-
Hello!
Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.
Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....
Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.
Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.
Question about RI, and vet reccomendations
- Thread starter Timmeh___
- Start date
axis1
Fuhgeddaboudit!!!!
Check out the enviornment first!
Hiya Timmeh!
Before you pack your snake up and take him or her to the vet, there are some steps to take in order to determine if your snake has an RTI or if it could be something else.
First off, how old is your snake and what is its routine habits and state of health? Has it ever had problems before? Does it eat regularly? How is your husbandry in terms of maintaining the enclosure and what type of substrate are you using? Also, how is the temperature variance in your snake's house?
From reading John Rossi's "What's Wrong with My Snake?" I have learned that there are environmental factors to be ruled out prior to diagnosing your snake with a respiratory illness. I was actually in touch with my vet and making preparations to bring my 8 year-old gravid female in when discussing this very issue. She was making clicking sounds, her throat was puffing up every 3rd or 4th breath, she was restless and rubbing her snout all over the place, among other things. I thought my maintenance skills were impeccable in that I changed her water daily, spot-cleaned when necessary, checked temps virtually all the time, and have her in a viv that is made of a nylon mesh which ensure proper ventilation. Upon closer examination, however, in addition to the fact that she was gravid and constantly burrowing and seeking a place for a nest in coconut fiber substrate, which has a very fine powdery texture when dry, I noticed that both of her nostrils were actually clogged! I even gave her a bath, as I was unable to get it out otherwise, but am unsure if this made it better or worse, because she kept clicking away! I was further appalled and even horrified when I caught her in the middle of laying her eggs that her mouth was agape as if she were gasping and it appeared for awhile that she actually stopped breathing!! (If you've ever seen a snake laying eggs you'll have noticed that "zombielike" state they get into, almost like they have that thousand-yard-stare! It's actually scary! And with her mouth open, well, it just didn't look right!). However, after she laid her eggs, and she drank a gallon of water, she did seem a lot better and the clicking sound was gone, but her throat was still puffing up. After her post-lay shed, which couldn't have occurred sooner, she was back to her old self!!
All of this to say that, while it MAY be an RTI, it MAY be something else. So while there are many unanswered questions, I would do a thorough check of your snake's environment first.
Will be looking for your response!!!
Hiya Timmeh!
Before you pack your snake up and take him or her to the vet, there are some steps to take in order to determine if your snake has an RTI or if it could be something else.
First off, how old is your snake and what is its routine habits and state of health? Has it ever had problems before? Does it eat regularly? How is your husbandry in terms of maintaining the enclosure and what type of substrate are you using? Also, how is the temperature variance in your snake's house?
From reading John Rossi's "What's Wrong with My Snake?" I have learned that there are environmental factors to be ruled out prior to diagnosing your snake with a respiratory illness. I was actually in touch with my vet and making preparations to bring my 8 year-old gravid female in when discussing this very issue. She was making clicking sounds, her throat was puffing up every 3rd or 4th breath, she was restless and rubbing her snout all over the place, among other things. I thought my maintenance skills were impeccable in that I changed her water daily, spot-cleaned when necessary, checked temps virtually all the time, and have her in a viv that is made of a nylon mesh which ensure proper ventilation. Upon closer examination, however, in addition to the fact that she was gravid and constantly burrowing and seeking a place for a nest in coconut fiber substrate, which has a very fine powdery texture when dry, I noticed that both of her nostrils were actually clogged! I even gave her a bath, as I was unable to get it out otherwise, but am unsure if this made it better or worse, because she kept clicking away! I was further appalled and even horrified when I caught her in the middle of laying her eggs that her mouth was agape as if she were gasping and it appeared for awhile that she actually stopped breathing!! (If you've ever seen a snake laying eggs you'll have noticed that "zombielike" state they get into, almost like they have that thousand-yard-stare! It's actually scary! And with her mouth open, well, it just didn't look right!). However, after she laid her eggs, and she drank a gallon of water, she did seem a lot better and the clicking sound was gone, but her throat was still puffing up. After her post-lay shed, which couldn't have occurred sooner, she was back to her old self!!
All of this to say that, while it MAY be an RTI, it MAY be something else. So while there are many unanswered questions, I would do a thorough check of your snake's environment first.
Will be looking for your response!!!
My snake is about 1 year and 3 months old. She has been eating and drinking, and pooping. She has showed no weight loss and no apetite loss either. These "Ticks" Happen very inconsistently. I cannot hear her breathing. She has never had problems as far as infections or sickness etc. Her warm spot/UTH is on a thermostat and it usually stays around 81 - 85 and her unheated side of the cage is around 75~. Im using Snake Aspen Bedding from Pet smart. I dont use any external lighting as her cage is nearby a window so she just gets natural light. Now that I think of it, some dust from the Aspen can be collection in the bottom of the cage, I will clean her cage tomorrow and check. I imagine she might be burrowing and it is getting in her nostrils. The thing is, I have only witnessed her do it right in front of me once. When she did it, it just seemed like an expelling of air, no mucus or anything.
axis1
Fuhgeddaboudit!!!!
I did see your post in a different but recent thread and am wondering if this is the same snake you said just shed during the day. If so, is she still making this clicking sound as of now? If you don't notice anything that could be causing this in the enclosure - assuming you've checked all of the hides, the cleanliness of the environment totally including for any unwanted critters, like dust mites or parasites, or any other potential irritants - then you might want to check it out with a vet. I wouldn't sweat the aspen, almost all substrate leaves some powder at the bottom of the cage.
The bad thing about a potential RTI, if that's what it actually is, is that if it's left unchecked or untreated, it will almost certainly get worse and can threaten the health & well-being of your pet!
Did your snake eat recently? If not and that was her you said had shed during the day, I would offer her food, as that would certainly boost her immune system even if it actually is the beginnings of an RTI.
Just a suggestion. Consulting a vet at this point certainly can't hurt. Just do a search of reptile or exotic animal vets within your zip code.
jagodzinski
New member
Since she just shed, did those noises go away? Sometimes when snakes are in shed they make clicking noises that sound similar to a snake with an RTI.
As per the vet, that sounds like a good plan. You should be totally fine waiting until tomorrow to talk to a vet.
Best of luck!
As per the vet, that sounds like a good plan. You should be totally fine waiting until tomorrow to talk to a vet.
Best of luck!
albertagirl
Sharan
I feel like the sound you are describing, an expelling of air, only once, could have been a hiss or a sneeze. A trip to the vet probably won't hurt, but if she only ever made the sound once, and it sounded like expelled air, I would maybe not worry too much unless there are other symptoms? They do sneeze, and their hisses are so little and cute, it literally just sounds like a little puff of air. Especially if she did it before shedding. My snakes hiss at me if I bother them while they're blue.
