Although they’re not for everyone, snakes make great pets. They are beautiful, strong, mysterious creatures that don’t require much maintenance. However, like every other pet, they can experience health problems.
Snakes can get constipated due to digestive problems caused by dry food, low temperature, or low humidity. The typical symptoms of constipation in snakes include loss of appetite and sleepiness. To get rid of constipation, you can try bathing the snake in warm water or go straight to a vet.
If you’re still not sure if your snake is constipated or not, read below to learn about all the different causes and symptoms of constipation in snakes. I will also show you more ways of helping your snake get rid of this digestion issue.
Causes of Constipation in Snakes
Snakes are reptiles that feed on insects, rats, frogs, and other small animals. They have a digestive system that allows them to eat whole animals and pass them through the digestive channels. Sometimes, the digestive system doesn’t work the way it should, causing snakes to suffer from constipation. There are a few reasons why this happens:
Thawed Frozen Food
A lot of snakes get fed mice, frogs, and other types of animals that have been frozen, but any kind of meat that has been frozen and then thawed loses a significant amount of water.
The frozen and then thawed mice or rats your snake eats are much drier than fresh ones. As a result, their feces become dehydrated, which could cause constipation.
Overfeeding
Overfeeding is a common cause of constipation in most pets. Sometimes you feel like your snake could eat a little more and decide to feed it more. If a snake eats more than it needs, the excess food can cause issues in its digestive system and cause it to become constipated.
Low Temperature and Low Humidity Environment
Snakes are cold-blooded, which means they are much more affected by the external temperature around them. If your snake’s environment is too cold, it will try to conserve the high temperature inside its body.
This unusual concentration of heat affects the feces inside the snakes’ guts, drying them out. Naturally, this makes it harder for the snake to defecate.
Additional causes of constipation in snakes include indigestible material that has been swallowed and is causing an obstruction, different infections, or injuries.
Symptoms of Constipation in a Snake
Because your snake is not as expressive as a dog or a cat, you have to watch carefully to see if there are signs in which your snake is expressing its discomfort. The usual symptoms of constipation in snakes are:
- Loss of appetite
- Sleepiness
- Bloating
- Unusual behavior
- Irritability
What To Do if My Snake Gets Constipated
There are a few different ways in which you can help your snake get rid of constipation:
- Bathe the snake in warm water. Place your snake in a tub and soak it in warm water for 10 minutes, massaging it constantly to encourage movement in the bowels.
- Increase the humidity and temperature. Check if there are materials that can absorb moisture in the snake’s bedding and make sure the temperature inside the environment is just right.
- Take your snake to a vet. If you have tried the above methods and don’t see any improvement, or if your snake isn’t moving much, it’s essential to take your pet to a professional.
Conclusions
If your pet snake is constipated, it might be because of dry food, a cold and dry environment, overfeeding, or other infections or injuries. You can try bathing it in warm water or making its environment more suitable; if everything else fails, take your snake to the vet.