Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Eastern Ratsnake

This patient swallowed TWO ceramic eggs

This large-and-in-charge Eastern Ratsnake (weighing in at a whopping 1.2kg, or about 2.6lb) unfortunately consumed not one, but TWO ceramic eggs. Ceramic eggs are often used to show chickens where to lay in the coop – however, they look and smell exactly like the real thing and can be hazardous to wildlife.

Thankfully, the homeowner did the right thing and brought this snake into care after they noticed the two foreign lumps and general lethargy.

Upon exam, it became clear that this patient had GI obstructions, and radiographs confirmed the presence of two ceramic eggs. The snake was quickly prepped for surgery to remove these foreign objects, as prolonged blockages can cause tissue death, GI rupture, and even death.

We see dozens of patients (predominantly snakes) every year brought in due to mesh entanglement. Most of the cases we see, the netting wasn’t in use at the time and was not properly stored.

This snake did beautifully under anesthesia, and our vet team was able to remove both eggs and close without any issues. The associated tissues in the GI looked healthy, and we are hopeful for a full recovery for this patient! They are already very active, healing well, and being offered food (the digestible kind!).

If you use ceramic eggs, please make sure you glue them together into larger clumps. Or better yet, consider using real eggs to show chickens where to lay! Make sure your coops are secure and if you do have a snake visitor, gently show them the exit and double down on security.

If you think a snake may have ingested a ceramic egg, remember that it will NOT pass on its own! Please get that animal into care with a licensed rehabilitator ASAP.

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