Wierd Throw up?

jbd123 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 03:28 AM

Well, about 4 days ago, I came back from being gone for two days for a wedding and a family reunion.

I smelled something funny when I got really close to the racking systems. It didn't smell foul, persay, but sort of...well, like a plant smell. A bitter plant smell.

So, I opened up all the enclosures and finally came to my baby dumerils boa, Sugar. Lo and behold, there was poo...or at least I think it was poo...and it was covered in white mold (she must have released it right when I left). It had been over a week since she last ate, and it really did look like poo, but I wasn't about to poke through it and check, because it had mold all over it...

Anyways, that was were the smell was coming from. So I changed her paper towels, changed and cleaned her water bowl, and left her alone for the night. Next day, which was her day to feed, I opened up the tank and it appeared that she threw up OR pooed a hairball. I've seen it many times before: but it had that strange smell to it.

So, I immediately changed her paper towels, took out her water bowl, and attempted to feed her. She wasn't interested.

I went ahead and soaked her in room temp water with some vitamins, and she did drink quite a bit. I took her out and placed her back in her enclosure: this time, I disinfected it.

Today I check on her and she seems alert (like she always is) and she appeared to have peed (I saw urates on the paper towels) but on the other side of the enclosure there was lots of water, but it had no smell to it.

I really cannot tell if she is throwing up or if she's just having some very strange-smelling defecations (or just strange defecations in general). Either way all I can do is keep an eye on her and soak her, and attempt to feed her every 3-4 days or so. I'm going to try and feed her Saturday evening: hopefully she will eat for me then.

What do you guys think? Should I be concerned? It's only been 12 days since her last meal.

mpgt · #2 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 03:49 AM

I'd be concerned enough not to try feeding anytime soon. It would be better to assume the worst if you think there's a possibility of regurge or other digestive problems. I'd let her go at least another week or 2 before trying to feed her.

-KB- · #3 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 03:50 AM

I would definitely be concerned. And don't try to feed her again for another week at least (seeing as how its been almost been 2 already). I recently read something about a boa that would drink water, then spit it back up...no odor or color, and that sounds like what is happening here. And it sounds like regurge to me, not poop. Take her to a vet ASAP.

jbd123 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobi Baby

I would definitely be concerned. And don't try to feed her again for another week at least (seeing as how its been almost been 2 already). I recently read something about a boa that would drink water, then spit it back up...no odor or color, and that sounds like what is happening here. And it sounds like regurge to me, not poop. Take her to a vet ASAP.

I will try feeding her in about a week, then. I'm assuming that I should keep offering her water? Trust me, if she doesnt eat for me at that point she's going straight to the vet. Does anyone know of a website where I can look up real, certified reptile vets? I know that no-one around here does that.

Thanks alot for the help, guys. I am really starting to get concerned about her...

-KB- · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 03:21 PM

Find Exotic Animal Vets Near You - Bird and Reptile Doctors

Try that website, I am sure other people have good ones too that you can try.

Anybody else want to chime in?

KB

jbd123 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 03:30 PM

Thanks Kobi...and of course the closest vet to me is 4 hours away! Go figure.

Well, would you recommend that I offer her more water tonight, and see if she "throws up" her water again? I would feel much better if she would just keep the water down...

-KB- · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 03:46 PM

I don't know, I've personally never delt with that. Try calling the herp vet you found and see if they can tell you. I wouldn't offer it until someone tells you if its safe though.

jbd123 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-2008, 04:05 PM

I honestly dont see how water could hurt her: it's distilled water and has no additives. Perhaps the vitamins I added were a little too much? I wont try soaking her tonight, I will try tomorrow, though. All I know is that when my rosy boas throw up (they regurge very easily), I give them water because it helps their digestive systems get back on track, and they loose alot of water when they regurge. Dehydration is really my main concern at this point.

Of course she has a water bowl in the enclosure with her at all times now, but she'd rather be under her hide box getting warm. She's very active, tounge flicking, and alert. I'm going to be optimistic and assume that she just had a little trouble digesting, if that honestly was even throw up. My male dumerils has been known to go weeks or months without eating for no reason: he did this alot when he was a young boa. Her next meal will be smaller than normal, and hopefully she will be hungry enough to eat it.

I will keep you all updated. Thanks for the helpful comments and concerns. Trust me, I am not taking this lightly, and I'm keeping a very close eye on the little girl.

jbd123 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 10:15 PM

Well, I just fed her. I just left the mouse in the enclosure with her on a paper towel and she ate it at hear leisure.

I have to remember that Folgers was the exact same way. I think that is just the nature of a Dumerils boa.

And I really do not think that she ever threw up in the first place. The mold that grew on her poo made it smell strange. Plus, I found out that she also was not regurgitating the water she was drinking because I soaked her a few days ago and she peed a little bit of brown goo (poo) and alot of clear water that didn't smell. It basically just went right through her and that goo is what I always see on fresh snake poo...

Wow, this is a lovely topic to be conversing about but now I know she's just fine. I will leave her alone for 5 days and not disturb her. But she ate in her own time and now she's sleeping..

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