Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Always I update too soon!
Fletcher has displayed swelling once again.
I caught a few pictures this time.

Here, she's obviously puffed in the jaw and throat region. I apologize for the crappy pictures, but she was moving around:

Then, not even three minutes later, after getting her out of her enclosure and her being active for just a moment, it GOES AWAY totally. I do mean totally- no evidence that the swelling was ever there:

I still am flummoxed. The swelling doesn't 'feel' like anything- it just seems like stretched skin. It goes down when gently pressed. Air?

Could this have something to do with shedding? I know when this was happening last time, it was about a week before shed time, and she's starting to look just minutely cloudy again. This seems remarkably extreme, but I know some species get 'throaty' around shed times.

I'll be taking her for a second opinion, but because this goes away when she's active for even a moment, I have my doubts about what a vet will be able to observe.
Even if nobody has any further input to offer after all of my varying questions, I figured the pictures might serve as a record in case anyone else ever experiences this.

Odd that it took me this long to find, but I just read this thread about pre-shed swelling. I don't know if this would apply considering the swelling doesn't stay all of the time even in pre-shed periods, but it's fascinating nonetheless.
I didn't even know this happened, ever.
Edema in cornsnakes

Edema usually isn't so quickly "deflatable" but I wouldn't rule out the possibility. I have not observed edema in my cornsnakes (as per link) and would venture to say it doesn't happen to all of them. It is very much a possibility that this is an anomolly associated with captive care - cramped enclosures for example.

Air is a possibility for your boa as well. Since your boa otherwise appears and behaves normally, you have two options. You can let it be until you have a reason to pursue it again (another symptom comes up, or it doesn't go away), or you can find more information about your snake to attempt to find a cause.
The diagnostics surrounding such an intermittent problem would be difficult, and largely beyond my expertise. I would file as many, good quality pictures as you can while the snake is enlarged. Try also, to get oral pic's of the same. This will help the attending vet to target specific areas.
A biopsy might be the first test, but it would also be a shot in the dark. A negative/normal finding would be good for the snake, but wouldn't get you any further in your quest for a cause. If the problem is structural as opposed to cellular, a biopsy would be of limited value.
Imagery of various types can may be able to map any annomolies in your snake. X-rays will be of limited to no value, as this appears to be a soft tissue concern. Ultrasound will be extremely helpfull if you can perform it on the snake while the condition is prevalent. CT and MRI are available in some vet clinics (either directly or by referal) and they may be the best means towards mapping a physical annomoly that explains to symptom; even when not currently present, however making it more difficult nonetheless.
Exploratory surgery is another more extreme option. At this point it would be more in the name of science as opposed to being justified from a medical perspective as there is minimal gain in quality of life to be expected.

I hope I've helped you with this information. At this point, barring an extensive oral examination (under anesthesia) by your second opinion DVM, I think to learn more about this problem you will have to commit to a lengthy road of diagnostics.

Ian

Excellent points, thank you.

Every time I ask about this, I get more interesting info and suggestions.
I don't recall her ever doing this as a young snake. I've had her since she was about 18 inches long, and she never had any odd issues like this- if it's a structural anomaly, It'd be interesting if it presented after five years or so- still possible, especially since the last opinions were that she might have sustained a jaw injury without my knowing.

If this keeps presenting, seems to interfere with her ability behave normally, or gets worse/doesn't go down in mere moments after activity, the next step will likely be me finding a vet who can do a decent ultrasound or MRI. I'm definitely hugely invested in this snake.

She is fully blue right now, so I'll be interested to see in a couple of days if this doesn't happen at all once she's shed.

I am definitely glad it doesn't appear to be an infectious condition, for her sake and the sake of my other BCC.

Thanks so much for your input.

I have one corn snake that this happens too. Wicked freaked me when I first saw it. But she has been doing it for years and years and seems completely fine otherwise. It comes and goes.

Weird yes. Same thing as your boa? I dunno.

Carole
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I have seen similar in snakes for two reasons. The snake was fed prey that was too big or taken awkwardly (sideways) and jammed open the throat flesh and caused it.

I have more often seen it in snakes that had borderline upper respiratory infections and needed heat and humidity tweeks. One needed meds.
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