know my children wnated to at least have a chance to say goodbye. Also, because she is acting quite normal at this point. I am watching her carefully and agree there is no sense in having her suffer for long through all this.

Thanks
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Gregory S. Hake

n/p
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I just wanted to thank everyone. I took her to the vet yesterday and he really doesn't know what it is. There is a lose of blood flow causing nerve damage and lose of muscle tension. Since the damage is the whole way up to the rectum he can't even amputate. His only guess would be a tumor that has grown to a size that is cutting of blood circulation. In any case, he felt real confident that there was nothing that could be done for her. It is probably only a matter of time.
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Gregory S. Hake