Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased a baby ball python at 2 months of age he is know 4 months old .He eats well very friendly Very active. WE recently took him to the vet because he had a lump in his back and was not moving anything after this lump. The problem is he has not pooped in 8 weeks . They took an x ray and he has a fracture in the spine thatis the lump. The vet said to double his feedings and wait another month. He is enjoying the food. But im concerned about his long term . The vet said they cant say at this point what will happen if he"ll ever be able to go on his own. Just wondering if anyone else has ever had anything like this and what i might expect in the future. I can send pics of his back and of his x rays if someone wants to see..

Sorry to say I have no experience with this, though it raises some questions:

why did the vet suggest doubling the feeding? Might that compound the problem?

can I assume you've tried soaking him/her in a bath in hopes to get a bowel movement?

Best of luck!

He said to feed double that it would basically push out the poop because he doubts that the snake can push it out himself the muscle in the back beyond the fracture is very weak, he wants to see if he can do it that way verses having to surgically remove the poop.I forgot to mention that the lump i keep referring to is the fracture a piece of bone sticking up.

also yes we soak him every night for 20 minutes, he enjoys it as long as we hold the end for him so he can swim otherwise he flips over..

Our deepest sympathies & well wishes, I hope he pulls through for you.
NorthernRegius

I would work the poop out myself by gently massaging it down the snake's body and out. This can be done it just requires patience.