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Bloated stomach

Q

Quinn_1234

New member
Hello. I have a corn snake about 1.5 years old. About a month ago she started developing a bloated stomach after digestion, so before pooping. I tried to massage her belly and give her a bath, and after that that bloating disappeared. I brought her to a vet. He checked her, did an x-ray, and didn't find anything strange. Just some bobbles of air in guts. After the vet visit, I decided to try to not feed her, but she again developed that bloated stomach. It happened 2 times in raw, after soaking she just urinated. She doesn't have problems with eating or pooping. She looks great. She is not lethargic. She just has this bloated stomach for 2 days a week. Can you please tell me what can it be? I want to go to a vet again, but what should I try first?
 
Bloating in the stomach is always really concerning! Was your vet a reptile vet? Do you feed in the enclosure?
 
Bloating is a worrisome sign. Did the vet do a fecal check? If not, I would absolutely request one. This should not require that the snake actually be seen, if you can get a sample of the excreta in a bag or bottle. Of course you'd need to feed her. What did the vet say about feedings? It would be a good idea to put her on something like newspapers or paper towels so you can keep a close eye on what she passes.

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No, he didn't as she didn't have any poops.she is already on the paper towels. She poops ant urinates regularly. I fed her yesterday with a pinky. Will wait for her poop.
 
Hm. Even if your snake didn't have/produce any waste for the vet visit, it's possible for the vet ( or vet tech) to take a sample with a lubricated probe. There are assorted possible parasitic or infectious reasons why your snake might be experiencing abdominal bloating. You mentioned that she's going to have another vet visit. I do hope you are able to sort out the problem soon.

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So.....we visited the vet today. My snake had a diarrhea, which frightened me. After examination of faeces, they said it was protozoa. They said they would give her medicine for 7 days, and this would help. But I read some information that protozoa is the same as cryptosporidium. I asked the question. Waiting for the reply.
 
Quinn_1234 said:
...After examination of faeces, they said it was protozoa...... I read some information that protozoa is the same as cryptosporidium. I asked the question. Waiting for the reply.
Click to expand...
I'm glad you got part of an answer. I do want to clarify something, though if course I'm not your vet and haven't seen your snake's microscope slides. You've done some research, and it's true that cryptosporidia are ONE type of protozoan, but they are far from being the ONLY type. Some are much
more treatable than others. If you've been given a prescription, try not to worry too much at this point.

If you have any other herps, be sure to quarantine the affected snake away from them. In any case, wash your hands well before and after handling her or any of her things. (Should've said this before. I'm sorry.)

Fingers crossed for you and her!

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Thank you for the support. Unfortunately they can't say if it's crypto or not. Yes, I have more snakes and I try my best to not contact them after her. Unfortunately, I don't know when it started, so I'm not sure if they got it or not. I'll be waiting for their poops to check them too. I can ask the vet for the photo of what they found and post it in my album if it helps somehow.
 
Oh dear. Do you know what medication she is being given?

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That's a very good drug for a lot of protozoa.
It's usually very well tolerated unless the snake is debilitated, and it sounds like your girl has only recently become symptomatic. It's usually given until there's a negative fecal.
Hopefully your snake will make a full recovery soon! Fingers crossed!

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That's good to hear. Thank you for your responses and support. She started developing a bloating about 6 weeks ago and only recently had diarrhea. She also shedded yesterday. She looks good. I hope she will get better soon. Thank you a lot.
 
Happy to give emotional support. We care. Please do keep us updated on your girl. Hope she makes a full, quick recovery!

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Update. She pooped recently. She did it while soaking. It wasn't really watery as it was last time. It was very soft but like a sausage. I decided to check it out and found mouse bones. Not all of them, probably the biggest ones .
 
Normally they don't retain food for weeks, no. As long as they have access to proper temperatures for digestion, the majority of the ways clears their digestive tract in a matter of days. That said, I am not sure how her parasitic issues might affect her digestion. The meds also change the gut flora.

Pinky mice do have bones, even though they aren't as fully calcified as older mice. I wouldn't worry too much about unusual waste at this point unless it's diarrhea. If you're concerned, a call to her vet will probably help.


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Yes. I understand about food. But could she hold feces? The thing is I fed her last time 23 of April. Then, I fed her with pinkie on Monday, 9. She pooped on Wednesday when she had diarrhea. And she pooped again tonight. She still has the bloating, which worries me the most. Doctor said that bloating might be because of her very slow metabolism. I also read that it can be a result of protozoa.
 
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