So I noticed 2 lumps on my boa’s side on the lower third of her body about a week and a half ago and immediately made a vet appointment. One lump was slightly larger than the other and they were directly next to each other. They looked like pictures I had seen online of fatty deposits or abscesses but tbh all the pictures of various lumps snakes can get kinda look the same to me and I’ve never seen a snake with lumps before now.
For background, I hadn’t handled her for about 2 weeks before the day I found the lumps because I got a new snake and was practicing very strict quarantine and didn’t want to risk even touching her. (New snake is fine he’s super healthy and done w quarantine!) My boa has been eating, pooping, and acting entirely fine this whole time even w the lumps.
So after I found the lumps I put her back in her tank, and didn’t handle her til I put her in her carrier to take her to the vet today. I was checking for the lumps as I was putting her in her carrier and they were significantly smaller than when I first noticed them. I took her to the vet and the vet was concerned bc she said the lumps were to hard to be an abscess or fatty deposit. She did an x ray and this was the result. The vet suspects possible broken ribs and told me to just keep her on tank rest for a while. The vet told me we could do more x rays to be sure but my boa would have to be sedated for those and I wasn’t fully comfortable doing that in the moment without doing my own research on sedation for snakes. (This vet has a reputation for recommending unnecessary things to make money, and unfortunately she is the only good exotic vet in my are.)
Just wondered what yall think of this x ray and any advice for keep her comfortable is welcome!! I’m in a state over all of this because I’ve had her for a couple years now and this is the first time I’ve taken her to the vet for more than a wellness visit.
So I noticed 2 lumps on my boa’s side on the lower third of her body about a week and a half ago and immediately made a vet appointment. One lump was slightly larger than the other and they were directly next to each other. They looked like pictures I had seen online of fatty deposits or abscesses but tbh all the pictures of various lumps snakes can get kinda look the same to me and I’ve never seen a snake with lumps before now.
For background, I hadn’t handled her for about 2 weeks before the day I found the lumps because I got a new snake and was practicing very strict quarantine and didn’t want to risk even touching her. (New snake is fine he’s super healthy and done w quarantine!) My boa has been eating, pooping, and acting entirely fine this whole time even w the lumps.
So after I found the lumps I put her back in her tank, and didn’t handle her til I put her in her carrier to take her to the vet today. I was checking for the lumps as I was putting her in her carrier and they were significantly smaller than when I first noticed them. I took her to the vet and the vet was concerned bc she said the lumps were to hard to be an abscess or fatty deposit. She did an x ray and this was the result. The vet suspects possible broken ribs and told me to just keep her on tank rest for a while. The vet told me we could do more x rays to be sure but my boa would have to be sedated for those and I wasn’t fully comfortable doing that in the moment without doing my own research on sedation for snakes. (This vet has a reputation for recommending unnecessary things to make money, and unfortunately she is the only good exotic vet in my are.)
Just wondered what yall think of this x ray and any advice for keep her comfortable is welcome!! I’m in a state over all of this because I’ve had her for a couple years now and this is the first time I’ve taken her to the vet for more than a wellness visit.
I am not a vet, but maybe go to a different vet for a second opinion? Best wishes for your snake!!