Boa with possible tumor? (pic)

[Melody]

Hi everyone, I picked up a 2 year old male boa yesterday that was given to me for free because he has a lump on the side of his vent, and the owner couldn't afford to take him to the vet. He will be going to the vet within the week but id to have some opinions what the heck this thing is....
Apparently, hes had it for about a year already, but he seems to be doing fine. He eats very well(from what I'm told, and he sure does look it), hes friendly and active, and he doesn't appear to be in pain. I am really starting to get attached to him, so i really hope its nothing serious.
Anyone have any ideas?

[DooLittle]

Eesh, poor guy.... Not sure, hopefully the vet can tell. What's it look like from the underside?

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[Melody]

heres a direct link, i hope it works

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/...84962850_o.jpg

[Melody]

It looks the same.... And its firm to the touch. A friend of mine think its it might be an infection, due to something getting in his vent.... i just don't know. :/

[DooLittle]

That would have been my first guess was some sort of infection in there, but who knows. Hope he is ok.

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[Homegrownscales]

I would guess also that that's an infection. It won't get better without going into the vet and having it lanced. They will need to make a fairly good sized cut to get that ball of junk out. But getting that all out will help it heal fairly quickly.


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[Evenstar]

Usually a pocket of infection (abcess) will not be quite as distinct as this appears to be. This has definite margins and you said it's firm to the touch? Abcesses are usually slightly squishy. They might also have a sore spot on the surface where fluid might leak. This appears to be under the skin and does not appear to be breaking through the skin. This seems to have a more tumor-like appearance to it.

Please keep in mind that I am not a vet. I have tons of experience from working with German Shepherds for much of my life and I have some extensive medical knowledge. But I am not a vet. And my observations are only generalizations. It is quite possible that this is not a tumor and is, in fact, an infection or something else. I would be very interested to hear what the vet has to say. Please keep us posted and best of luck with the little guy! He is a very nice looking snake and seems to have a good personality. I hope it turns out that he's ok.

[Homegrownscales]

But in mammalian Infections they will be squishy and often leak fluid. That's not the case with reptile infections at all. Reptile puss is hard and caseous like nasty dried old cheese someone left out on the kitchen counter for a week.
Alot of the time the origanal wound heals over and the infection pockets and builds.
I am also not a vet but this i do know very well from my rescue work. It still could go either way. The only thing you an really Do is have the vet lance it, perhaps biopsy etc.


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[Homegrownscales]

This is also something that's been going on for a yr correct? I can't beleive they'd let that go on for a year. Omg



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[aldebono]

There was a post on FB from The Reptile Report. Someones hognose had a lump near the vent and it turned out to be a stopped up hemipene, kinda like (not really but sorta) a dogs anal gland.

Best of luck with the boa. I will be keeping tabs on the progress so updates are expected!