New here, have lump problem with common garter

[stripe&houdini]

Hi, I am new here I have 4 garters 2 of which are common garters and 2 are western terrestrials. Lately one of the common garters has been getting a lump right above its cloaca that will not go away and has been getting bigger. The lump is somewhat soft. The snake has been eating regularly. It has been eating mice and fish. It only eats mice when they are rotting.

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

[guidofatherof5]

Hi, I am new here I have 4 garters 2 of which are common garters and 2 are western terrestrials. Lately one of the common garters has been getting a lump right above its cloaca that will not go away and has been getting bigger. The lump is somewhat soft. The snake has been eating regularly. It has been eating mice and fish. It only eats mice when they are rotting.

Welcome to the forum.
I have to ask, what do you mean by rotting?

Has the swollen area had any drainage? Is the snake still pooping? Does this area around the cloaca have a head/scab to it.
If you have access to a good reptile Vet this may need looked at.
It could be a minor subcutaneous infection or something more.
If possible a photo would be great.
Once again, Welcome and good luck with your sick snake.

[stripe&houdini]

The swollen area has not had any drainage. The snake has not been pooping. There is no scab. I cannot post a photo as my computer is very slow and will not upload photos.

[guidofatherof5]

If I may suggest. Get some kind of a container, put some warm water in and let the snake soak.
Most snakes will poop when in water and the warm water will help that along. This way you can make sure this part if its system is working.

[stripe&houdini]

I am doing that right now and I noticed that the lump has moved about 3 inches toward the snake's head

[brubru2]

Could it be that the snake is regurgitating something?
What did it eat last?

[stripe&houdini]

The snake probabaly is not regurgitating any thing, as the lump been there for about 2 weeks and is much closer to the tail than the head

[guidofatherof5]

I am doing that right now and I noticed that the lump has moved about 3 inches toward the snake's head


You've got my interest. Moving back towards the head doesn't sound like something to do with digestion. I think any mass/growth/tumor would stay in a location and maybe grow but not move. I'm leaning towards a parasitical problem. Some forum members have reported parasitical worms under the skin but never reported them changing locations. I hope you can get a photo posted soon.
Is this lump on the side, top or bottom? Is it a hard mass under the skin or does it feel more to be fluid filled?

[stripe&houdini]

The lump is like a food lump so it is centered. It does not bulge anywhere. It is more like a hard mass.

[guidofatherof5]

Centered:rolleyes: that takes me back to the digestive track. I would say if this thing doesn't pass/poop. A Vet. visit may be the best way to get a handle on this potential problem. From your description it doesn't sound normal. By the time a food mass has gone that far in the system it should be reduced to feces and urates. As a rule you can't see a mass or bulge.
Even some of my large garters who eat adult mice don't get a mass after it passes through the digestive track.
What kind of substrate are you using? Is it possible the snake ingested something from the enclosure?

[mustang]

k i got a very stupid comment steve or someone will corrrect me i just know it...does it have a hernia?

[guidofatherof5]

k i got a very stupid comment steve or someone will corrrect me i just know it...does it have a hernia?

Nothing stupid about that question, Robert.
I don't think as a rule hernias move. They may recess back into the abdominal cavity but not move laterally other than spilling out into a larger area.

[stripe&houdini]

The substrate could not have been ingested because the chunks are too big to stick to the snakes food.

[ConcinusMan]

But probably not too big to get scent on it and later be swallowed intentionally by the snake. I NEVER feed my snakes in their own enclosure or in any enclosure with substrate of any kind. I separate them and feed them one at a time in a bare container or I feed them outside on the lawn. If I were you, I'd feed very small meals, and only soft stuff such as pieces of fish and see if the snake doesn't poo, until you can figure out exactly what's going on. It does sound like there is a piece of something in there such a piece of bark. It may or may not be causing an impaction right now, but the risk is high.

[guidofatherof5]

See if you can find a reptile Vet. in your area and see if they will take a look. Maybe even an X-ray. Some Vets. who don't see snakes very often will do somethings for free. A little on the job training.
Since this thing hasn't passed I think a Vet. visit is called for. I think waiting puts the snake at risk. These are just my thoughts
Best of luck. Keep us posted, please. Any chance at a photo?

[ConcinusMan]

I don't know about vets where you are Steve, you're lucky and you obviously found a good one. None of the one's in my area will even look at an animal if it's native, meaning if it's ANY kind of garter snake, they won't even bother. and if you have a snake, most vets around here know next to nothing, and are just guessing.

Recently one vet actually suggested to someone I know, that my friend try to force feed a boa constrictor. The boa had only been off of food for 5 months, and was nowhere near needing to be force fed IMHO. Vet didn't even suggest fecal analysis, no tests, no nothing. Just told my friend to force feed a 10 foot boa. Ridiculous.

My friend did try, but had no clue how to do it. That's irresponsible on the part of the Dr. to suggest that since it can injure or kill the snake if done improperly. Even I know that no amateur should attempt to force feed a snake, let alone a 10 footer. A healthy boa that was fat to begin with can go a year without eating before they become too weak to eat.

I quickly determined that the snake was not comfortable, was a bit stressed out, but in no way needing to be force fed just yet. We corrected the conditions, and offered the snake adult rats, and nothing. We offered the snake a live chick that was old enough to determine it was a rooster, and WHAM! snake went nuts and ate it. After that, it went for rats or anything else offered. The point is, the vet was irresponsible to suggest force feeding a snake that was strong enough to eat on it's own. That's the kind of snake vets we got around here. If it's not a dog, cat, ferret, or even prarie dog, the vets are useless around here.

[stripe&houdini]

The snake now makes a sound like someone passing gas when she opens her mouth.

[ConcinusMan]

Oh, don't worry then. My mom has been doing that for years and she's still going strong.(jk)

Seriously, that doesn't sound good at all. (no pun intended)

[drache]

The snake now makes a sound like someone passing gas when she opens her mouth.
that does not sound good
any luck finding a vet?

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

The snake now makes a sound like someone passing gas when she opens her mouth.
that sounds like respiratory infection.... I hope you can find a vet soon!