What could cause lumps/bulges?

[dr_j]

Okay, so here's a question relating to my blood red, Dashi (sorry, no pics as I'm out of town). I had concerns a while back about him having crypto, but after talking to vets at Texas A&M, and a local herp vet (just north of Dallas ... Plano/Frisco), it's likely he does not have that. He was diagnosed with an intestinal parasite of some form (I forget which), for which he was on an injected antibiotic for a week (that was fun administering!). We talked about testing for Crypto, but given his size, it would take weeks of collecting enough dark feces and spinning them down, and the symptoms don't read like crypto (other than the lump).

He still shows signs of a lump; sometimes it's pronounced, sometimes not so much. The "lump" pretty much looks like about 1/2 way down his body, he becomes a bit fat & puffy ---- it's not really an isolated lump. He eats well. He certainly poops well (normal for him seems to be 3 - 4 times a week, relatively small poops!). The lump palpates as if it's a very watery, not stiff lump. His body is very easily moved around below the start of the lump (by that I mean it's easy to palpate him, as if you're pushing fat around).

Could the infection he had have left him like this? Is this something that is apt to go away? It doesn't seem to be causing him any problems at all; it just seems odd in comparison to the others that I have.

BTW: he's about 8 months old; somewhat smaller than his "sister" (same age), but growing slower. Still growing, just slower.

Thoughts? Ideas?

j

 

[vanderkm]

We had something similar develop in a san luis potosis kingsnake - it developed on the body in the chest region for no known reason. It persisted for years and he was clinically fine, but it expanded rapidly over a 3 month period and he stopped feeding so we euthanized him. Post mortem showed a chronically inflamed mass of fat - had likely been an infection, possibly a bacterial septicemia that had been walled off to some extent and then spread - perhaps due to trauma to the area - nothing we could pinpoint, but that seemed most likely.

I have some photos, just not handy at the moment. Good luck with your guy - don't know that there is much you could do for treatment.

Just a thought - I don't suppose the lump is anywhere near where the injections were done - possible it could have developed secondary to the previous treatment - though you have likely considered that,

mary v.