Bloody stool-kind of???

[edf]

I say kind of because it wasn't gushes of blood, but here is the info.
Damien, My ball python just went through a shed. He had some skin on his head and I removed one eye cap, not sure of there is a cap on the other ( I have the hardest time telling, any tips on noticing them? I know of several ways to remove them) So I soaked him for a little. as always, damien poo'd in the bath. I notice justa hint of red, and i mean just a hint- nothing much. I immediatly took him out of the bath and blotted him... I noticed that the butt-scale ( gosh, i feel like a 3 year old) was open still and it looked pinkish, but no signs of a lot of blood. I wiped him gently and a tiny red dot came off on the towel... nothing major, if i look at the towel again I doubt I could find it.

Should I be concerned? Bare in mind he did just shed, would that have anything to do with it?. He has never regurged and all his other poo's looked fine. He is alert, flicking his tongue and wanting to crawl everywhere. Nothing abnormal about his behavior other then what I just explained.

Let me know if I need to get him to the vet, or if just monitoring his poo carefully for a bit is needed.

Oh, FYI, my corn did shed a few weeks ago- perfect shed... it was one piece... kinda like a perfect snake-but just th eskin. It looks reallyneat.



thanx in advance for any help/tips/suggestions you can provide!

edf

[John Pilling]

I know with corns they can occasionally leave 2 tiny blood spots on a shed where the skin pulls at the cloea (vent), i believe this can happen to all snakes, butdoesn't get noticed as much as corns sheds are lighter in colour usually.

On that note i wouldn't worry 2 much at the min, just keep an eye on him over the next day or 2 and see if you can spot any more, i bet you won't tho. Also check after the next shed, as a just in case mesure.

If it does keep happening over the next day or 2 or more, then i would sugest a vets as it may be a compaction problem, but thats the worst case senario so don't panic as i honestley think it is a shed thing.

Keep me posted, and fingers crossed for you.

[edf]

Whew!

I will keep a watchful eye on my baby! I was just so concerned. I didn't think it was something really major because there was not alot of it, and I provide him with a warm and cool temps, and he moves between them both. I was just not sure, and wanted to be safe.

Thanx a ton, I will check after next shed and keepa good eye on him.



edf

[John Pilling]

If i honestley though it was any more then that i'd advise a vet straight off, but i really do think it's just a bit of shed that was hard to get off.

[palombo77]

yeah I agree John. Do you remember when I had blood trouble with my corn ? that was quite allot of blood & it was where he had swallowed some aspen & it caused havock in his insides..

It does sound shed - related..just keep an eye on him.

[John Pilling]

A tiny little bit that appeares once is nothing to worry about, but a lot of blood, or a little every time he poo's (2 times or more) is something to worry about and should be vet checked, could be something, could be nothing ubt i've not got the knowledge or knowhow to know 1 way or another.