Reptile & Amphibian Forums

For the last week or so I've noticed occasionaly my Cape York Spotted Pythons neck inflates when he breahes. It will do it once or twice and then stop. I have only noticed it a few times and havent seen anything else that realy concerns me. I checked his mouth/throat for bubbles and discoloration that may poijnt to RI and didnt see anything. No mucus in the nostils or coming out of the mouth. I dont have a digi cam but did make a drawing that kind of shows whats going on. The red line depicts what it kind of looks like when his nck inflates. It is not constant and goes back down when he exhales i suppose. I liken it to what a frog looks like when it infltes, only it is not so much out the sides but rather just under his neck. I just moved up to Canada and am in the process of tryng to find a vet as I have found many who are "willing to take a look" but do not, self addittedly, know that much about snakes. They are more than happyto take my monry though.

Any ideas?
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1 Cape York
1 (soon) Dumerils Boa

"Admit Nothing, Deny Everything, And Make Counter Accusations"

I rescued a yearling boa constrictor once - the keeper let it get rather cold over Winter. When I received the snake, it would inflate its neck somewhat like you describe.

I took it to a vet, and a few doses of Baytril later (and a proper cage) the snake was just fine.

When you moved, did the humidity or temps change radically? Temp/humidity changes plus new stress can enable an infection. If that is what this problem is.
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Mark

I would not say drastically, luckily the breed stays somewhat small hes about 3 1/2 - 4 feet so I had him in a wool type bag with a heat pack under my shirt for the most part to add body heat.

Thanks fo the reply
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1 Cape York
1 (soon) Dumerils Boa

"Admit Nothing, Deny Everything, And Make Counter Accusations"

I had a spotted years ago that had from the sounds of it the same condition. I later discovered she had developed an allergy to mice and after eating her throat would swell for a long time. After switching prey to very small rats she was fine. I am not saying for sure that is what yours has but it is worth looking at.

Ryan Young

Wow, I neer would have thought of that happenng. It is ot the case here as he has been on rats for a very long time now but...wow lol. I actually took him into the vet and he was given a course (or rather I was) of flagye. I have a followup later in the moht to see how its going but he seems not not be getting any worse. I honetly think I may have caught it and knowcked alot of it out by rasing his temps and giving him some good belly heat. I will drop in and provide a end result on how it goes... for future references.

Thanks for the reply.
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1 Cape York
1 (soon) Dumerils Boa

"Admit Nothing, Deny Everything, And Make Counter Accusations"