Dirty cloaca

cidah · #1 (**permalink**) 08-31-2002, 10:37 PM

Hello guys, I have a baby boa. The snake seems healthy, eats great. Very tame and an all around great animal. Only on question. He has some kinda gunk on his cloaca(vent). I don't think it's feces although it could be. Anyways, his cloaca appears to be a tad bit swollen as well. I was wondering if any of you had any info or have you experienced anything like this with your snakes. I've tried soaking him and then gently rubbing with a paper towel to get it off without and luck.
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reptilemama · #2 (**permalink**) 08-31-2002, 11:29 PM

Exactly what does the "gunk" look like? Honestly, if his cloaca looks swollen, I'd get him to the vet. If he's got some kind of infection going on, it could get serious quickly in such a sensitive area.

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XzyluM · #3 (**permalink**) 08-31-2002, 11:38 PM

is it more like a hard, crust? If so, this is more likely dried up feces.
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cidah · #4 (**permalink**) 09-01-2002, 03:35 AM

no it's not hard. I don't think it's feces, and soaking doesn't help get rid of it. I'm trying to find the money to take him to the vet but the bank screwed me this week and I'm broke as #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^&.

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eddie · #5 (**permalink**) 09-01-2002, 03:59 AM

Sounds like it could be either an infection or a slight prolapse.
Either way, no more soaks!!
Soaking will compound the matter....

The "dirt" as you call it may be dried or fresh blood from an infection, similar to what scale rot appears .

Now for the dirty part...
Look closely at the cloacal opening, do you see any exposed tissue at all?
Is the vent closing fully or staying partially open?
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MajorLunitik · #6 (**permalink**) 09-01-2002, 05:31 AM

It could be a rectal prolapse. Treatment for this is as follows (according to P Vosjoli):

"If its red, moist, bulging tissue from the cloaca, must be differentiated from abscesses, granulomas, and tumors. Tissue should be moistened with a moist compress/bandage, vaseline, or petroleum based ointment (neosporin or polysporin) and taken to a veterinarian ASAP, to replace the tissues and to add restrianing sutures. Rectal tissues that dry excessively will die, necessitating surgical removal."

Hope that helps [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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cidah · #7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2002, 06:12 AM

The vent is staying partially open. I can't really see much tissue unless i kinda hold his tail up a lil bit and then i see stuff. I'm gonna take him to the vet on wed. That's the soonest I can get the money up..

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new2snakes · #8 (**permalink**) 12-29-2006, 05:37 AM

did anyone find out what this was?

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