swallen cloaca, it is hanging out.

[pcspirit]

Can any help please.


Species: Rat snake

How long have you had this animal: 1 year

Ambient Temps: 60f

Basking temps: 80f

Size:5 to 6 feet

Diet within the past year:1 mouse every one to two weeks

Last time this animal ate:Last week

Eats Frozen thawed

Bulbs 60 watts

Heat sources: heat mats not sure on watts, they take up a 3rd of the viv

How are you measuring temps: thermo strip

Cage size and type:55 gallon, home made

Substrate:aspen

Symptoms:swallen cloaca, it is hanging out.

Can you upload any pics: not at the moment.

Comments:i will be taking to the herp in two days but am very worred. i lost a female corn that lived in a different viv last week and the herp said she was pregnant and could not release the eggs.
i am now thinking the worst that they have a more sinister problem. can anyone help. i have 3 snakes left and am worred for them.

[reptilemama]

This should be considered an emergency and NOT left for two days! If your current vet won't get you in sooner than that, you need to find someone who will. This could be a prolapsed rectum, in which case, two days will make a huge difference- the tissue will dry up and possibly get necrotic, and if it becomes infected, the infection may spread to the rest of the body. Keep the exposed tissues moist, and get the animal to the vet right away!

[JuliusSqueezer]

To keep the prolapse moist, put the snake in a plastic shoebox container with airholes. Put an inch or so of room temp water a cup of sugar and a wadded paper towel for the snake to cling to. Then get to a vet immediatly.

[pcspirit]

HI All,

Thanks

he did had a prolapsed penis, he went to a vet but they could not save it so they cut it off. (pour lad) but he still has anouther one to play with.LOL

thanks for help.

[VenomMike]

Just for anyone reading this in the future with a similar problem.

A prolapse of anything has to be corrected within a very short time period.

1. Rinse any dirt/substrate off with some warm water, use a water tap or squeeze bottle depending on the reptiles size, don't rub or scrub just let the water run over it.
2. Coat the prolapsed area with "personal lubricant" (waterbased "non-gag gift" product.
3. Then like a tube sock turn the prolapse inside out back up inside the cloaca, use your fingers or other clean non-sharp tool depending on the size of the reptile.
4. Put the reptile in a clean container with some moist paper towels and go to the vet.
5. The vet will check to see if the prolapse is properly straightened inside the body and may suture the cloaca to ensure it doesn't fall out again. A dose of anti-biotics is also required to fight infection.
6. The risk of doing this improperly far out weights the danger of leaving the organs exposed. Unless you are able to wrap the reptile in a wet papertowels and get to a vet within half an hour it is usually advisable. Doing this allows the vet more to work with when you do get there.