Veterinarians Removed Three Golf Balls From Snake

A San Antonio hospital successfully extracted the objects from a snake using manual manipulation under heavy sedation.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Reptiles

Gouache-painted illustration of a coiled snake next to three white golf balls on a clinical surface, depicting a veterinary recovery story. — Veterinarians at the South Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital in San Antonio successfully removed three ingested golf balls from a snake without invasive surgery. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The South Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital in San Antonio saved a snake that had ingested three golf balls. The veterinary team avoided surgery by manually moving the balls through the gastrointestinal tract and out of the snake's mouth.

Why it matters

The procedure was performed to prevent a serious, life-threatening gastrointestinal obstruction. By avoiding surgery, the medical team was able to secure a safe and rapid recovery for the reptile.

Veterinarians successfully removed 3 golf balls from the snake's digestive system. The procedure was documented in an online post that garnered nearly 100,000 likes.

The players

South Texas Avian & Exotic Hospital

This San Antonio facility specializes in the medical care of non-traditional pets including birds and reptiles.

The details

The veterinary team utilized heavy sedation to calm the animal, allowing them to carefully manipulate the golf balls through the tract without needing invasive surgery. The snake recovered from the sedation process without any complications.

September 21, 2026: The hospital published a video of the procedure on Instagram.

Culture Shift

The widespread viral interest in this medical case reflects a growing public fascination with the specialized care provided to exotic pets. This attention highlights a shift toward viewing reptiles as domestic companions deserving of advanced veterinary medicine.

Pet owners in the San Antonio area should ensure small, ingestible objects are kept securely out of reach of their animals. This case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of immediate veterinary intervention if an exotic pet consumes a foreign object.

The takeaway

Reptiles are highly susceptible to swallowing foreign objects that can lead to fatal blockages. Owners should perform regular environment checks to remove items that could be mistaken for food or prey.