My hoggie is in a bad way...

ThirteenRavens · 06-30-17, 05:09 PM

So I'm moving and when I was packing up my snakes to bring them with me, I noticed my hognose is in rough shape...He has been on a feeding strike lately (relatively normal for him, has gone a while with no food with no issues until now) and when I took him out of his viv, I was taken aback by how he looked. He ate about a month ago and nothing since (again, not out of the "norm" for him...) and he has lost a dramatic amount of weight (never had weight loss issues before), his eyes are cloudy and he has a strange hard lump near his vent. At first I thought he was at least getting ready to shed (I found a shed skin in his travel bin) and taking a closer look, his eyes look blind as opposed to "shed cloudy" if that makes sense? I've enclosed a a pic of his eyes and the lump...any thoughts? He does have an appointment to see a reptile vet next week. Thanks in advance guys, always appreciated.

TRD · 06-30-17, 05:19 PM

Time to move that vet appointment sooner, I would say. That does not look good.

Scubadiver59 · 06-30-17, 05:59 PM

I agree with TRD...that doesn't look like stuck eye caps and that bulge looks bad.

Personally, I wouldn't wait.

ThirteenRavens · 06-30-17, 06:12 PM

I 100% agree, but I've called everyone in the area and with the holiday weekend upon us, noone has anything until next week

I don't know what else to do for him. He's still sassy but I agree, it doesn't look good.

TRD · 06-30-17, 06:35 PM

Reptiles will always appear sassy. It's natural behavior of "Don't show you're weak because then you're food". And after that they will rapidly collapse. If he's constipated (which it does look like, even though the cause can be many different things) it can cause serious issues because his body cannot get rid of waste products and this will build up. Cloudy eyes unrelated to shedding can indicate various fungal and bacterial infections, which may only be secondary to the main problem and caused by a weak immune system not being able to cope with any bacteria or fungi naturally living in or on the animal. You need a vet to look at him, or at the very least call one nearby (most have emergency contacts) and get an opinion through the phone from a specialist. Most will make time for you when they know that the animal needs care right away or will die in the next couple of days, at least that's my experience dealing with vets around here. Hopefully a vet will be available to you, or at the very least can give you some help or peace of mind that nothing dramatic will happen in a few days.

Take care.

Tiny Boidae · 06-30-17, 06:40 PM

With him like this, you honestly shouldn't wait any longer than necessary. He might die before the appointment, or his chances for recovery could be diminished. Has his feces been normal? Not at all runny, and it doesn't contain any mucus or blood? I'm thinking this might be a parasite, although it's really only speculation. The weight loss, the loss of appetite, the location of the swelling. The only thing I can't really explain with this are the eye caps, but my point being is that I would try to save a fecal sample for when you go to the vet and get a float done. Call around. Maybe you can leave the snake in their care overnight and someone could assess him while he's there. It's not ideal, but if you describe the symptoms maybe and ask around someone might be willing. I had a vet do that for me once in a similar situation.

Albert Clark · 07-02-17, 01:14 PM

Sorry for the dilemma TR. I think a vet visit will be the answer as well. Too many differentials and possibilities.

SerpentineDream · 07-15-17, 02:38 PM

How is he doing?

ThirteenRavens · 07-18-17, 07:57 PM

His eyes have cleared up and he was on a round of antibiotics "just in case" it was an abscess but at his re-check the vet felt it was more of a growth at this point than an actual abscess...since it's so close to the vent and he's so small we opted to not remove it and just monitor it. If it becomes a problem in the future, depending on his size, we may or may not remove it. He has started eating again though which is good.