[Health-General] Dehydration?

[MLynch]

This could be me just being paranoid, but given my DH Sunglow arrived ill I'm questioning nearly everything about him.

His skin is looking awfully "loose." He's got water, and I've been keeping his humidity at 50-55% (There were a couple of days were I struggled with his humidity and it was down to 40%), he ate like pro yesterday (mouse hopper). I haven't seen him drinking in the past several days (but that doesn't mean he's not). When he arrived I couldn't keep hm out of the water, now he seems to ignore it.

Prior to yesterday his last meal was Nov. 5 (fed a mouse hopper by the breeder). Then he went into shed cycle and refused food the following week. He shed and was shipped the following day (Nov. 16). I didn't feed him last week because he was still stressed from the trip and from my man-handling him to treat his scale rot. So he went almost three weeks without a meal, and I'd guess hes 23-24 inches long.

Is he dehydrated? Is this stressed? Or is it nothing and I'm just being paranoid?

EDIT: I should add his temps are 92 on warm side, 85 on cool, and he's a relatively active little guy.

Skin's looking loose behind the head and down the neck.

[MLynch]

Re: Dehydration?

Bump.

Any thoughts?

[dapozer]

Re: Dehydration?

I would not say dehydration right off, I have one that looks like that also but he eats, sheds, drinks, soaks and everything normal. Kinda like a small snake growing into its larger skin. Keep an eye on it. I have been following this thread also but I am not too worried about my young guy.
Shawn

[miknoypinoy]

Re: Dehydration?

hey mike. . .looks like he might go into shed again. . .i read somewhere if the boa's skin is injured or irritated, (cuts, scale rot sores may be?) sometimes they go into shed again to clear the fault. . .some of my boas get wrinkly like that before they go into blue. . .im no vet though so, keep an eye on it, (I Know you will) and keep us posted. . .

[MLynch]

Re: Dehydration?

Good suggestion, Mike. He just shed two weeks ago, so I'm too sure it's likely to be that. That said - I'm looking forward to the next shed to see how much of the damage from the scale rot is "washed away."

He peed again tonight... that's the third time in a little over a week. Don't think I've ever seen a boa pee so much as this guy. He's getting water, and his humidity is holding and good. I turned down his heat a little thinking that might be part of the issue (it's now 89 on the warm side and (82 on the cool side).

I'm starting to wonder if the loose skin isn't part of stress. He's had zero down time since he got here (except for 48 hours after feeding). I've been in his cage twice a day to smear goop on him. ...three times on the days he's pooped or pee'd.

[DIRTY SHOOTER]

Re: Dehydration?

Actually, it could very well be another shed coming on. When a snake is injured it can trigger a shed cycle sooner than normal. You might not see a full shed but he is trying to trigger one in an attempt to heal himself. He might be slightly dehydrated from stress too but you are doing what you can about that.

Basically, you are doing the right things right now so just keep an eye on him and if he gets worse take him to a vet.

[MLynch]

Re: Dehydration?

Thanks, Mike.

If this another shed will it progress like any other? Meaning that he'll go blue/opaque, clear up and then shed? Sorry for the odd question, but it's been about 25 years since I had a boa with a skin injury.

[satyra]

Re: Dehydration?

its prob a combo of everything. i believe they can go into a stress-shed as well. but hes prob healing from the scale rot and trying to get rid of some of the old yucky skin too. if hes peeing that much he must be hydrated, i would think.

[dapozer]

Re: Dehydration?

He peed again tonight... that's the third time in a little over a week. Don't think I've ever seen a boa pee so much as this guy. .

This sounds weird to me. 3 times in 1 week????????Is he throwing urics or just peeing water? How much?

[DIRTY SHOOTER]

Re: Dehydration?

Thanks, Mike.

If this another shed will it progress like any other? Meaning that he'll go blue/opaque, clear up and then shed? Sorry for the odd question, but it's been about 25 years since I had a boa with a skin injury.

The last skin injury I've had was a rat bite and that was a while ago. If I remember correctly the "early" shed took a bit longer than a normal shed.

[MLynch]

Re: Dehydration?

This sounds weird to me. 3 times in 1 week????????Is he throwing urics or just peeing water? How much?

Urates and liquid. As for amount: given his size they seem to be of normal size and amount. He pee'd two hours after arriving on the 17th, then again 4 days later (11/21 - along with a poop), and then again today (11/27).

It is weird, but I'm chalking this up to stress... kind of like a person wetting themselves if they are scared and freaked out. I have a feeling once things settle down and he's over the scale rot his biological schedules will return to normal. I'm planning on giving him a good 10-14 days to himself once we're over this.

[DIRTY SHOOTER]

Re: Dehydration?

if hes peeing that much he must be hydrated, i would think.

My theory is this is why he might be a little dehydrated. If he's just passing water and not urates then the water is just moving right through him. It's not being absorbed. Does that make sense? It did in my head anyway. LOL!

[Boa Amarali]

Re: Dehydration?

hey mike. . .looks like he might go into shed again. . .i read somewhere if the boa's skin is injured or irritated, (cuts, scale rot sores may be?) sometimes they go into shed again to clear the fault. . .some of my boas get wrinkly like that before they go into blue. . .im no vet though so, keep an eye on it, (I Know you will) and keep us posted. . .

Actually, it could very well be another shed coming on. When a snake is injured it can trigger a shed cycle sooner than normal. You might not see a full shed but he is trying to trigger one in an attempt to heal himself. He might be slightly dehydrated from stress too but you are doing what you can about that.

Basically, you are doing the right things right now so just keep an eye on him and if he gets worse take him to a vet.

Everybody expressed my opinion here, he looks to be going into shed
brought on by injury and stress.

It will probably be a more prolonged shed.

Humidity, high humidity is going to be a necessity for this shed
the ointment is going to help keep the skin pliable and should
make the shed around the injury go a little smoother.
The injury will probably look raw and irritated after the shed
but healing will probably be helped along from that shed
Just apply the ointment after the shed and it should be OK.

Hearing about frequent urination has me a little concerned.

I hope his kidney's are OK , Joley opinion would be helpful for
this possible problem I'm not certain.

Hopefully he's just drinking and eliminating not having a problem

[MLynch]

Re: Dehydration?

Thanks, Lar. I actually added a larger water bowl last night before heading off to bed to help raise humidity in case there is an impending shed. He's been showing less inclination to soak recently so I'm feeling more comfortable with adding a larger water bowl to his cage. Between the water and the moss his humidity is up around 70% now.

...I hadn't even considered a kidney problem. God, I hope not.

[jgonzalez305]

Re: Dehydration?

what do his urates look like