Hypo boa question::Inverted p***s?

Question

I have an 07 hypo boa, he was I guess fed a bit much and a red purple bulge came hanging out of his vent, went to local breeder and said he has an inverted p***s, so he pooped and his p***s pretty much started coming out, he said he will be fine and he pushed it back in. Said if it comes out again run under hot water and push back in. He also said it PROBLEY won't affect him when it comes time to breed.

I am wondering if you have any more advice, will it affect his breeding in 2 years? Any information is greatly appriciated thanks!

Answer 1

Are you sure it was a prolapsed hemipenes and not an intestinal prolapse?  It's rare to have a prolapsed hemipenes unless the animal is breeding and fails to invert the p***s (all snakes hemipenes are inverted-they evert them to use them-which makes a diagnosis of an inverted hemipenes incorrect).  You should have taken it to a vet, not the breeder. He sounds like an idiot!  Hot water????  This is very delicate tissue and burning it  or damaging it can lead to permanent damage or death!  If it's an intestinal prolapse, it can lead to death if the tissue dries out or too much comes out leading to tissue necrosis.  If it comes out again, you need to see a qualified REPTILE vet, not this breeder.  Boas are slow metabolizers of food and should not be fed an item larger than the largest portion portion of their bodies.  Adults should only be fed every 10-14 days or longer if it's a large boid.

Answer 2

I know it's similar and not the same, but my peach throated monitor had a problem with one of his hemipenis prolapsing often. I took it to the vet and he had to stitch the vent to stop it from happening.  If it happens again, make sure that it doesn't have any debris from the tank or where ever it was crawling around. Use a very light coating of KY jelly and a Q Tip to try to coax it back in, not water especially hot water. Since you aren't expecting to bred him for another two years, provided it doesn't continue to happen he should be fine.

Answer 3

you want to make sure it doesnt dry out

you should see a vet to get some type of moisturizer

Answer 4

Male reptiles (all male reptiles) have hemipenes (2 p***s') so it has one to spare.

Shouldn't affect breeding.

I'm sure he said warm water, not hot water.

Add:Galliano is correct, hemipenes are naturally inverted. That is why when you probe to determine gender, the probe goes in deeper on males than with females. So referring to it as inverted was a mis-diagnosis, or at least a mistake with words. The proper phrase would have been "prolapsed hemipene".

If it continues to happen, or it stays prolapsed, then he should see a vet. The worst case scenario is it would have to be amputated (he would get along fine with just the one remaining), the best case scenario is that it doesn't re-occur.