I need a Los Angeles Vet for my ball python.

[GoldSheep]

Any recs?

My 2008 female normal ball python looks like she has an infected scent gland that is bothering her. It's sensitive to the touch, swollen and her behavior has changed a bit because of it. I need a vet, but finding a good one that's not in Orange County but is in Los Angeles is proving to be a challenge.

Granted her behavior has always been a bit odd, but I figure I should get it checked out.

Also, I'd like to know if anyone else ran into their snakes running into this kind of issue so I know what to expect?

Thanks.

[Bogertophis]

This site might help you find a good vet in the L.A. area: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

I haven't had any snakes with this issue, & seeing a vet is a good idea. I hope you'll let us know how it turns out?

[Albert Clark]

Until the vet visit consider switching the reptile onto a white unprinted paper towel substrate. I’ve seen it ( infected scent glands) in my colubrids at different times. Never in my ball python collection however. It’s very possible that it’s something different. Are you able to post pictures of it? Sorry to read about the situation and glad that you’ve taken a pro response to it by seeking reptile veterinarian assistance. Congrats to you!

[Armiyana]

Sadly yeah, all I really know of is Dr. Greek in Orange County....
I don't know if maybe they can give you a referral for someone in LA if you give them a call. But Greek can also be a bit difficult to schedule into if you did make the drive. @_@;

Definitely give the website Boger listed a look.
I agree with Albert on moving your gal off substrate. I'd maybe even consider giving her a soak as well. It wouldn't hurt and if she does get stimulated enough to go, it may help flush the area a bit as well.

[GoldSheep]

Since she's ~6 ft (Maybe 5'5"), I was going to upgrade her to a 4' maybe 5' enclosure from the 40 gallon long breeder. I've also been letting her out more often since she's antsy lately. But then this happened.

I also was going to get rid of her substrate completely. She hates it anyway. But she's also an escape artist and rarely sits still, so might be hard getting her to cooperate with anything. Always like this since I got her. Might be hard getting pictures.

It's only on one side of her body. It's a rough guess. I'm hoping it's not something more serious. I've had her since she was a baby (though I bought her). It's lump on one side, in the tail section just after the vent. She doesn't like me touching it. It's about the size of a quarter.

I have a sliding screen system, but she figured out how to unlock the sliding screen system through sheer persistence. (Also the need for the cage upgrade.) I had to weigh it down with textbooks.

She's scheduled for an appointment today. I'm a bit worried because she's an older snake. And I'm not sure if she might need surgery or not. Anesthesia+reptiles often doesn't go well according to the shows I've watched.

[Bogertophis]

I'm glad you've gotten an appointment today- let us know how it goes. It could be a tumor or an infection, but at least it's something the vet can reach- not something deeply internal, so that's a plus. You have all our best wishes for your pet's good outcome.

[GoldSheep]

I got her out for transport, and she's in shed. Usually when my snakes are in shed, including her, they don't squirm, but until I talked to her (I told you she's quirky), she's been moving a lot.

The bump in her tail has flattened a bit and gotten smaller (quarter to a about a nickel). I hope this is a sign it's maybe a low grade infection. Or it might be the shed is affecting the appearance. Still taking her to the vet.

BTW, because Los Angeles is so arid I usually give my snakes a shoebox-size of water, so if they want to soak safely, they can. Also, because sometimes it gets hot and it's hard to thermoregulate the apartment (I do try though) so they can cool off by soaking. The humidity in the room always stays between 50-60%. (I check it daily.)

[Bogertophis]

Snakes can also get urate "stones" that they sometimes cannot pass without help, but it doesn't sound like that's what this is, because urate stones are located in the middle, just above the cloaca & feel like a hard marble- they're not at one side.

If it's just an infection, keep in mind that snakes normally have solid pus (like cheese) that doesn't usually drain without minor surgical help. Anyway, one way or another, you & your vet will get this figured out pretty soon, & hopefully it won't be a huge deal. Nothing wrong with talking to your snakes either, btw- they feel vibrations & I'm sure that your being familiar helps to reassure
her.

I used to live in So. Cal. (many years) so I know what you mean about low humidity.

[Malum Argenteum]

She's scheduled for an appointment today. I'm a bit worried because she's an older snake. And I'm not sure if she might need surgery or not. Anesthesia+reptiles often doesn't go well according to the shows I've watched.

I don't gather that 14 is old for a BP.

My rainbow boa had to be anesthetized recently, and while it was scary seeing him limp my vet said snakes handle it pretty well (I was nervous too). He did fine, BTW -- I'm sure yours will too.

[GoldSheep]

I had a pretty good vet and vet techs who seemed to know what they were doing when handling her. I chose well, I guess.

They took at look at her separate from me, because of covid, and took a sample. She probed as a male, but she's definitely a female as she's laid eggs before. lol

They're going to test it with a pathologist? I forgot the term. P-something or something like that. and see if it's cancer or a an infected scent gland. If it is cancer, etc then we'll do blood work.

She was pretty acive before we left, but even though the box I took her in is open she's not moving.

I know this is probably personification, but when I said I was going to take her to the vet before, about 3 days ago, she broke out of her cage. And then I finally found her in her cage like nothing had happened, and then this morning, I said I was going to... and slow and whispering, she was holding still... take her to the... waited. vet. and she squirmed and tried to escape. lol

Last time I took her to one was when she was about 5-ish for a respiratory infection. (Kicked up her aspen, and the dust was bad).

She's a tad bruised from the needle, so I'm putting Neosporin on it. I hope to get the results within the next week? I hope it really is minor. But you know how reptiles are. One minor thing can be a landslide of terrible.