Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is not mouth rot, nothing like I have ever seen before. He ate just last week and ate fine, no problems at all but now his head is all swollen tonight. He looks like I do after eating shell fish, like he is majorly allergic to something. I know he is not but that is the only way I can describe it! He is scared, will not let me near him and the vets in this area are idiots. Any ideas??? He is 10 ft heating fine, humidity fine nothing has changed.

The best advice anyone can give you is - Drive outside of your area to find a good reptile Vet. I have to drive over an hour to get to one.

Seriously, you need to get it to a Vet, and soon.

My first thought is a piece of substrate lodged in it's throat or back of the mouth. What type of substrate is it on? What was it's last meal?

Honestly, don't wait around for answers from anyone here, get it to a Vet.

Hang in there!
HH
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Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

bacterial oropharyngeal cellulitis that has symptoms that are identical to what you are seeing with this python. It is a rare, deep tissue infection, that is different than stomatitis, or mouth rot. It is typically characterized by a rapid onset of head and neck swelling, and I would recommend seeing a vet asap. It could be something other than this, but it sure matches all of the criteria for this condition. If this is the case, it will require the use of a good, broad spectrum antibiotic as quickly as possible in order to resolve the infection. Keep us posted on how things work out.

Kelly

How is your Burm doing? I've heard of corns snakes that swell a bit behind the jaw right before they are due to shed. I didn't want to throw that anecdote out in case this was something serious.