Cloacal Eversion in Young Female Blood?

[Kitt]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a vet in my area to take her to, but I'm kind of at a loss as to what is going on in the first place, so I'm just sort of looking for feedback...

A little while ago I was handling my young (less than a year) old female blood and noticed that she seemed to be having some sort of cloacal eversion... I examined her and it didn't look swollen or red or anything, it was just that the pink part normally hidden by scales was showing. This persisted for a few days, then she went into shed and it seemed to disappear... Now she's all shed out, I was handling her and noticed it again. It seems to get much worse/more intense when I'm handling her, almost as if she's doing it on purpose...? It doesn't seem to be affecting her at all; she still loves to eat, shed perfectly and isn't any fiestier than she normally is. :P I have a basic snake veterenary manual and it didn't mention this at all, so I'm just sort of wondering what it could possibly be.

I'm going to take some pictures this afternoon (fun) and I can post pics if neccessary... Any feedback on what this could be would be appreciated, though!


Thank you for your help,

Kitt

[jordanm]

I'm not positive if this is what your talking about.. but males tend to evert their hemipenis when feeling threatened and will musk on occasion as well, females do the same just dont have a hemipenis... it could be shes feeling threatened by handling and attempting, or getting prepared to musk you.

[borneoblood151]

Hey,
It doesn't sound to me like a prolapse which is something that is much more common with chondros. With females, when they are excited or confronted with something they construe as a threat or challenge, females will evert the rectum as part of a defensive mechanism. Females will also, do this when they are placed with other males or, even other females, and will discharge fluid or soft runny urate.
-Angel

[Kitt]

Thanks guys --

Yeah, it definitedly seems like something she is DOING, as opposed to something that is happening to her. When I picked her up last night to try and get a picture of it, she stopped doing it and her vent just looked normal. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on it, and also try and acclimate her some more to gentle handling -- this might just be her way of telling me she feels threatened (that and hissing, though luckily she's not very bitey at all).


Thanks again for the help,

Kitt