Dystocia is mostly reported in captive reptiles and usually triggered by inadequate handling. This paper aims to report surgical ovariectomy procedure as a treatment method for recurrent dystocia in a green snake. The veterinary hospital received a green snake (Philodryas olfersii), 400 g, presenting with dystocia for two weeks and a history of similar states repeatedly every year. There was no humidity control in the terrarium, and temperature was under 22°C. Physical exam revealed four oval-shaped structures in the caudal coelomic cavity, confirmed with image tests, and a number of follicles were located at the right ovary. Promptly, the patient was exposed to natural heating sources, and within ten days, eggs were laid. Based on history, the animal was sent to ovariectomy procedure, performing 10-cm incision on left lateroventral at the beginning of the final third of the body. After exposing the right gonad, a gonadectomy was performed by the three tweezers technique and ligature of the plexus arteriovenous using poliglecaprone 25 4-0. Left ovary was not visualized.

After inspecting and cleaning the cavity, the musculature was sutured using the same material aforementioned in festonade pattern, followed by skin eversion using Wolf pattern with 5-0 nylon and cyanoacrylate adhesion of surgical wound. As the animal started the ecdysis ninety days after procedure, suture was removed. The improvement of environmental handling favored egg-laying, proving that this was one of the main causes of the pathology. The ovariectomy was effective in preventing dystocia once the snake was healthy within twelve months after the diagnosis.