Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a ten year old common garter.

I took him to the vet for a large swelling near his vent.
He said it was probably a calcium deficiency, and he had developed a callous on his spine (he took x-rays). (I had only been feeding him hamburger meat, but the vet said I need to switch to mice, which I did and he's been eating them fine for at least 6 months).

Does this sound right? Has anyone had a snake with a problem like this? Do you think my snake is in pain? He doesn't seem to be in pain, but it's hard to tell. Should I try another vet? How can I tell if it's a good vet? Do you think it could be a worm or parasite inside him? I don't see as much feces as I think there should be. Any help would be great!

Thanks!

Well, if the vet took X-rays and sees a calcium deposit, and the snake has been producing feces since the swelling appeared, then I say the doctor knows what he's talking about.
Hamburger meat? Thats not gonna do it. I agree, you need to get the snake switched to mice or something with a much wider variety of nutrition.
I have no opinion on the swelling. It would be wrong/difficult for me to diagnose the snake over the internet by your description alone.
-----
Tom
TCJ Herps
"The more people I meet, the more I like my snakes"

Thanks for the reply.

Just keep that snake on a good healthy diet of mice and that should help as it receives the proper nutrition. Snakes need to eat whole organisms to get all of their nutrition. I really applaud you for taking it in to the vet to get it looked at. It probably will not defecate as much on the mice as it did on the hamburger meat, lol. It probably just passed most of that stuff right through it instead of absorbing it. Good luck! - Matt
-----
Matt from Minnesota