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Please help diagnose my Ball Python.

SVT Snake

SVT Snake

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Recently I noticed that one of my BP's nostrils looked like it was still covered with a scale. I didn't really think it was a big deal but it now looks inflamed and it seems that the scales are raised around the nostril hole. I can't really even tell that there is a hole there anymore. He was a very aggressive eater but has stopped eating.

What could it be? Pictures below.
 

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Is there any wheezing or labored breathing when handling? Is there any bubbles present when you open his mouth? What are the temps in his enclosure?
 
try giving him a nice warm soak. then pull the dry scales off.

it is common for ball pythons to go off feed for no particular reason... in fact it is very natural.

thats my 2 cents.

~ brian
 
Bill & Amy - I don't hear any wheezing or labored breething but he does sound like he is hissing sometimes. I also noticed that a "clicking" noise the he makes sometimes but I'm not sure if it is related to his breathing or not. There are no bubbles in his mouth when opened.

The air temperature in his enclosure is about 76* but there is a heat pad under one side of the cabe. The area with the heat pad is about 86*.

esoteric-lizard - I already tried soakin him but it's not leftover shed on there. It's his actual scales that seem to be inflamed.
 
SVT Snake said:
Bill & Amy - I don't hear any wheezing or labored breething but he does sound like he is hissing sometimes. I also noticed that a "clicking" noise the he makes sometimes but I'm not sure if it is related to his breathing or not. There are no bubbles in his mouth when opened.

The air temperature in his enclosure is about 76* but there is a heat pad under one side of the cabe. The area with the heat pad is about 86*.

esoteric-lizard - I already tried soakin him but it's not leftover shed on there. It's his actual scales that seem to be inflamed.
Click to expand...

I think he might have the beginnings of a minor RI. Your temps could stand to be bumped up, cool side 82 degrees and warm side 90-95 degrees. Be sure to maintain your humidity between 50-60%. You may want to make a vet appointment to have hime checked, but get those temps up right away!!! Keep us updated.
 
is there any discharge from the inflamed site?

how are the gums under where the inflammation is? really look around the gums and mouth... there are a many sinus cavities that could track infection.

watch it like a hawk, i'd say if gets any worse then you should take it to a GOOD Herp vet.

is it wc or cbb?

try betadine soaks and see it that helps. do one 5 parts water to 1 part betadine.
 
esoteric-lizard said:
is there any discharge from the inflamed site?

how are the gums under where the inflammation is? really look around the gums and mouth... there are a many sinus cavities that could track infection.

watch it like a hawk, i'd say if gets any worse then you should take it to a GOOD Herp vet.

is it wc or cbb?

try betadine soaks and see it that helps. do one 5 parts water to 1 part betadine.
Click to expand...

From the picture it looks like dried discharge around the nostril.

I don't know if I would try to "soak" the area as much as clean with a q-tip or something. :)
 
SVT Snake said:
Bill & Amy - I don't hear any wheezing or labored breething but he does sound like he is hissing sometimes. I also noticed that a "clicking" noise the he makes sometimes but I'm not sure if it is related to his breathing or not. There are no bubbles in his mouth when opened.

The air temperature in his enclosure is about 76* but there is a heat pad under one side of the cabe. The area with the heat pad is about 86*.

esoteric-lizard - I already tried soakin him but it's not leftover shed on there. It's his actual scales that seem to be inflamed.
Click to expand...

Bill & Amy said:
From the picture it looks like dried discharge around the nostril.

I don't know if I would try to "soak" the area as much as clean with a q-tip or something. :)
Click to expand...

i thought the same thing too bill... but lets give warner the benifit of the doubt and assume her already tried to clean it off.

there is nothing wrong with a good warm soak... and the only thing a Q-tip might be good for is to apply a topical oinment. i believe dried mucus is solubale in water... as he already soaked the snake and nothing came off. if it in fact inflammation from under the scale there could be something going on in the sinus cavities... dont you think?

warner is there any noticeable swelling... like that side of the face is larger than the other? how are the teeth and gums?

whatever it is i think that you have already won half the battle by raising your temps... always a good idea when you suspect your snake of being sick.

:)
 
It's not any sort of discharge. It looks almost like the scales are raise from some sort of inflamation. I cant even distinguish where the nostril hole is. I have tried cleaning the area with ChlorhexiDerm Flush, a topical antimicrobial cleansing/drying solution, but there is nothing to clean off. The area is clean, just inflamed. I also tried a soak but that really didn't help much either. The mouth looks normal with a nice uniform color throughout, but I'll check it again later when I get him out. At one time his head seemed to be a little swollen in the fatty area behind his eye, almost like a fluid buildup, but that has since returned to normal.
 
sorry derek i was calling you warner lol!

anyway... so is he wc or cbb?

from my experience you should be very careful with pythons and sinus infections... they have a very busy matrix, and an infection can do real damage in no time at all.

sounds like your doing the right thing though. it would be nice if you could give us updates... thanks!

~ Brian
 
Honestly I don't know. I bought him as a 100% Het Pied but I never recieved any paperwork. I have to assume he is a normal but I don't know if he is CBB or WC. I have had him for about two years and this is just now becoming an issue.
 
Cat_72 said:
Might it simply be a nose rub?
Click to expand...

It could be I guess but I don't know what a nose rub looks like or how they get it. This is the first time I have had any problems with any of my snakes.
 
I am just going to offer my musings in case they inspire anyone.

Reptiles (and birds), unlike mammals have a cleft pallate. So the sinus cavity and nostrils communicate directly with the mouth. Infections in one level can readily transport into the other.

You describe this as being one sided rather than bilateral. It is inflammed and swollen. The inflammation and swelling have worsened, but only in this one nostril.
Sure seems strongly indicative of an infection. But what type?

Respiratory fits the differential, as does stomatitis. It could even be both--one being secondary to the other.

Someone needs to get a good look inside the snakes mouth right under this nostril to see what is going on with the tissue in the area. A quick glance isn't going to do the job.

Stomatitis/oral infection can be caused by an injury or even a foreign body. Treatment would be pretty much the same--except a FB would have to be removed. Do you feed live?

You can make the appropriate husbandry adjustments and ride it out for a bit to see if it resolves on it's own. You will still need to get a good look inside in order to know how extensive this is. Or, you can take it to a competent reptile vet now, get an accurate diagnosis and get started right away on antibiotics if warranted and appropriate nursing care (ie cleansing).

Sorry, no magic bullet. Just your common garden variety advice.
 
He is currently in an aquarium with a screened lid. I keep about 90% of the top covered to help with the humidity.

From the picture above, the problem looks like the gums or inside of the mouth is swollen. That is not the case here.
 
I took a good look in his mouth and everything look uniform on both sides. No inflamation or discoloration. The only thing I noticed is one of his front teeth on the bad side was a bright blood red dot at the base of the tooth.
 
I have kept the temps up in the cage and he has been a little more active. He has also started a shed cycle so I have increased the humidity to 60-70%.
 
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