RI Treatment (How-to)

So I decided to do my own little write up with pictures on how I decided to treat a couple of snakes with RIs

I started out by getting vicks vapor rub and eucalyptus tree oil ($5 at whole foods) and a couple cups water put into the microwave to boil.


While I let my water start to boil I went and retrieved the 2 sick snakes and 2 snake bags to put them in for treatment (small individual tubs with holes drilled in them would also work, anything that allows air transfer while containing the snake) and also a larger tub to stage everything in.



After the snakes were secured my water was also done in the microwave. I used about 2 cups of boiling water, 3-5 drips of eucalyptus oil, and half a teaspoon of vicks. I stirred all the ingredients together in the measuring cup, and if you're feeling at all stuffed up yourself at this point, take a wiff, and put it back into the microwave for 45 more seconds to get it boiling again.



Next, being VERY VERY careful to not spill boiling water on the snakes, I placed the water/vicks/oil mixture into the larger tub with the snakes and placed the lid on for 5 minutes



I checked them at the 5 minute mark and put the water back into the microwave to boil to increase the steam factor and set it back in the tub for 5 more minutes. After those 5 minutes are up, you're done

While I was putting away the JCP, big girl decided she wanted a photo shoot so I had to oblige lol




I didn't have any sick corns other wise I would have used them for this writeup, but there's no doubt in my mind this wouldn't work on a corn as well.

You should never microwave water or any pure liquids for the matter. I can get so hot that it doesn't actually boil. Then when you disturb the liquid it will explode in your face. It happened to my Aunt and severely burnt her.

cmalchow said:

You should never microwave water or any pure liquids for the matter. I can get so hot that it doesn't actually boil. Then when you disturb the liquid it will explode in your face. It happened to my Aunt and severely burnt her.

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Sorry to hear about your Aunt.
Water that has few impurities, like distilled and some bottled waters, can become super heated and boil explosively. Tap water usually has lots of impurities and is usually safe to boil via the microwave (I have been doing it for years). If you are really worried, you can put a wooden chopstick in the water, this gives the water a nucleation point to create bubbles and promote boiling when it reaches 212 degrees(@sea level) and prevent superheated water.

I would be very cautious treating snakes with a human grade medication (over the counter or not). It's just not safe in my eyes.

Just wondering if anyone else other than Dakafall has used this kind of treatment for snake RI's. Been skulking around this site for a while, and this is the first post I've seen refer to this kind of treatment. Usually the recommendations are a vet trip, decrease humidity, keep tank clean, raise temperature, etc.

P.

P.Guttatus said:

Sorry to hear about your Aunt.
Water that has few impurities, like distilled and some bottled waters, can become super heated and boil explosively. Tap water usually has lots of impurities and is usually safe to boil via the microwave (I have been doing it for years). If you are really worried, you can put a wooden chopstick in the water, this gives the water a nucleation point to create bubbles and promote boiling when it reaches 212 degrees(@sea level) and prevent superheated water.

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With my Aunt it was tap water and she actually did have a wooden spoon in the cup it was the wooden spoon that moved and caused the liquid to displace. I personally think that telling someone it is ok to do something even though we know there is a risk even if it is slight is a bad idea.

P.Guttatus said:

Just wondering if anyone else other than Dakafall has used this kind of treatment for snake RI's. Been skulking around this site for a while, and this is the first post I've seen refer to this kind of treatment. Usually the recommendations are a vet trip, decrease humidity, keep tank clean, raise temperature, etc.

P.

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To be honest I have heard this from other people as well and they state that it works. I do have my reserved feelings about it as well because like Carinata said along with these products are made out of oils that we know can be harmful to our snakes. I personally will stick with going to the vet.

As I said treating your snake with human medications is not smart. Take your snake to the vet, they'll prescribe Ceftazidime or Metronidazole. Keep the humidity down, the heat up. Stress the snake as little as possible.

An RI is just that - a Respiratory Infection. To my mind, infections need antibiotics or at least vet monitoring. Snakes + boiling water alone sounds like a recipe for potential disaster. Never mind the use of human-safe treatments and oils which we're normally advised to avoid near our snakes.

I'm glad it's worked for some and that the method is there for others to try if they want to. Personally I wouldn't risk it with any of mine.

Well, after checking on them after work here, the JCPs is all cleared up and the Hog defiantly sounds a lot better, still noticing a few tiny bubbles in her mouth, but not near like what it was before treatment. Snake bytes actually uses a very similar method, but they use a zoomed fogger and a product called F10

F10 and Vicks are much different. I'm would be willing to bet your snakes are not all cleared up. I would really suggest taking it to a vet...

I have a nebulizer & F10. I have not had to use it yet, & I hope I don't have to, but I know people that successfully kill an RI when caught early, using this, decreasing humidity & bumping up the temps a couple degrees.

I'm working on getting a fogger, but I figured I'd use this method until I have my fogger and F10 in hand. Like I said, one snake is all cleared up already after only 1 treatment. And for the record, I did lower the humidity and increase the temps (not that the temps matter since the JCP just likes to lounge on log and watch all the activity and the hog is to busy exploring and prefers on top of her hide as opposed to actually in it lol

nwheather said:

I have a nebulizer & F10. I have not had to use it yet, & I hope I don't have to, but I know people that successfully kill an RI when caught early, using this, decreasing humidity & bumping up the temps a couple degrees.

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Really!! What type of snakes.

Carinata said:

F10 and Vicks are much different. I'm would be willing to bet your snakes are not all cleared up. I would really suggest taking it to a vet...

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I'm aware that they are 2 different products. I am also aware of they symptoms were last night before treatment and how they are now. I'm using my judgement and experiences that other people have had to treat my animals how I feel will work. I'm not forcing you or anyone else to do this, I'm simply putting it out there for information to anyone willing to try based off the fact that there are success stories behind it and that I'm seeing a difference in how my snakes are already.

Dakafall said:

I'm aware that they are 2 different products. I am also aware of they symptoms were last night before treatment and how they are now. I'm using my judgement and experiences that other people have had to treat my animals how I feel will work. I'm not forcing you or anyone else to do this, I'm simply putting it out there for information to anyone willing to try based off the fact that there are success stories behind it and that I'm seeing a difference in how my snakes are already.

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I'm interested in the success stories. Is there anyway to link or point us to more information.

Dakafall said:

I'm aware that they are 2 different products. I am also aware of they symptoms were last night before treatment and how they are now. I'm using my judgement and experiences that other people have had to treat my animals how I feel will work. I'm not forcing you or anyone else to do this, I'm simply putting it out there for information to anyone willing to try based off the fact that there are success stories behind it and that I'm seeing a difference in how my snakes are already.

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I don't want to see someone new to the game just try this. That's the issue. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable using a human medication, for reptiles, especially one that's never been used for reptiles before. F10 and a fogger work very well. But again, F10 and Vicks are very different.

By calling it "RI Treatment (How-to)" it sure sounds like you're telling people to do it.....

Lennycorn said:

I'm interested in the success stories. Is there anyway to link or point us to more information.

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I just googled "snake RI vicks" and found applicable links
Would copy/paste if I was on something other than my phone

Dakafall said:

I just googled "snake RI vicks" and found applicable links
Would copy/paste if I was on something other than my phone

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ahh... Google. Everyone here uses it!! I just forgot! Thanks.

And you keep records on this 'treatment'?

Lennycorn said:

Really!! What type of snakes.

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I learned about it from a python forum, but I have heard pf people using it successfully in a variety of snakes.