Juvenile with white spot on eye

[Kepri]

Hello. I recently acquired a young corn snake that has a strange white spot over its pupil. I soaked her and checked for a stuck eye cap 、but doesn't seem to be it. It moves with the eye. Any idea what it might be? Thanks!

[crackerhead]

It might be a cataract which is not uncommon. The animal will function normally. Just keep in mind that it won't have great vision on that side of it's body.

Terri

[DeuceRon]

That's very interesting. I had no idea that they could get cataracts. Hope it's okay!

[Kepri]

Thanks for the reply! I hope that is all it is. I have a vet appointment in a few days and will let you all know.

[Twolunger]

Thanks for the reply! I hope that is all it is. I have a vet appointment in a few days and will let you all know.

What did your vet find wrong? I am curious because cataracts in young snakes, called juvenile cataracts, are not that common. There are other things that can cause white spots, like abrasions to the eye from rubbing on things in the enclosure. The eye scale, or spectacle, usually protects the cornea, but an abrasion can allow bacteria to affect the eye.

[Kepri]

I'm sorry I meant totell you all right away and totally forgot! They think it is a cataract, but to be sure they put her on antibiotic injections every 3 days for a month. It hasn't changed at all since then. She is eating great, pooping and acts just like all my others. She is about to shed and I am interested to see the eye caps come off. Thanks!

[ArnoTis]

Oh my, I'm so sorry for your little snake

[Twolunger]

Here's hoping it's just a bacterial infection, but a snake can live out its whole life with cataracts. Let us know what happens after the eye caps shed. Are you doing the injections yourself? I had to inject a tortoise with baytril and she didn't like it at all.

[ArnoTis]

Well I hate needles for example, I think snakes also don't like them ;)

[Kepri]

I am doing the injections myself. I hate needles too but I have psoriatic arthritis and have to give myself injections weekly so it isn's hard. I do agree that she doesn't like it but I want to make sure she stays healthy so she is out of luck. ^-^r

[Twolunger]

My brother's little dog has diabetes and they have to inject her twice a day. You just do what you have to do.

[Kepri]

So she did shed but I can't find it anywhere...... maybe she ate it? But she looks fantastic! No sign of the eye caps on her at all. The cataract is still there but otherwise she looks great!

[crackerhead]

If you can't find the shed she probably has not done so yet. They go through a clearer stage after the milky blue right before shedding. Corn snakes do not eat their sheds the way some other reptiles do.

Terri

[Kepri]

I did just find it. Both eye caps are present.