Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My male hypo everglades ratsnake has recently developed a bulge in the scales under BOTH eyes. It is very symetrical. He is still eating well and it doesn't seem to bother him at all. I tried to get a picture of it, but it is hard to photograph. It almost looks like a drop of water under his eye, as the light shines off the scale.

Is anyone familiar with this?
Should I do anything about it?
Any expertise would be appreciated.

Glen

That is a very interesting problem. Often bilateral swelling is noted in the head, but often the globes are involved. Things to consider are abscess, tumor, infection/inflammation, or any other mass displacing pathology. Other things may reveal that the symmetry is a fluke, as in an injury to both sides from one event (like biting on a stick so to speak).

The course of action to take if this persists is to take to the vet for workup, which may include bloodwork, radiographs, ultrasound, CT scan, ect. Obviously not all imagine techniques would be used, and what is used may also be dictated by what is available to the DVM.

Things that would make your vet visit more urgent are
1)other symptoms appear, like anorexia, lethargy, labored breathing, regurgition, loss of coordination, tremors, seizures, star-gazing ect.
2)the "bulge" increases and/or shows no signs of improvement
3)either of the above occur and the snake is in pain or otherwise suffering
4)the bulge opens into an ulcerative sore

Good luck, as of now I wouldn't yet panic

.