[Skin] Sagging face and neck skin

[ShivaCamo]

My adult female boa seems to have some skin that is sagging almost like she just stretched out to eat, but hasn't eaten for a week. It's making a little flap of skin under her throat and the side of her face. Is it normal for the skin to just stay stretched for some reason? It had gone back to normal after the actual swallowing of a rat.

[weird_science04]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

Is she going into shed?

Star

[ShivaCamo]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

Is she going into shed?

Star

No she shed a day ago but wasn't saggy at the time of shed. That's why it's so weird.

[weird_science04]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

Pictures?

Star

[ShivaCamo]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

It's hard to get a picture of her but here it is from the front. I've put arrows to help a little bit since it blends into the bedding.

[weird_science04]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

It might be fluid build up. Have you tried to open the mouth?

Star

[ShivaCamo]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

She did spend all night soaking in her bowl, or do you mean internal fluid buildup? Would it be seen inside her mouth or wouldn't it be between the skin and jawbone?

[weird_science04]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

I have seen it happen right after they drink if you startle them, but not for days. Sis she making any noises? My Samael had fluid build up in his glottis and it turned out he was dying of cancer. Not saying this is the case here at all but just saying things happen. It could be am RI forming. I would probably take her to the vet to get it checked out.

Star

[ShivaCamo]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

No noises or anything strange that I have noticed. I'm going to try and feed her and see if it goes down after. Maybe she yawned really big and dislocated her jaw or something? I hope it's not serious.

[Noelle7206]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

What happens if you touch the puffy area? Does it feel solid or empty? or squishy? or does the pressure from your finger leave an imprint? (-it could be air as in a RI, or fluid, or tissue-as in infection; empty saggy skin
seems like the least likely possibility to me.) Also, when she flicks her tongue, are the tips separated? (and not stuck together?)

***Since she just shed, check her nostrils to see if they are plugged. You may have never noticed but when boas shed, they also shed a bit of lining of their nostrils...if this gets stuck in place, maybe her face is puffing
up with air that's supposed to be leaving thru her nostrils. In some snakes -when their nostrils are blocked- you may also hear a little whistling sound when they breathe.***

[ShivaCamo]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

I would say it just feels like the rest of her head, skin with a little squish. It's gone down about halfway thankfully but I did find mites so it might have been irritation combined with long water soaks. Looking better. Tongue is normal and forked too with no nostril blockage.

[weird_science04]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

I'm hoping for the best for you.

Star

[Noelle7206]

Re: Sagging face and neck skin

Likewise (hoping for the best!) here. Have you looked inside her mouth for any signs of infection?** I've never heard of mites "causing irritation" that would cause swelling of the neck, though they are associated with
some dire health issues. A vet exam would be the best thing. I once had a snake shipped to me that came with an infection of the glottis (as was mentioned above)...antibiotics took care of it just fine but that's why
I asked about the tongue tips (-they were stuck together in the snake I'm referring to-). **Any redness inside the mouth? or any discharge? I'd be concerned about any swelling near the head, since edema (etc) can
be very serious (next to the brain or affecting her ability to breathe).