Ball python swollen neck

[Quality balls]

So i feed my ball pythons couple days ago and was doin my usual spot cleaning when i noticed that one had a swollen area towards her neck which I believe to be mabye a piece of coco block? Ive never had this happen before and contacted a vet near me that deals with reptiles. Ive never had anything serious happen to any of my pythons which required vet attention any recommendations on the best vet i can go to for ball pythons in the bay area?

[Quality balls]

Im new to this forum and not sure how to work this yet i posted pictures in my gallery.

[Bogertophis]

You mean you think she swallowed a piece of coco block? I can't imagine a snake doing that but I guess if it wasn't completely expanded & you feed your snake directly on the substrate without putting something under the prey (as a "plate"), she might have gulped that down along with her rodent... That must feel pretty miserable- I'd say get her some vet help FAST- that's the best thing I can suggest.

Incidentally, for posting photos: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-Post-Pictures

For finding vet options near you: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

[KMG]

How does it feel? Hard with edges? Soft.... Fluid like?

I can't imagine the snake taking in one of those blocks. Doesn't seem like something that would easily stick to it's food. Do they? I've never even seen that stuff.

[Quality balls]

Coco blocks would never stick to any of the prey. I feed frozen thawed and always dry them so that nothing would get stuck to them. With this particular girl shes a bit shy never strikes at her food and always in her hide so i have to place it by her hide for her to get it on her own. Ive watched my other pythons eat off the substrate and always see the little blocks fall when they start eating so doesnt make sense that she would take some in along with her but thats the only explanation that makes sense that i can think of. I gently touched the area and it’s definitely hard with a bulge on the belly side.

[Bogertophis]

Is there any other missing decor that would explain the lump? Snakes have swallowed towels, light bulbs, & all sort of things, but it's not common, that's for sure. At least she's not a picky eater.

[KMG]

I once massaged waste out of a constipated Blood. I'm not sure if you'll be able to do it but that's probably what I would try if I was trying to handle it myself. Massage it forward and if you have some forceps that would be a big bonus to be able to grab it and pull it out if you get it to move forward. I'm worried it's dry though and that will cause it to stick inside. Maybe letting the snake soak and drink before trying would help.

Like mentioned above snakes have swallowed all sorts of things. I've seen a vet pull a towel out of a snake much like I described but they had a helper to hold the snake in place.

What did the vet say?

[Bogertophis]

I'd for sure get the vet's help on this, so you don't make things worse. (KMG, I don't think they had time to contact the vet yet-?)

And massaging waste out of a snake is different, because that's going the direction it's supposed to go. For that matter, I've helped an exhausted bull snake lay some huge eggs, one of which was extra-large & stuck. But this could do some real harm because it's going the "wrong way".

[KMG]

I'd for sure get the vet's help on this, so you don't make things worse. (KMG, I don't think they had time to contact the vet yet-?)

Maybe not. Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, "Ive never had this happen before and contacted a vet near me that deals with reptiles."

[KMG]

I'd for sure get the vet's help on this, so you don't make things worse. (KMG, I don't think they had time to contact the vet yet-?)

And massaging waste out of a snake is different, because that's going the direction it's supposed to go. For that matter, I've helped an exhausted bull snake lay some huge eggs, one of which was extra-large & stuck. But this could do some real harm because it's going the "wrong way".

Well that's the direction a vet will most likely take it out being so close to the mouth. YouTube has videos of things being pulled out of snakes.