BP having problem with lower jaw

[thefnshow66]

I recently fed my albino ball python a f/t adult mouse the other day but after he finished swallowing his meal, the right side of his lower jaw seemed out of place. I wish i had taken a picture to show you but he looked like Two Face from the Batman films. One side normal and the other side of his mouth with a big gap. I waited a day and he managed to do something with his jaw that looks more normal but there is still a bit of a gap from his upper and lower jaw. What do you think i should do?? I feed on aspen bedding, do you think he has a piece stuck inside his mouth he can't get out or was the mouse to much trouble that it caused his mouth problem? anyone ever have a similiar situation?

[Spaniard]

My first thought would be that he has a piece of substrate stuck in his mouth as well. Have you tried visually inspecting inside the snakes mouth?

[thefnshow66]

My first thought would be that he has a piece of substrate stuck in his mouth as well. Have you tried visually inspecting inside the snakes mouth?

i've looked at him up close but i don't see any aspen in there. I would open his mouth but i've never done it before and i fear of possibly hurting him.

[Moriar]

To the vet with ye! better safe than sorry! good luck

[Bloodsong]

If you are uncomfortable doing it yourself take him to a vet. If you want to try yourself you need to hold him behind the head firmly (a second person may help with this part) and GENTLY try to get his lower jaw open and look inside. YES he will fight you on this. That is why a second person will help.

Another option is to take him on the side that has the problem and try just open the bottom lip by placing a thumb under there and pulling toward the opposite side. This will give you at least an idea on if something is in there...but it won't be conclusive.

Bloodsong

[thefnshow66]

I'm 99 percent sure i'll be taking him to the vet within a few days but just out of curiousity. Do any of you think if i tried to feed him a smaller size mouse, that it'll help remove the possible aspen bedding in his mouth or help set his lower jaw into place?

[Bloodsong]

If his jaw were out of place he would yawn to reset it. If aspen is in there the only thing that feeding again would do is make him swallow it or lodge it deeper.

Bloodsong

[frankykeno]

Becky (SatanicIntention) taught me a handy little trick years ago for checking a snake's mouth. Get a very small, soft rubber spatula - not the hard plastic kind, the soft flexible kind. Gently insert it into the side of the snake's mouth just a tiny bit, then very gently give a twist. When you are done just be careful as you remove the spatula that you don't catch on any of their teeth which are recurved. The spatula will open the snake's mouth and keep it open while you have a look inside. Being made of soft rubber it won't injure the snake if you take things slow and easy. Make sure to disinfect it afterwards of course.

[thefnshow66]

Becky (SatanicIntention) taught me a handy little trick years ago for checking a snake's mouth. Get a very small, soft rubber spatula - not the hard plastic kind, the soft flexible kind. Gently insert it into the side of the snake's mouth just a tiny bit, then very gently give a twist. When you are done just be careful as you remove the spatula that you don't catch on any of their teeth which are recurved. The spatula will open the snake's mouth and keep it open while you have a look inside. Being made of soft rubber it won't injure the snake if you take things slow and easy. Make sure to disinfect it afterwards of course.

thank you for the trick. I was set on taking him to the vet today but while i was checking up on him last night. He managed to get his mouth corrected and he looks good as new. I'm still a bit concerned about feeding. Should I continue to feed on schedule or should I wait until the next feeding day?

[kc261]

It is normal for snakes to need to reset their jaws after eating, but not normal for it to take so long.

I would try to get a look inside his mouth. If everything looks ok, then I would base my decision on my overall feeling of the whole situation. Did the snake seem distressed while its mouth was looking funny? Just how bad did it look? etc. Then, I would either go to the vet (actually, I probably would have already if I was going to make that choice), or go ahead with feeding as usual. If the same problem recurs or the snake refuses to eat, I'd go to the vet.