I could really use some help from you experienced keepers!

[BigJ]

I recently acquired a female lav albino tiger retic, and she has something very odd (to me at least) going on in her heart area. Exactly where her heart is there is an ever-so-small bump (think two days after a meal, you can barely see a bump where the mouse/rat is). That is not however what really has me concerned, when putting my hand on that area I feel this really weird heart rhythm its a normal rhythm, but feels weird. I am having a really hard time describing it, its like a fluttering with every beat, think trying to suck a liquid through a straw where it narrows or bends (like pinching it), and there is air in the straw with the liquid. Man that is a terrible description, but I really don't know how better to describe it.

I am fairly concerned but really don't know if I should be. To me it seems like she has a weak arterie, but the bump makes me worried that there is a tumor there, which would make sense if there is a tumor and it is pinching one of her arteries.

Anyway to answer some questions I know are coming. She seems to be in good health. I have had her for about a week. When I got her she had some retained shed, which after a night of soaking was gone. She has some damage to her head, where it looks like she either rubbed or a rat got a hold of her (the old owner said she didn't feed f/t so he fed her live....she is a retic...ate two f/t rats for me second night...). She is very alert and energetic. She also had a nice smelly present for me this evening that looked, and smelled normal (and by normal I mean TERRIBLE!). So I know that she is A) eating B) pooping and C) alert/attentive.

I am really hoping that some of you more experienced owners have dealt with this and I am an idiot of even worrying about it.

[MarkS]

There have actually been quite a few interesting studies on what happens to a pythons heart after eating. Basically the heart just goes nuts, it'll actually increase in size, pumps a lot harder and it's all pretty normal. Scientists are studying it to see if they can get some insight on how human hearts react. Here is some interesting reading material for you.

http://ajpregu.physiology.org/conten....2011.abstract

http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/10/...-hearts/56984/

http://uanews.ua.edu/2011/10/snakes-...ience-article/

[BigJ]

There have actually been quite a few interesting studies on what happens to a pythons heart after eating. Basically the heart just goes nuts, it'll actually increase in size, pumps a lot harder and it's all pretty normal. Scientists are studying it to see if they can get some insight on how human hearts react. Here is some interesting reading material for you.

http://ajpregu.physiology.org/conten....2011.abstract

http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/10/...-hearts/56984/

http://uanews.ua.edu/2011/10/snakes-...ience-article/

Mark, those were quite interesting reads, and I greatly appreciate the help!

I just recorded a quick video of the phenomenon, although it was with my terrible cell phone, you can still see what I am trying to get across. The vid can be seen here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ5tQ...ature=youtu.be

Again any help would be greatly appreciated, I would really like to think that Mark hit the nail on the head, but it is a 24/7 condition that she has had since I picked her up, so it has me guessing.

[WarriorPrincess90]

Have you taken her to a vet? I personally have no experience with this, and I hope someone else can chime in with some useful advice. But really, you are right to wonder. That is very strange. Maybe she has a defect?

No matter what it is, I wish you the best of luck in figuring out what's going on with that girl. Though really, if she seems completely healthy aside from this, maybe it isn't negatively effecting her and isn't something you should worry too much about? Well anyways, again, best of luck!

[BigJ]

Have you taken her to a vet? I personally have no experience with this, and I hope someone else can chime in with some useful advice. But really, you are right to wonder. That is very strange. Maybe she has a defect?

No matter what it is, I wish you the best of luck in figuring out what's going on with that girl. Though really, if she seems completely healthy aside from this, maybe it isn't negatively effecting her and isn't something you should worry too much about? Well anyways, again, best of luck!

I have not taken her to a vet, I was kinda hoping to see if someone could definitively tell me if it were a problem or not. If I were to see any signs of bad health with her I would take her immediately, however since she has shown NO signs of anything bad, I am hard-pressed to think a vet can do anything to help her!

Also thanks for the good wishes!



EDIT: IF YOU ARE JUST READING THIS THREAD PLEASE LOOK AT THE VID LINKED IN POST #3

[RobNJ]

Wow, that's pretty crazy...I'd probably check out a good vet. No idea what could be causing it.

[BigJ]

Wow, that's pretty crazy...I'd probably check out a good vet. No idea what could be causing it.

I guess what I am getting at is what could a vet do? She is acting perfectly normal, eating like a....well a retic...lol....pooping and shedding regularly. If I thought taking her to a vet would have an impact I would do it in a heartbeat!

[RobNJ]

I guess what I am getting at is what could a vet do? She is acting perfectly normal, eating like a....well a retic...lol....pooping and shedding regularly. If I thought taking her to a vet would have an impact I would do it in a heartbeat!

If you have a good snake vet, I would venture to guess that they may be able to tell you what's going on with your snake so you can put the guesswork and worries aside. It may very well be nothing, it could be a minor thing, or it could be a life threatening condition...but that's not something you're likely to find here because I don't think there are many qualified herp vets on hand. It's obviously something that has caused you enough concern to post a thread and video on it, so just knowing, in of itself, will have an impact...maybe not on your snake, but definitely on you.

[BigJ]

If you have a good snake vet, I would venture to guess that they may be able to tell you what's going on with your snake so you can put the guesswork and worries aside. It may very well be nothing, it could be a minor thing, or it could be a life threatening condition...but that's not something you're likely to find here because I don't think there are many qualified herp vets on hand. It's obviously something that has caused you enough concern to post a thread and video on it, so just knowing, in of itself, will have an impact...maybe not on your snake, but definitely on you.

You make a very good point! If for nothing else than to make myself feel better about it! I will have to look into any local vets that know their stuff, the vet I have been referred to is about 1.5 hours away...