Kelly's eyes!

[Salamander Rising]

Kelly is in deep shed.

She's been laying in her hide sort of 'breathing heavily' as though she was uncomfortable so I checked her for RI symptoms...absolutely none present.

I hauled her out for a complete inspection and she's had serious sausage butt for a week and has been laying in her water bowl frequently which is something she never does, not even when shedding.
One time, I caught her with her head totally submerged.

All parameters are perfect.
A check with a magnifying glass shows her totally mite free.

While I had her on the desk trying unsuccessfully to open her yap to see why her eyes look tiny/forehead looks 'swollen', in case something was going on inside her mouth, she started to dribble pee.

I quickly held her over the trash can and a huge, rock hard urate shot of her so violently that it sounded like a baseball hitting the side of the trash can.

I poked it with a pencil and it was utterly hard, crumbly and crunchy feeling...almost like a gob of compacted sand rather the usual toothpaste stuff.

She peed forever and then pooped a lot...and there was a smidge of blood which I wiped off and could find no more of.

What is causing her eyes to 'look little', almost as if her 'eyebrows' are engulfing them?

Photos:









Even though she's really in shed, I had to poke her with a paper towel tube when I opened her house because she thought it was feeding time and was about to lunge at my empty hand.
[she is a greedy little sow]

I've never seen anybody else's eyes look 'odd' before a shed and hers don't look like they usually do.

Sorry for the lousy photos but she's a very adventurous, bold snake and she was thoroughly enjoying trying to crawl off the table, up my arm, around my neck, etc.

[elbee]

There does seem to be swelling, especially on the right side of her face. Hopefully someone will comment that has seen this before. Sorry I'm not of much help.

[Salamander Rising]

There does seem to be swelling, especially on the right side of her face. Hopefully someone will comment that has seen this before. Sorry I'm not of much help.

That's what I thought I saw too but I can't get her to let me look in her mouth.

[LLLReptile]

I cautiously suggest waiting until she sheds to make a decision on what to do. Keep things as they are, let her shed, then reevaluate. It's less common in ball pythons but other species of snakes sometimes get saggy skin or swollen looking heads right before they shed, and it is possible that this is something similar.

So as nerve wracking as it is, wait and see - let her shed, take pics again in the same position, and then compare it and see. If it's still swollen at that point, a trip to the vet should be considered.

-Jen

[Salamander Rising]

I cautiously suggest waiting until she sheds to make a decision on what to do. Keep things as they are, let her shed, then reevaluate. It's less common in ball pythons but other species of snakes sometimes get saggy skin or swollen looking heads right before they shed, and it is possible that this is something similar.

So as nerve wracking as it is, wait and see - let her shed, take pics again in the same position, and then compare it and see. If it's still swollen at that point, a trip to the vet should be considered.

-Jen

As luck would have it, she shed last night and ate today.

Since I can't get the obnoxious rip's mouth open myself, I waited until she realigned her jaws and I think, maybe, I saw something odd on the roof of her mouth but can't be sure.

My initial freak out was OMG!!! MOUTH ROT!!! but I'm not sure if I saw a white area near her inner gum teeth covering or if it was just her teeth sheath..or whatever ya call it.

The tiny, fleeting glimpse we managed of her mouth last night revealed nothing obvious or ominous so I can't be sure.

How do I get this powerful, willful little hussie's mouth open without hurting her?

We had her in a snake sack, wrestled her, tried to pin her down, attempted a firm grip behind her head and she still easily bested us both.

We've tried credit cards, q-tips and a thin, flexible, soft palette knife to no avail.

Eventually I just said screw it and stuck my fingers in there, willing to get chomped if only I could get a peek.



Post-shed, she looks about the same.

[maybe not quite as weird but still too weird]

[xXCleoPatraXx]

Thats A Beauti But I Dont Really Know What To Say ;/ Hmmm

[SlitherinSisters]

It does look a little weird, but I don't know what kind of health issue would be going on. Do you think she struck at anything and hit her head/eye? As for the constipation thing, I've had that happen a few times. Usually soaking them in warm water helps them pass it as well.

[hypersomniacjoo]

my snake's eyes were recessed and had swollen eyebrows and his jaw didn't sit together ...and it was mouth rot. wait til shed and take her to vet.

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[Salamander Rising]

It does look a little weird, but I don't know what kind of health issue would be going on. Do you think she struck at anything and hit her head/eye? As for the constipation thing, I've had that happen a few times. Usually soaking them in warm water helps them pass it as well.

She's an extremely aggressive feeder and has mis-struck many times, either going overboard and hitting the tank sides or her climbing tree.

She's also one who flings her "kill" all over the place during the coil.

[drama queen]

Apparently, wrestling 'mommy' is a very good cure for constipation, as well.

[martin82531]

I really hope your ball is ok Just wanted to say you took some awesome pictures, just wish they were taken under different circumstances