Ira needs surgery

:tears:
Just got back from the vet with Ira (4 year old IJ) and he is scheduled for surgery on the 18th. He has a lump on his snout that just won’t go away.
It started almost a year ago, he had lump so I took him to the vet. A course of Batryl seemingly cleared it up, for about 6 months. Then it came back, but it never “stayed”, it would puff up right before he went blue, then go away right after he shed (it was not big, but noticeable). The vet was puzzled and told me to keep an eye on it. It would totally go away, it wasn’t like there was always a little bump the got bigger and smaller. This happened for many sheds and the vet continued to be puzzled, I took pictures for him.
Well, he shed 1 1/2 weeks ago and the lump did not go away, but got bigger so off we went. It’s a solid mass type thing, there is no fluid to draw/test. He wants to remove whatever is in there and send it and some surrounding tissue samples to the lab.
He said he’s done this type of thing before, on a Burm, and it went well. All except the part where that mass was malignant and came back. He had to put him down because it went into his mouth and throat.
So, any thoughts? I’m just so upset, my poor little 6’ baby!

Im so sorry. I hope it comes back benign and he is okay. Good luck and keep us posted

I've got my fingers crossed for him!

It sounds like he's going to be in good hands. Sending prayers and good thoughts!

Things like this are rough I hope for the best hopefully all will go well

Sounds like you've done everything you can and you've been a very responsible keeper. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Interesting, can you post the pics of the lump?

Thanks everyone.
I'm a worrier from way back and this is going to be a long week!
Here is a picture I took on 9/30, it was right before his last shed and "should have" gone down like it always did. It's actually bigger than this now :(

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y10...3/IMG_6940.jpg

Awwh! :( That doesn't look good. Kudos for doing everything you can for him. I'm sure he will pull through :)

I'm so sorry. :( I hope it turns out ok. :tears:

awww that is terrible and he looks miserable....(adorable....but miserable). Good luck with the surgery and what a good snake mama you are....pts for you
Please let us know how he is doing

sorry bout the lil fella

Well, I just dropped him off. His surgery will be around noon. I'm so nervous, it's going to be a looooong, anxious day.

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Originally Posted by Clementine_3

Well, I just dropped him off. His surgery will be around noon. I'm so nervous, it's going to be a looooong, anxious day.

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Too often, exotic pet ownership ends as soon as an unforeseen medical expense rears it's ugly head.

Major props to you for following through and providing him with all the necessary medical care.

Good luck! Any news yet?

Just got back, he's in his cage and he's PISSED.
$434.00 later...the vet removed a big hunk of solid tissue and "material". He had no idea what it was he removed and called it the "material" a few times, it was in the tissue he removed. He asked if Ira had ever had any trauma, the only thing I know he did was rub his head on the latch of the cage, but that was really superficial and healed quickly with some neosporin. It's all on it's way to the lab so hopefully they can figure out what the heck happened to my little fella.
He will be getting Batryl shots (hahahaha, I have no one to hold him!) and goes back on 12/23 to have his 2 stitches out.
The vet took pics of the surgery and gore, he said he would email them to me so I'll post them when I get them.
I'm just glad to have him (and his current pissy-ness) back home!!

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Originally Posted by Clementine_3

I'm just glad to have him (and his current pissy-ness) back home!!

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I dont think u would be in a happy mood either if some1 cut some "material" off ur nose :rofl:

Hope he does ok :gj:

Glad everything went well :)

Just a quick update...
I gave him his shot and fed him. He looks so much better today, back to his old self. When I brought him home he was all lumpy and dehydrated looking. It took a long time for him to move around normally, he was very spastic and jerky for almost 24 hours. I'm so relieved :)
Funny story about when I picked him up...
He had been hissing and striking at everyone who walked past the cage after he started to come out of anesthesia, the receptionist said he was a "wild man". After I got his meds and paid the bill I was told the tech would bring him out. Much waiting was done and then she came out, empty handed, and said "ummm". Of course that worried me, but not for long. She continued with "can you come in the back and get him?". She was afraid he was going to nail her! I went back, she opened the cage and I just reached in, pet him, took him out and popped him in his pillow case. Silly tech. LOL

I'm so happy to hear he's all right and safe back home. It's so great you're willing to go the extra mile for him!

Also, that story was really really funny! Someone who works in a vet's office that deals with exotics should be used to that (I'd think!).

The vet just called with the pathology reports so I figured I'd update...
It was a benign mass of infected necrotic tissue. Eeeewwww.
He is still waiting for the results on the additional stains he ordered, he is thorough for sure. The in-house testing he did grew 2 different bacterias, both are treatable with Batryl so he wants to extend the treatment (currently 2 weeks) but will wait to decide for how long until the stains come back.
There isn't (yet?), and may never be, a reason for the infection in the first place but he believes with the tissue removal and extended treatment it should clear up and that will be the end of that.
It may have been from when he rubbed his head on the cage latch, that is my theory anyway. At least we seem to be getting to the bottom of treating it and getting rid of it! Yay :)

Great to hear he is doing ok!