Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 2 yr old Hypo Brook's Kingsnake. We don't know the gender yet. He has been bleeding from his cloaca occasionally, usually at night. He will have a good flow coming from his cloaca and then have dried blood down his tale and on spots of his back in the morning. He's also had clots in his poop. It's not a LOT of blood, but it's noticeable enough to make me and the vet worried.

I just got him in May. I took him to the vet a few weeks after I got him for a check up and he was in great condition. Fecal matter was normal, he looked healthy, he was eating, and was behaving very well. The only problem was the bleeding.

The previous owner said that this is normal for him and he's not sick or anything. The vet disagrees, but says it's not life threatening. Yet. I've not seen a prolapsed cloaca and I'm not mating him. It doesn't happen when he's really stressed.

I've run a million Google searches and I can't find an answer. Can someone please tell me what's wrong with my snake?

Only time I've seen anything like this was with a snake that had internal injuries that were the result of egg binding. Obviously yours is something different, sorry I can be more helpful.
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www.hcu-tx.org/

I think he needs a second vet opinion. As blood must come from somewhere. In all cases, its not good, but in some cases it may not be that bad. For instance if its from a bleeding scent gland, I believe I have seen that before, its been a long time. That would not be as serious as blood from the other internal organs.

So yea, nothing against your current vet, but if he cannot determine the cause, then get another opinion. Best wishes

I agree with Frank,
second vet opinion.
Or ask your vet to conference with other Vets to seek out a answer, since he has already has ran some tests.
Bob B.
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R.Bichlers Colubrids

Thanks, everyone! I went to get a second vet opinion at a place near Chicago. Link (my snake) is apparently a female because she's got a clutch of eggs ("Gravid" as he calls it. From feeding her too much, not breeding I guess). We're waiting for her to lay the eggs before we address the bleeding issue.

You can get prego from eating too much?? That explains why my ex wife has so many kids! hahahahaha.. just jokes bro. good luck with Link.