prodominant lumps on spotted python

[Funkstaa]

Fluffy my 4 1/2 year old spotted hasn't been handled in a while as his last feed was October 4th last year,
I have offered feeds fortnightly since he has been refusing and he finally accepted again last saturday (08/01/11) but he regurged it 2 days later.
When I took him out tonight I noticed these lumps straight away (they are a little hard to miss)
I initially thought it may have been undigested food but they feel a little on the firm side and he gets aggitated if they are touched, understandably - otherwise still handles like a dream...
Any idea's? I have left a message for the vet to call me back but can't get in there until next week

 

[Octane]

Funkstaa,
I am not a vet and a herp experienced vet is who you should really be seeking. The lump looks like some form of infection possibly the remnants of an undigested meal, substrate injestion or cyst(s) from either a perforation or parasite (worm) problem in the gut. Also looking at the cloaca it seems a bit swollen and red possibly indicating infection (secondary or otherwise).

If your regular vet can't see the snake till next week then try alternate vets. This looks like something that is not going to right itself. The snake has had problems since October so another couple of days is not going to change the outcome.

In the mean time double check all of the husbandry related to this animal ie temperatures are correct in your enclosure, the enclosure (and everything inside it) is clean, that there is nothing in the enclosure that can be injested eg small gravel and bark chips and regularly changed fresh water is readily available.

Good luck hoping your little spotted has a quick recovery.
Octane

 

[Pythoninfinite]

Cancer is common in snakes, so a trip to the vet is in order. They look solid and irregular, so that's not a good sign. The other possibility is faecal impaction, but this looks different. Off to the vet...

What does 'prodominant' mean?

Jamie

 

[Funkstaa]

Funkstaa,
I am not a vet and a herp experienced vet is who you should really be seeking. The lump looks like some form of infection possibly the remnants of an undigested meal, substrate injestion or cyst(s) from either a perforation or parasite (worm) problem in the gut. Also looking at the cloaca it seems a bit swollen and red possibly indicating infection (secondary or otherwise).

If your regular vet can't see the snake till next week then try alternate vets. This looks like something that is not going to right itself. The snake has had problems since October so another couple of days is not going to change the outcome.

In the mean time double check all of the husbandry related to this animal ie temperatures are correct in your enclosure, the enclosure (and everything inside it) is clean, that there is nothing in the enclosure that can be injested eg small gravel and bark chips and regularly changed fresh water is readily available.

Good luck hoping your little spotted has a quick recovery.
Octane

His viv has been completely cleaned out tonight and we're back to newspaper to keep it more hygenic, I clean out his bowl with hot water every morning when I'm pulling out 'salad' mix from the freezer for the dragons - I have a routine down pat
I will speak to the vet tomorrow on the phone (I've emailed him pics) and see if he can co consult with my local vet (but last time my local vet tried telling me that my Boyd was in the wrong setup and needed 31C heating and it was too damp...and that it had worms,because it was slim, when it turned out to be a respitory infection) so I don't have much confidence in them as you can imagine...I'm rural and the soonest I can get to the herp specialist vet is prob tues next week and I feel really bad that I'm only just noticing it now let along delaying getting him to proper treatment.
I think your on the money with cysts but will get him to the vet asap to find out for sure...If that is the case can it be fixed/dealt with/treated?
I hope he recovers quickly too
Thanks!
Hannah

---------- Post added 14-Jan-11 at 10:54 PM ----------

Cancer is common in snakes, so a trip to the vet is in order. They look solid and irregular, so that's not a good sign. The other possibility is faecal impaction, but this looks different. Off to the vet...

What does 'prodominant' mean?

Jamie

Cancer serious? Why don't people mention this stuff when you are looking into getting a snake : ( When we moved out here to the middle of no where he was my first herp and I paid $500 for him a) because I'm a sucker b) because he's so perfect for handling he's never opened his mouth at any of us, he was in poor condition when I bought him and we've got him this far, I love him to bits and don't want anything to happen!!!

oh and I thought prodominant meant something that really stood out?

 

[pythonmum]

Fluffy has certainly had problems since you got him. With his history, encysted parasites are a very real possibility and in such a case surgery might be the only option, if it has not gone too far. I know you love him dearly, but your trials and tribulations are a good example of why it is so important to get a healthy animal from a good breeder! Your best bet is the herp specialist vet, even though it is a longer wait. I hope he can offer a solution. I would not trust the inexperienced local vet with anaesthesia if it comes to that. I hope there is some answer for you, but not much we can do on the forum except offer encouragement that you are giving him the best possible care - you are!

 

[Funkstaa]

Fluffy has certainly had problems since you got him. With his history, encysted parasites are a very real possibility and in such a case surgery might be the only option, if it has not gone too far. I know you love him dearly, but your trials and tribulations are a good example of why it is so important to get a healthy animal from a good breeder! Your best bet is the herp specialist vet, even though it is a longer wait. I hope he can offer a solution. I would not trust the inexperienced local vet with anaesthesia if it comes to that. I hope there is some answer for you, but not much we can do on the forum except offer encouragement that you are giving him the best possible care - you are!

Thank you although I wasn't looking for it, it's so nice to hear I am doing all I can and that it's not my fault.
Agreed there has always been issues from the start and it feels like a kick in the guts to get him this far and to go downhill again.
The herp specialist vet said he thinks it may be cysts but can't say until he see's him next week (fingers crossed it's fixable!).
I have definately learnt my lesson about who to buy from and I looked at his nature not health which was a BIG mistake on my part, venting sorry...Thanks again for your kind words : )

 

[Funkstaa]

Fluffy update, he has been x-rayed had biopsy's ultrasound and is on a course of injections over the next week- hopefully this will sort things out or he will need surgery : (

Fluffy update, he has been x-rayed had biopsy's ultrasound and is on a course of injections over the next week- hopefully this will sort things out or he will need surgery : (