rough skin?...

[Maleko]

I picked up my puget sound garter snake this evening and noticed that her underbelly had an abrasive texture to it. There are patches of discolored dry skin. There have been no changes in her environment, and she lives on coconut shavings. She's about 9 months old and to my knowledge has not shed yet. I purchased her at 4 months and the breeder had said she had not shed. I know people say that she'll shed when she needs to but this can't be normal can it?...

[guidofatherof5]

No shed yet doesn't sound right especially in a young snake.
I would recommend a shed box to see if there is a retained shed.

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[chris-uk]

Four months and no shed sounds odd to me, let alone getting to 9 months. Is she growing and putting weight on?
A shed box could be a good idea, but if the shed is welded on like it was for one of our checkered babies it may take a lot of time to get a retained shed off.

[Light of Dae]

My girl only shed at 4 months old... But since then she's been growing n shedding like a good Radix.
9 months... how big is she? how much does she eat? I'd say the rough skin sounds like retained shed... Shed box couldn't hurt either way... leave her in there for quite a while I'd say... the try picking off some 'roughness' I can't think of anything else it could be...

[Maleko]

I did a shed box for about 20 minutes yesterday, no shed, but the roughness went away, and she's been really active.
She's eating to satiation about once a week, worms and pinky parts supplemented with calcium powder.
She's about 15 inches long but her body tapers quickly behind her head.

[guidofatherof5]

I would continue with the shed box for a few days.
It's an inconvenience but could be a real benefit if this is a retained shed.
Nothing wrong with leaving them in a shed box for an extended period of time. I've left snakes in overnight and longer.

[BUSHSNAKE]

I did a shed box for about 20 minutes yesterday, no shed, but the roughness went away, and she's been really active.
She's eating to satiation about once a week, worms and pinky parts supplemented with calcium powder.
She's about 15 inches long but her body tapers quickly behind her head.
sounds like mine, im having a hell of a time with my puget baby too

[Maleko]

I'll put her in the shed box again tonight and I guess I'll leave her in there overnight. I don't have school tomorrow so I guess I'll continue the process over the course of tomorrow.

[Light of Dae]

You could also with a warm wet face cloth, or towel, Something with a rough-ish texture rub where she was rough right after the shed box n see if you can spot any peeling skin. And / Or if you got finger nails pick at a spot (in the direction of the scales, not backwards though) Also if you can get a rough piece of slate or something put in her tank or in shed box, so that she naturally 'exfoliates' her skin :)


Let us know how this works out for you :)

[Maleko]

Left her in the shed box overnight and her entire belly is nice and smooth again. She didn't shed, and it honestly looks like she doesn't need to shed. She doesn't have any rough patches that look like she's shedding. I have some rougher rocks in her tank for her to rub herself against if she needs to. Should I just keep doing the shed box?

[guidofatherof5]

Left her in the shed box overnight and her entire belly is nice and smooth again. She didn't shed, and it honestly looks like she doesn't need to shed. She doesn't have any rough patches that look like she's shedding. I have some rougher rocks in her tank for her to rub herself against if she needs to. Should I just keep doing the shed box?

Can you put the shed box in her enclosure? That way if she wants to use it she can.

[Maleko]

I could do that.

[Maleko]

Left the shed box in her tank, and she seemed very disinterested. Left her in the shed box overnight these past couple of days, again to no avail. I'm increasing her feeding to twice a week though.

[guidofatherof5]

Sometimes with a retained shed the snake will get some folds in the skin in the lateral are.
Here's a photo of a little Butler's (T.butleri) with a retained shed.
Do you see anything like this on your snake?
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/troubled_shed.jpg

[Maleko]

No I don't see anything like that on her. Although sometimes her scales on the last 1/4 of her body stick out every so slightly when she moves. Normal?...

[kibakiba]

Retained, that's what Steve was kind of showing. It looks like a little wrinkle when thye move, right?

[Maleko]

Yeah I think so.
But I picked her up last night and found that she had a blockage in her anus and she couldn't eliminate. I tried giving her a warm bath and massaging her a little bit but it hardly helped. It looks worse today. She's really starting to worry me, this is similar to what my Oregon Red Spotted had before she died. What can I do for her? My dad's trying to make an appointment with the local reptile vet to see what they can do also.

[EasternGirl]

The best thing is to get her to the vet right away. The warm bath is really all you can do that I know of...maybe increase the heat in her enclosure. Make sure she still has the cool side but keep it nice and warm on the warm side for her....make sure she has a nice comfortable place to rest. Just keep her as comfortable as possible until you can get her to the vet. Make sure the vet knows it's an emergency and she needs to be seen right away.

[kibakiba]

Retained sheds could make it hard for them to poop. You make sure the skin comes off if it is a retained shed.

[Maleko]

She has an appointment today at 10am with a specialist. Hopefully they'll be able to do something about it and guide me from there. Thanks for your help guys.

[EasternGirl]

Please keep us posted.

[Maleko]

Came back from the vet and had good news. She was given a long soak in warm water and most of the blockage was removed. The vet says she's a little dehydrated and she should be given daily baths in tepid water lasting from 15-30 minutes. They recommend a red heat lamp or a heating pad for night time hours to aid in digestion and especially so she doesn't chill at night, and increasing her feeding to 2-3 times a week to put on a little weight and further encourage shedding. Looks like she's gonna be okay.

[guidofatherof5]

That is great news.

keep us posted on your progress.

Was the blockage identified?

[EasternGirl]

Yes...great news! I'm so glad to hear she is going to be okay...blockages are always a scary ordeal.

[Maleko]

I'm not exactly sure what it was. I'll have to ask my dad in the morning, he took her in for me while I was at school. I remember he said something about the digestive system not functioning properly when snakes are chilled (ie at night when i turn off her heat lamp). So I think it had to do with that and also not having the tank warm enough. The heat lamp I have for her puts the warm side in the low 80'sF, which I thought was fine for a Puget considering they're native to cold and rainy washington state. The vet recommended a warm side of the mid to high 80's (and a cool side of 70)

[EasternGirl]

Well at least she is doing better now. Keep us posted on her.

[Maleko]

She's perked up a bit this morning. Moving around her critter cage and such. I put a heating blanket under half of her box and set it to low overnight. I think she really appreciated that. I'm going to give her a 20 minute bath in a bit, and see if I can find a larger bowl for her actual terrarium so she can swim around a bit once she recovers and I can put her back in her terrarium.

The doctor said she'll be passing diarrhea for a day or two, but should soon start passing normal stool (given that she now receives adequate day and night heating).

[EasternGirl]

Good to hear...thanks for the update...keep them coming!

[Maleko]

Granted the vet told me her diarrhea should subside shortly and she should start passing normal stool in a couple days, is there anything I can do for her until then?

[EasternGirl]

Just make sure to keep her hydrated...make sure she has plenty of fresh water and that she is going to the water bowl and drinking as she will be losing fluids from the diarrhea. Other than that I think you just have to keep her comfy and wait it out.

[Maleko]

So far so good, I think she passed her blockage yesterday morning, there was something long and dark in her feces. It just looked like more feces, but were gonna have the vet analyze it today. She's much more active and is itching to get back into her terrarium.

And last night, she was rubbing up against her coconut hide, like literally moving her body back and forth along the coconut as if she had an itch. Is this pre-shed behavior or?...

[kibakiba]

Sounds like she was trying to get it off.

[EasternGirl]

My snakes generally rub their faces against rough things in their enclosure before they shed...to try to get the shed started. So, yeah it sounds like she was trying to get the shed going. Make sure her humidity is up and that she can soak in her water dish if she needs to...the coconut hide is great for her to get the shed started...if that is what is going on.

[Maleko]

No shed yet. I fed her two small worms yesterday and today she's backed up again! I'm giving her a warm bath to try and get things moving, and i can see her contracting her muscles "down there" and you can see she needs to eliminate. She's constipated or something. The vet gave her a half an hour long soaking and she eliminated easily, so I'm doing that right now. Anything else I can do for her? Her enclosure right now is 82 degrees, and I have turned up the heating pad a little bit for night time hours.

I wanted to do a shed box tonight to help her out, but I don't know if I should.

[guidofatherof5]

I shed box over night shouldn't hurt. She may get cold if it's not heated but that's about it.

[Maleko]

I can put the shed box on the heating pad. Should be nice and warm for her.

Is there anything I can do for her right now? She's soaking at the moment, and she's still have difficulties eliminating. Should I try to help her?

[guidofatherof5]

If she pooped for the Vet. and all he did was give her a soak I don't think you should need to do anything more then that.
A heating pad would be great as long as it doesn't get too hot. Can you just cover a small portion of the shed box?

[Maleko]

Okay. And what do you mean by that? Like drape something over half of the shed box?

[guidofatherof5]

Aren't you setting the shed box on top of the heat pad?

[Maleko]

Yes. So only have part of the shed box on the heat pad?

[guidofatherof5]

Yes, you just want to keep the water warm not hot.

[Maleko]

okay sounds good. thank you.

[Maleko]

She's in her shed box, half on half off the heat pad. No defecation yet. She's really starting to worry me.

[guidofatherof5]

When did she go at the Vets.? How many days ago?

[Maleko]

Friday I believe. Said she should start passing normal stool in several days after some diarrhea, and like I said, should be given regular baths in tepid water for 30 min daily.

[guidofatherof5]

I would say keep doing what you're doing and wait a few more days.
Of course, if you are concerned you should contact your Vet. for advice.

[EasternGirl]

I would call the vet again...there must be some reason she keeps getting blocked up like this. Something must be going on. Just my opinion...

[Maleko]

Something was up and I guess I'll never know. She passed away this afternoon.

[guidofatherof5]

Very sorry to hear about her passing.
Thanks for doing all you did.

[aquamentus_11]

i'm also sorry to hear about your loss. you sound like a very caring and responsible pet owner: i hope things go your way if you try again.

[katach]

Sorry for your loss.