Pushing or smaller lower jaw?

[M&H]

My '12 female just finished shedding on 08.05.13 and I noticed she has a bit of a rub on the bridge of her nose. I also notice her lower lip has some black marks, however the two other tigers I have have the same markings. Anywho her lower jaw appears deformed to me and I'm debating taking her to the vet.

I did see her mouth when she yawned and it looked clean, pink, no spots. I tried to get a picture and open her mouth tonight she was not having it.

These are the best pictures I have right now. Sorry they are threw a container however she won't sit still! She eats great, no wheezing, acting completely normal. I've touched it doesn't seem to be hurting her so I'm so puzzled since nothing else seems to be going on. I also have a video if I can figure that out I will throw it up too.

Thanks for any help!

[Daybreaker]

My retic has been going through little swollen upper lip/nose swelling spurts that looks much like your pics. Her jaws are completely normal but she would open up a little wound right there in the front and it would swell outward that would make it look like her lower jaw was smaller. Diluted betadine swabs to the area got her all fixed up and her mouth goes back to normal.

Has her lower jaw ever looked "off" before or just now? I'm not sure what those little marks are on the lower lip line.

[M&H]

My retic has been going through little swollen upper lip/nose swelling spurts that looks much like your pics. Her jaws are completely normal but she would open up a little wound right there in the front and it would swell outward that would make it look like her lower jaw was smaller. Diluted betadine swabs to the area got her all fixed up and her mouth goes back to normal.

Has her lower jaw ever looked "off" before or just now? I'm not sure what those little marks are on the lower lip line.

Thank I will certainly give that a try.

Her upper jaw has always seemed slightly larger than her lower jaw. This is a picture taken a few months ago and you can see her mouth is larger on the top. I never really thought anything of it since it was so slight sort of like an overbite.



The lower lip like seems to have black lines. I have noticed this on my two other retics. Only one of them doesn't have these lower jaw line markings. Sorry this is again in a tub however it's the best way to get pictures by myself. I figured since they all had them it was normal. Maybe I should have it checked out? This is peanut a female tiger bred by a different breeder than all my others.

[Daybreaker]

I say if you feel a vet visit is in order then I'd schedule an appointment; better safe than sorry.

And I noticed my girl is a little overbite-y as well (old pics from before she started rubbing):





But I'd for sure start some diluted betadine swabs since your girl has some swelling and see how it goes for that.

[M&H]

I think I might have figured out how to do a video

[M&H]

I say if you feel a vet visit is in order then I'd schedule an appointment; better safe than sorry.

And I noticed my girl is a little overbite-y as well (old pics from before she started rubbing):





But I'd for sure start some diluted betadine swabs since your girl has some swelling and see how it goes for that.

Thanks. I think I will try the diluted betadine for now since she doesn't have any other symptoms. If it doesn't go down or she starts acting odd I will take her in. Thanks for all your help, I greatly appreciate it. I try not to fret but always worry about catching something to late. Hopefully she is as well mannered for the betadine as she was tonight

[reptileexperts]

standard retic stuff. Shes just pushing hard, and this is what happens when they do. The upper lip will swell, the bottom lip will bend in and look smaller. If its chronic it can deform her face over time, so be cautious of constant pushers. Maybe see what's going on that she pushes so much - in many cases giving a taller or larger cage will fix this. Double check that both sides of your cage are proper temps (if one sides too hot and the other side is hot enough, it may cause the snake to constantly try and escape, likewise too cold and it may try and seek out warmth).

As noted, use betadine to treat. When my big girls push from time to time I just add a couple drops of betadine to their large water bowls, and change the water daily. This why its applied as they drink. Use a cotton swab and apply directly to the affected areas as needed as well.

If you have your tic in a tub, may want to move it into a PVC enclosure with more height, this will help pushing tics. When my girls push their bottom lip in, I normally give them an extra meal (smaller than normal) to help her stretch everything back. For snakes that WILL NOT stop pushing. Double check you are feeding them enough. My tiger girl needed to be fed a slightly larger than normal meal to get her to stop pushing after all the transitions I made.

Hope this helps.

[M&H]

Thanks right now she is in a 41 QT tub. I have yet to see her push or really even roam her tub. She is usually on one side or the other curled up. My male, same size, is far more active than she is. However I have noticed she tries to dodge her tub when being put back like a boa would. I will see about picking up a pvc cage for her.

I have bumped her food size for the meantime and will doing the betadine. I will double check the temps too. Thanks for all the help. I think the black lines on her lower lip might make it look a bit worse than it is. Today is feeding day is today and I will try to give her a pup midweek and see if that helps her settle down.

[OctagonGecko729]

I'd just second what Cody has already stated. I am very new to keeping a retic but everything I have gathered recommends increasing cage size, food intake, and makeing sure temps/humidity are correct. The other thing you may want to do is add a large hide box for her, she may be searching for a more secure location. Diluted betadine swabs as Daybreaker has posted work good for helping the skin heal and are safe for use around the mouth.

[reptileexperts]

Sounds good, its usually worse in our minds than reality with these things. Also - my retics never push during the day, its ALWAYS at night. I actually had to move my tiger girl from my room into the other room with the morelia and balls, simply because the raquet she made when she was pushing during the night, knocking things around. If your bladder wakes you up at 2 AM to go to the john, simply use a light and check on your retic. Chances are it will be pushing or toward the front of the tub ;-)