Constipated Snake...

[taharial]

I noticed Mamas has not been pooping since she has her last 2 still borns... she also wasn't moving around the tank and hasn't eaten. A week and a half ago I put her in the sink with warm water, and she pooped in it (YAY)! BUT there was a chunk of stuff stuck at her rectum, so I gently massaged it out. It was 2mm and hard like a little pebble. The rest of her tail area felt ok, no lumps, so I gently massaged her and a bunch of gunk came out (off white, creamy and incredibly smelly). She started moving around the tank again, but today it looked like her tail was swollen so she went back in the sink for a water massage. A little bit of poop came out (very course sand like) her tail looked less swollen but now there is a palpable mass, it feels like bigger "rock" about 2 cm up from her vent. I couldn't massage it out, and her leaky poos started to turn a light pink. I'm guessing pink=blood=bad. At that point I wrinsed her off and returned her to the tank.

Have any of you had anything like this happen? What do I do for her? I can't get her to a vet until next Fri.

[d_virginiana]

Hmm... It's possible that the blood is from a physical injury to the cloacal area or burst vessels from either hardened fecal matter or straining too hard. The other possibility for blood in the stool is that there's an infection. The white goo and smell you described (was it different from 'poo' smell?) makes me think there may be some sort of infection, especially since this started following the stillbirths.
Boosting temps can help snakes' immune systems, so that would probably be a good idea. Also, keep soaking her in warm water fairly often... You could try a honey soak as well. Basically, dissolve honey in the water the snake will be soaking in. I don't know how well this will work for a snake, but it does wonders treating impaction in my frog.

I wouldn't recommend manually messing with that mass again. If you can get her to a herp vet, that'd be best. But since you said she started bleeding after you messed with it, then I think you either run the risk of doing mechanical damage or spreading around infection by massaging it. I wouldn't risk trying that again until you see if the vet can offer you a safer alternative.
Sorry I can't give you any more advice than this. Keep us updated and let us know if her behavior changes at all!

[snake man]

Could the pebble like object be a jelly?

[Selkielass]

Keep her warm, wet and clean until you can get her to a vet.
The dehydrated/ constipated snakes I have helped out sorted themselves out with this, and worms (wet food) but it sounds like you have more going on here.

Id keep her as comfortable as possible, and allow her ample opportunity to rehydrate herself and get things moving on her own- I wouldn't push things along any further.
Vet if and as soon as you can manage.

I hop things come out o.k.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like a Vet. visit is called for. Until then the warm soakings can only help.

[taharial]

Thanks guys! The white poo smelled a little different, and not "good" (not like their regular poo smells any better). She isn't moving much, is barely breathing and her tail ballooned up again. I'll keep soaking her, and hope it helps. I'm going to try to get her to a vet ASAP. I appreciate the advice!

[d_virginiana]

Can we get a picture of the tail area?

[taharial]

:( Mama's is gone. I'm hreatbroken. I won't move her until tomorrow when I take her out to the lake to bury her. If I remember I'll take a picture of her tail. Right now it's hiding against the water container.

[d_virginiana]

Sorry to hear about that. :(

[Stefan-A]

Sorry about the loss.

[indigoman]

My thoughts are with you.

[chris-uk]

Sorry to hear she didn't make it. :(

[BLUESIRTALIS]

Some snakes after giving birth can retain infertile slugs also known as jelly beens or duds and most of the time a healthy snake will pass them on her own with no problems, but sometimes they can get lodged and cause death for the snake. I am sorry for your loss she was a beauty.

[guidofatherof5]

Sorry to hear of her passing.

[snake man]

Really sorry.

[Invisible Snake]

Sorry for your loss :(

[ProXimuS]

Sorry to hear about this:(

[kueluck]

:(

[Light of Dae]

awwwe *hugs* so sorry to hear that.
You did everything you could.

[Selkielass]

Im sorry she didn't make it.
You did all you could.