Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I came home from the grocery store to find a big pile of slugs (I'm counting 27). That was probably an hour ago and she's still having contractions. It looks like she's trying to push something out with no luck. I don't even see anything start to come out at all, except some liquid came out one time she was pushing. What can I do for her??
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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

At this point most likely they are all out but if not an ultra sound probably locate any impacted slug I would think.

Then it would take some serious maneuvers to pull that slug out.

I'm betting / guessing she is just squeezing the last birth fluids out and will be OK.

For piece oif mind I suggest the Ultra sound.

The was Video about this a couple years ago, first he soaked her in a tub of lukewarm water
then pulled it out manually I believe.

I'm trying to remember who it was , it was a Sunset of hypo Hogg and it Shawn Morlan,
I'm pretty certain that's who it was

I think I spelled his name wrong but I'm 99% certain that's who did the video.

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

Thanks Lar, at least that makes me feel better. Does it usually take that long to get rid of all of the fluids? I thought this girl was "due" about 2.5 months ago. Either she was WAY past due or I pulled the male out WAY too early.

I have another female that was "due" about 3 weeks ago, starting to wonder about her too. I'm definitely learning, last year was my first litter and I got slugs the year before that too.

Here are some pictures to show you what she's doing. I can't tell if the lumps are something she's trying to get out or just her muscles bunched together. From the first picture to the last was 7 minutes.

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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

2nd to last picture looks like there is something in there.

Last picture looks like she has worked everything out.

That last picture makes me believe she's in good shape.

If you have any doubts an ultra sound or X-Ray or both would be the only way I know to really find out for certain.

You can firmly run your hands down her body kind of palpate to feel what you can feel.

If it feels like there could be hard lumps in there then I guess
you would have to talk to your Vet and come up with a plan.

By the way sorry you got slugs it is such a let down after waiting and anticipating, . . very much of a downer.

Hopefully your fem will go back on food and recover nicely.

My guess is your probably mistook preovulation swelling for an ovulation and pulled the male.

Also what sometimes complicates things is the male will loose interest for no apparent reason.

This is when back up males are so important

My male Albino lost interest too early this season also and I
believe this will impact the litter he was involved with too.

As they say next year try again

. . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz

I Support USark.org

She seems to be doing better this morning. I will see if I can feel anything in her tonight after I get home from work.

Yeah I was wondering if I mistook a pre-ov swell too. But, I do have a picture of her curled firmly in HCP on November 11. Oh well, as long as she's healthy I can't complain too much. Thanks for the help!
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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy

It's normal for a female to have contractions for at least an hour after the last baby or slug is delivered. Two or three hours later sometimes she can still be observed having contractions. It takes some time.
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

I agree -- kinda like my wife after our second son....LOL!!!!!

Here is the video I made last year when one of my females worked for hours to get out the last slug. This was an old dried out slug from the year before I guess.. it would not budge or change shape in order to exit.

I would not reccomend this method as I may have done as much damage as helping.. but I was out of luck and out of time.

Good luck
Shawn Morelan
Stuck Slug Removal Video

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Thanks
Shawn Morelan
www.Southernboids.com

Still a great video Shawn! Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. I have done it a number of times too. Though, I must admit, I never wear rubber gloves when I do anything with the snakes. LOL
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Jeff Ronne Sr
The Boaphile
Director USARK

Originator of Boaphile Plastics
The Boaphile Boa Site

Thanks everyone! She's much better now, I do believe it was just the birthing fluids. I've only ever seen a boa give birth once, which was last year. And I believe her contractions stopped shortly after she was done pushing out the last baby. So, I panicked when I saw contractions for an hour and nothing coming out.

Here she is now, I don't believe there's anything left in her. She does have a nose rub, I swear she's been looking for a place to have her "babies" for the last month and a half and rubbing her nose in the process. Hopefully it will heal up now. I did clean it up after I took this picture.

And here she is back in her clean cage.

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Rachel Squier
"The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life." -Leo Tolstoy