Swollen Head or Just Growing?

I have noticed a considerable growth spurt or maybe swelling in my emerald tree boa, specifically over the last couple days.

Here's some pictures. I have not looked in her mouth because the potential for swelling didn't pop into my mind until I left for work:

https://i.imgur.com/zHuOa17.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/PCgKqR2.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/yCHQnYi.jpg
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...om/2B8jWrX.jpg

Compared to this picture a month and a half ago:

Look at the difference in nose size.

https://i.imgur.com/mDsntSN.jpg

Oh dear...her head does look swollen to me as well. That can't be good...:( Find a good herp vet fast, if you haven't already...has she struck & hit anything
that you know of? A "growth spurt" should not affect just her head.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Oh dear...her head does look swollen to me as well. That can't be good...:( Find a good herp vet fast, if you haven't already...has she struck & hit anything
that you know of? A "growth spurt" should not affect just her head.

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I just called and made an appointment for an exotic vet at 11:40 (2 hours), so we'll see. Maybe this is why she hasn't been eating. I hope it's not too late. I just saw her drinking last night.

She did strike and miss a rat like a month ago, but I didn't think she really hit anything.

This would totally explain her not wanting to eat, poor baby...

Vet said she was good to go. Nothing wrong with her mouth or anything. They took x-rays and everything looked good there too.

Pretty strange considering her head is noticeably bigger than normal, but nothing to do for now.

Sometimes their heads can swell up right before they go into shed. Does she look dull at all?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Sometimes their heads can swell up right before they go into shed. Does she look dull at all?

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Yes, that's my next best guess, because I did read about that possibility. But I've never noticed it so significantly when shes shed before.

Even after all the manhandling the vet did, shes still docile as ever when I pick her up. Very nice snake.

Wow, I'm so glad she's OK.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bcr229

Sometimes their heads can swell up right before they go into shed. Does she look dull at all?

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Is that peculiar to this species? I've never noticed anything like this before...:confusd: but I have no experience with these.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Wow, I'm so glad she's OK.



Is that peculiar to this species? I've never noticed anything like this before...:confusd: but I have no experience with these.

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I don't think so, as I saw it mentioned in this thread:

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...hat-s-going-on

I'm just stunned it's so drastic; I read that even before I made the appointment, but I didn't believe it would've been that noticeable.

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Originally Posted by wnateg

...I'm just stunned it's so drastic; I read that even before I made the appointment, but I didn't believe it would've been that noticeable.

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You & me both! :O Glad she's OK, & even more that she wasn't too stressed by the appt'mt and remained mellow.

Yup shed was what I would have guessed, too. lol

I don't have any ETBs, but my boa constrictors can swell up quite a bit, even over their entire body, when in shed. The swelling isn't always to the same degree every cycle, either.

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

Yup shed was what I would have guessed, too. lol

I don't have any ETBs, but my boa constrictors can swell up quite a bit, even over their entire body, when in shed. The swelling isn't always to the same degree every cycle, either.

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Oh well, a good $150 lesson.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wnateg

Oh well, a good $150 lesson.

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Better safe than sorry :D

Glad your girl is ok! I have to say that swollen head looked pretty bad and I definitely would have rushed her to the vet as well. Agreed with Topaz, always better safe than sorry, better to pay $150 and find out it was nothing serious than let your snake potentially suffer or wait too long and let serious injury or death occur.

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

Glad your girl is ok! I have to say that swollen head looked pretty bad and I definitely would have rushed her to the vet as well. Agreed with Topaz, always better safe than sorry, better to pay $150 and find out it was nothing serious than let your snake potentially suffer or wait too long and let serious injury or death occur.

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Definitely agree. It gave me peace of mind.