Please help!!! Strange swelling on the mouth/neck of my bp. Pictures included within.

To give the full story, around 1 month ago, i noticed a slight swelling on one side of my snakes mouth. I took him to the only reptile vet in my area (they are not specialised in reptiles, as they do all animals, but the only place i can take him). The reptile vet seemed fairly clueless as he asked if i had UV lighting (for lack of UV to cause a swollen mouth in a nocturnal specials of snake seemed pretty silly suggestion to me) The vet seemed fairly unsure and didn't offer any guidance as to what may be the cause. He disappeared off to check (he went in the back room and used google) and returned non the wiser. He advised that i give the snake a course of broad spectrum antibiotics, to which he was going to give me in tablet form, i had to ask him for liquid form as this would be easier for me to administer, to which he obliged.

I took my poor snake home, and continued to give him the recommended amount of antibiotics for 5 days, by syringing it into his throat. The swelling reduced to a point where it was only very barely noticeable, and i assumed that despite the disappointing experience at the vets, the issue was resolved.

Fast-forwards 1 month and i have just seen a larger than ever swelling, this time extending down to the neck area of the snake. He seems fine in himself, and is strike feeding on his food, when i get him out his tongue is flickering and he seems alert. There is no snot or mucus that i can see, and i just wanted to check if anyone could point me in the right direction.

Please anyone who has sen or heard of anything similar advise me on what it may be. I know the majority opinion is going to be take him to the vets, however after the last experience i thought it would be worth getting some feedback from people who actually know what it may be. Then i can explain to the vets what the options may be.

Thanks in advance!

Apologies for the bad pictures but he doesn't like to sit still :snake:

[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../piedswell.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...piedswell2.jpg[/IMG]

Oral antibiotics are pretty useless with Pythons because their metabolism is so slow. I've seen this a couple of times over the years. My thoughts would be a broken tooth that got impacted in the gum line and thus infected or a small scratch inside the mouth from a rodent nail (even FT) and caused an infection. At this point the area may need to be drained and debrided coupled with a round of injection antibiotics. If its an impacted tooth the tooth that is causing this will need to be realigned with the proper place in the gums after the swelling and infection is drained.

Wow, sorry for the dilemma. This can really be so many things but bc of the location of the swelling it really is a emergency that requires immediate attention. The floor of the mouth of a snake is where the airway is located and swallowing occurs. So anytime there is a obstruction to the airway it needs to be evaluated right away. At least a visual inspection of the oral cavity, hypopharynx and tracheal opening. Exotic vet for the win! I hope you can get to the bottom of this. Hard to say definitively what it is. I would certainly go back to the same vet that treated the snake first.

I would second a tooth problem.

Thanks for the comments guys, just a quick update. The swelling on his neck has gone almost completely, however his mouth area is still swollen on both sides.

I have just got back from the vets, he said he was unsure what the problem was but he wants me to take him back on Monday so he can be put under anaesthetic, and explored more. The vet also advised that if there is fluid inside the swelling, he will send a sample away for testing which would hopefully get back for Friday.

Wish us luck guys!

Also if anyone else has had experience with anything similar i would be keen to know.

Thanks

Well, that's a relief! Congrats. Did the vet put him on any anti-inflammatory meds or no? I hope it's not too serious, glad the condition is improving.

How experienced with reptiles is your vet?

I ask because snake pus tends to be solid as opposed to liquid.

Good vibes headed your way. I hope your vet can get this knocked out!

Thanks all for the support, me and my slithery friend :snake: really appreciate it !

So the swelling has flared up again, it also seems to be effecting tho top of his head. To answer how experienced the reptile vet is, he seems pretty useless and always manages to say something that alarms me at the lack of knowledge. Sadly he is the only one remotely close. I don't think he was given any anti inflammatory no :/. I'm now just waiting on the results from the slides, im told the results should be back on Friday or Monday. In good news though, he did take his food the same night as he got back from the vets, so at least he has fuel in him!

Ill keep you guys posted! <3