Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I just find my FEMALE Rhynchophis boulengeri with a prolapsed cloaca. Anyone know what to do? I already tried a sugar solution but didn't do anything.
I think it is already some days, like 2 or 3. It dont look realy bad, but bad enough to worry. Tissue is realy red.

She already go trough her pre lay shed. So she should lay eggs in the next 2 weeks.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Thanks!

Best regards,
Gidi

I would keep it moist and get to a vet. The longer the prolapsed tissue stays outside the body, the more chance it has of swelling (making it difficult to replace) and of becoming necrotic.

Gidi I'm not sure if it's the perfect thing to do but I would clean a plastic container good with dish liquid and water. I would then put a inch or just under of water in the container and place the snake in it. This would rinse it off really good and keep it wet. I would probably keep her in there up to a whole day if she doesen't pull the tissue back in sooner. If it has dried out much it should rehydrate it good. If she poops in the water I would change it. Hopefully after a few hours she will pull the tissue back in. I would then put her in a sweater box with VERY moist and soft paper towels. The moist paper towels would keep any substrate from sticking to the area and keep it moist which is extremely important.
Good luck.
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Randy Whittington

How large is the prolapsed tissue? Soaking the animal may help and certainly can't hurt from a dehydration standpoint. The sugar/honey method is used to remove water from the tissue to allow the prolapse to retreat into the cloaca and seems to help if the prolapsed tissue is large/swollen. You can also lubricate the prolapse (petroleum jelly maybe) and gently push it back in with a Qtip.

Good luck

hi,
here some pics:

Best regards,
Gidi

That doesen't look very bad Gidi. How do you have her set up right now?
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Randy Whittington

Hi,

She is now housed in a clean plastic curver box with moist kichen towels, a big waterbowl, hiding place and a box with moist spaghnum moss.

Best regards,
Gidi

The reason I mentioned moist paper towels is that they have about the smoothest, softest and most non abrasive surface when wet. The paper towels I'm talking about are the more expensive ones which are softer. Moist kitchen towels are pretty good but just have a rougher or more textured surface. Although spagnum moss is about the softest of the wood or plant material bedding you can use, I would try to stay away from anything right now that peices of it can break away and stick to the prolapse. If you don't choose to soak it I would personally keep what ever substrate you choose more wet than just moist until the problem resolves.
Again, good luck.
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Randy Whittington

Thanks for all your help realy appriciate it!

Will keep you all updated.

For now I tried:
Suger, Ice, soaking etc nothing helped. The vet tells me it is impossible to do such operation if she is about to lay eggs.

Lets hope for the best!

best regards,
Gidi

I hope things have improved with your girl.
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Randy Whittington

Hi Randy,

I spoke to a very good vet and she told me there is noting we can do about until she lay the eggs.

I have done everything! She is now staying in her waterbowl all the time so that is oke.

I think you just have to wait and hope for the best!

Best regards,
Gidi

I hope that everything is ok and this response/opinion isn't too late. That is not a bad prolapse, but I certainly would NOT leave that tissue exposed for weeks until eggs are laid. If she hasn't pulled it in after a day, I doubt she'll do it on her own.

I've kept Green Tree Pythons for about 6 years, prolapse is a common issue with GTP. I made it until the last 6 months without one, and have had to deal with 2 since then.

The sugar solution is the first step for sure. But only for a day or so, after that, you either have to put it back yourself or get to a vet. I have no vet near me that deals with snakes, so I've done it myself.

I tried the Qtip and didn't like it, the fuzz on the tip sticks to the tissue, and Qtips are surprisingly bigger than you would think. I had much better success with ball tipped probes. And given the size of your snake, I think a ball tipped probe would be the only choice.

Think of the prolapse as an inside out sock, you have to push it back in and let the sock turn right again. Lubricate the tissue and the probe, place the probe in the center of the bottom end of the exposed tissue, and slowly work it back in. Leave the snake on damp paper towel substrate for several days after, don't put it back on any substrate that can stick to it.

Both of my snakes prolapsed again the next day, I did the same thing all over again, and the second time they healed up just fine. And they both looked worse than your girl. I do worry about her laying eggs though, I think she'll more than likely prolapse again when she lays them, but I still would NOT leave that tissue out until then. Just deal with it again when that time comes.