Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ginger my adult female red sided garter had blood in her stool yesterday. Today there was only urine (urates?) in the tank but there seemed like there was more blood. I took her out to take a good look at her and the picture shows what I found. We thought Ginger was pregnant and she stopped eating about 4 weeks ago. She no longer looks pregnant and is otherwise acting her usual self. She is about 3 ft and 170 g. We just got a good scale so I am not sure how much she weighed when she looked larger.

Any thoughts? The local herp vets are not available until next Tuesday. I can try and take a stool sample in tomorrow. I am pretty sure that we had a sample checked in Nov. or Dec. and it was reported as normal.

Thanks,
Joanna

Snake looks dehydrated.I don't know if thats the case.But, you should NEVER let you snakes water bowl go dry.It's a sure way to kill them.

I am not sure why you would think that we let the water bowl go dry. That has never been the case. I have actually seen her drink and go for a "swm". The area I show in the picture actually looks crusted and macerated but the tissues underneath are well hydrated. She continues to pass urates - no more blood so far and she is going to the vet on Tuesday.

Joanna

Because I have done it and had the same result.Snake died within a couple of days.

Well, she has not been without water, and is still acting her usual self and passing urates and stool. I am more worried about an infection or a tumor. I'll let you know what the vet says on Tuesday.

Joanna

Well, we are no further ahead. My husband took Ginger to the vet who probed and looked and doesn't know what she has. He did not see any growths and of course there has been no more stool so we will have to take one if she does poop... In the meantime he suggested warm soaks and try and get her to eat. She is still behaving in her usual manner.

This was a vet listed on the ARAV site but he admitted to my husband that he did not know garters well. If anyone has any suggestions I'd apprecitate it.

Joanna