Medical Mystery : Her Face Looks Like A Balloon (Time For The Vet?)

So, a couple of months ago my husband and I noticed that the right eye of our pumpkin champagne angel, Valentina, looked slightly sunken. Knowing that it can be tough to keep up the humidity during the summer we soaked her and kept spritzing her enclosure hoping it would dissipate with a shed or two.

Problem is, things have gotten weird. In the last week or so her face has inflated, like someone who has had an allergic reaction to something awful. Her lip on one side is very swollen and very weird looking. Her face just looks busted up. I'm not sure at all what is going on. Other than that she looks great and has actually been eating very steadily despite all of this.

Any ideas would be great. I'm hoping it's not something that could spread to the rest of the collection.

Is it time to take her to a vet? I'm always reticent to go see a vet considering the lack of truly great reptile vets out there, but I don't want it to get any worse.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5...F2aDVQNy1JeGEw
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5...ZCS0l0aFJYbm1B
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5...xuMWNKSFdScnY0

Her face. Sorry. They didn't post in the initial thread.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b6&oe=581D15D3

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...d4&oe=5853F958

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...de&oe=5856144A

Definitely vet time. From the outside pics, looks kind of like mouth rot to me.

Could be an infection caused from stuck bedding or a broken tooth. Whatever the case, I think it's time for a vet visit.

Here's a starting point for reptile vets in the NC area.

Quote pulled from link on bp.net just below.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...d-Exotics-Vets

Quote:

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NORTH CAROLINA

Kannapolis

Dr. Griffin, DVM
Griffin Exotics
Avian & Exotic Veterinary Hospital
2100 Lane Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083
(704)-932-8111
http://www.griffinexotics.com/

Works with birds, rabbits, and reptiles, was recommended by a herp friend. Awesome job explaining everything that was going on during and after the boa exam. About 1.5 hours away from me but the drive is worth it!~(Karma)~

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The rest of these were google searches.
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/nocarol.shtml

http://www.veterinarians.com/service.../nc/charlotte/

http://www.carolinavet.com/veterinar...-pet-services/

Good luck!

Mine looked just like that. It turned out the last rat she had eaten had bitten her in the gum under her lip and broken off two teeth and part of the jaw bone. The bite wound was deep because rats have long incisors, so it became infected. Vet time for sure!

Yeah I would have a et look for a broken tooth.
Been there a couple times.

Critical time for a vet! Anytime there is a problem with the mouth of a snake it can ultimately end up with breathing difficulties. Good luck and I hope it's not serious.

Critical time for a vet! Anytime there is a problem with the mouth of a snake it can ultimately end up with breathing difficulties. Good luck and hope it's not serious. Sorry for the double post.

Thanks for the advice, guys. She has a vet appointment with an avian and exotics clinic in huntersville for thursday. I'll update the post when we know what's going on.

I agree, tooth, impaction, rot, something infected. Good Luck. Keep us posted please.

Yep, most likely broken teeth. I have three that strike very hard and break teeth time to time. One pit fall to the aggressive feeder.

*just because they are broken, does not always mean infection though. Not saying a vet visit is a bad idea, just saying broken teeth do not always cause infection. Also not saying it is defiantly broken teeth.

Almost positive that is an infection, probably going to get anti inflammatory and antibiotics shots for you to give to her over the next few weeks. I've had to do it a with a couple different snakes now

UPDATE 9/2/2016:

The vet visit went great. If you live near Charlotte NC, the avian and exotics clinic in Huntersville is really amazing. She really knows her stuff. She discovered an opportunistic bacterial infection that had caused an abscess and was swelling her head. She lanced the infection and drained the pus out and gave us shots to give her for the next two months. She's doing much, much better and the swelling in her head is greatly reduced. She's acting fine and still taking food!

Glad everything went well

Thanks so much for sharing, and for taking good care of your baby. Glad she is feeling better!!