Difficulty passing slugs; When do I go to a vet?

[d_virginiana]

So I went in to check on everyone today, and Harley was passing slugs. I'm a little surprised since she passed one a couple weeks ago. But so far she's passed like six or seven, and there are at least two left. It's been over six hours... She's still making progress (usually a new slug whenever I go check) but it's going very slowly. It just seems like it's taking way longer than it should and she's struggling. How much of this is due to her young age (2 years)?
More importantly, when do I take her to a vet? I don't want to stress her out any more if things are going to be fine, but there's an all-night clinic if necessary.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't think it's time to panic. If you see progress I'd let she do her thing.

[d_virginiana]

I don't think it's time to panic. If you see progress I'd let she do her thing.

She started having trouble, so we took her to the vet. She got some reptile-specific subcutaneous fluids as well as a shot of oxytocin. She seems to feel better at least.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad she's getting some help.

[EKS56]

Why would she be having slugs if she hasn't been bred?

[d_virginiana]

Glad she's getting some help.

The vet said that with slugs it isn't too strange to have them spread out over a span of a day or two, so I feel better now... I figured since I've never dealt with this before it'd be better to get help too soon than accidentally wait too late.

[ConcinusMan]

Why would she be having slugs if she hasn't been bred?

Same reason birds occasionally lay infertile eggs. Because she ovulated but wasn't bred.

If she had encountered a male at the right time she would probably be having babies.

I thought you would have learned about the birds and the bees by now.

It's fairly common for female garters to do this at around 2 years old and a few times in their lives thereafter. Interestingly, some milk snakes will lay fertile eggs in the absence of a male, at around 6-7 yrs old. The babies will all be female and are genetically identical to the mother. (parthenogenesis)

[ConcinusMan]

The vet said that with slugs it isn't too strange to have them spread out over a span of a day or two, so I feel better now... I figured since I've never dealt with this before it'd be better to get help too soon than accidentally wait too late.

I just had a girl take a week to pass them. No biggie except one got stuck and is still there a month later. Now she's gone off food and will probably die of septicemia.

[gibble888]

Same reason birds occasionally lay infertile eggs. Because she ovulated but wasn't bred.

If she had encountered a male at the right time she would probably be having babies.

I thought you would have learned about the birds and the bees by now.

It's fairly common for female garters to do this at around 2 years old and a few times in their lives thereafter. Interestingly, some milk snakes will lay fertile eggs in the absence of a male, at around 6-7 yrs old. The babies will all be female and are genetically identical to the mother. (parthenogenesis)

That is so odd...i thought only worms could do that...along with others but not snakes.

[ConcinusMan]

Lots of reptiles and amphibians do it. ( I think with amphibians they can actually change their sex spontaneously) Even boa constrictors can have partho litters. There's one species of lizard (whiptail) I used to find in bakersfield, CA for which males do not even exist. They're all female and reproduce by parthenogenesis.