[Defecation] Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

[kbear951]

So I recently adopted a Red Tail who was underweight, lethargic, had a possible respiratory infection, and had mites. I was told she was approximately 10 years old. Before any of you say anything, yes I was aware of every one of these things before I took her home and did it any way because I felt bad for her. And yes, she has been under strict quarantine the entire time at my home. I took care of the mites and she has been on Tylan for the respiratory infection and it seems to help. I also took her to a very respected reptile vet and told him what I was doing and he said not to change a thing and just make sure to keep her between 88 and 92 degrees if possible.

So heres my current predicament: Even before I had ever fed her, she would frequently (several times a week) eliminate VERY watery white stools/urate with no actual feces - not a speck of brown. I had her about 2 1/2 weeks before I attempted a feeding. She is a solid 9 feet and I was only able to get her to eat 1 med/lrg rat. I know she hasn’t been feeling well and has been through a lot lately, so hopefully we can work up to more. I waited about another 1 1/2 - 2 weeks and the same thing; she ate one med/lrg rat. Since feeding, the frequency of her “eliminations” haven’t changed much and are still pure white and watery.

Any ideas? I know I need to just take her back to the vet and get bloodwork, but if I figured I would post here first in an attempt to save myself $200 or so. Hoping someone else has had a similar experience and resolved the issue…. *fingers crossed*

[jOHNNY t]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

For a 10 year old 9' boa, 2 and 1/2 weeks seams a little frequent. I would drop back to 3 to 4 weeks. Do she have belly heat? "heating pad" she may be having digestion problems.

[zamora]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

If you could give us a little more information about your setup, that may help a bit. It could be nothing more than the fact that she is very stressed or it could be major digestive issues based on her former living conditions. I would also back off the feedings to at minimum once every three weeks, it will take some time to get her gut flora back if it can be done at this point.

[bcr_229]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

A move + mite treatment can throw even a healthy animal off food, never mind one that is compromised. Obviously double-check temps and humidity.

I realize that while most large adult female boas don't need hides, yours may feel better with one. I use either kitty litter pans or restaurant bus tubs for my larger snakes, just cut a corner off for access.

If you don't have any NutriBAC probiotic I would suggest getting some, as it will help re-establish her good gut flora that the antibiotic kills. I just dust a pinch of the powder on a damp f/t feeder. TheBeanFarm.com sells it.

I wouldn't offer a feeder more often than every three weeks, even if it is smaller than what she should be taking.

Does she look dehydrated? Also if she is eating wet f/t feeders that could explain the watery urates. My retics all soak their cages 2-3 days after feeding, as rabbit fur holds a LOT of water.

[acephantom903]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

Like said above, take 3-4 weeks between feedings. So how long has it been since you've fed her the second time? For all we know it could be still 2 1/2 weeks since the first feeding with you. Boas tend to poop when they have to or feel like it. My juvenile just pooped this morning after holding it for almost 6 weeks. She didn't even drop urates or urinate and I know for a fact she drank just over a gallon of water over that time.

Liquid urine doesn't mean health issues, just that she has extra moisture in her body that she got rid of. I honestly would be more concerned if she was pooping a few days after feeding as that would scream to me parasites. A blood test would help identify issues if there was something other than she is recovering.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

.... I also took her to a very respected reptile vet and told him what I was doing and he said not to change a thing and just make sure to keep her between 88 and 92 degrees if possible.
....Since feeding, the frequency of her “eliminations” haven’t changed much and are still pure white and watery.....

Since you've been to the vet, why not call his/her office & ask about the watery stools? That's what you paid for... And I second everything in post #4 by bcr_229, especially about trying NutriBac (or BeneBac-reptile).

As far as the "nothing brown", it just means she isn't ready to 'go' yet. It often takes some time, ie. several meals, before snakes feel the need...unless you have reason to think they are actually constipated, as
evidenced by lower body swelling above the cloaca, or a hard mass near the vent....otherwise, relax..."__it happens!"

[ldydrgn]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

An underweight boa that is fed appropriately (smaller items, less frequently for a bit to help build gut flora) is not going to defecate very often because it is going to absorb every bit possible of the prey item. Fur is most likely the only thing that would be eliminated and she will probably just hold onto it until she feels like letting it go, lol.

[bcr_229]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

An underweight boa that is fed appropriately (smaller items, less frequently for a bit to help build gut flora) is not going to defecate very often because it is going to absorb every bit possible of the prey item. Fur is most likely the only thing that would be eliminated and she will probably just hold onto it until she feels like letting it go, lol.

Good point. I have a retic female that had colon surgery earlier this year. When she started back on food she could only have a few jumbo mice every 5 days, as the vet was worried larger feeders would be too large for her digestive tract. She didn't poop for four weeks.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

....She didn't poop for four weeks.

Or what we here call a "vacation", LOL

[paulh]

Re: Frequent Loose/Watery WHITE Eliminations (Urate) - Nothing Brown

Is anything known about that boa's history before you got it? Could it have been in pet trade channels for several months and totally emptied the gut? If so, it would take time for the roughage to work down to the cloaca.

Good luck.