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The symptoms finally appear...

Sesha Jan 18, 2007 08:32 PM

Well, my Dumeril's boa is refusing food this week, although she did show some interest. She yawned, but wasn't resetting her jaws. There's a popping noise every once and a while when she breathes, and in her tank she props her head on the glass and looks straight up. I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that she has a respiratory infection. Apparently it took a whole month for the symptoms to manifest into something more obvious. I'm not too surprised though.

Vets aren't exactly cheap and those that are trustworthy when it comes to exotics are 50 miles or more away and the cost is prohibitive. Don't get me wrong, I want the best for my snake, but it will take some time to save up the money. So how much time do I have? A month? More or less? (I could take her to a local vet, but he's killed more reptiles than he's saved...told a friend of mine to feed her corn snake crickets and gave vitamin b12 shot to her red tail boa).

In about a month's time (or less) I'll most certainly be able to take her and get her on some antibiotics. In the meantime, do I need to raise the temperatures a bit and the humidity? Is there anything else I can do to help alleviate her symptoms?

Be gentle with the "why did you get a snake if you can't afford the medical bills" speech. I'm sure I deserve it...but I'm trying my best to accommodate.

Replies (3)

EricIvins Jan 18, 2007 09:10 PM

Do a real thorough once-over on your husbandry. Usually URI's whether gram negative or positive, show symptoms relatively quick ( In my expierience no more than 2 weeks, usually 3-7 days ). I may be wrong, but it sounds like it's either stress or husbandry related. Being delayed while shipping could have started the process, but to me it seems like something else has added fuel to fire so to speak.

Djinn Jan 19, 2007 01:09 AM

I know how it goes with the vet situation.
Honestly though, you don't need a vet to
cure even a chronic R.I.
Number one: make absolutely sure that your husbandry is ideal.
Really!
Number two: read this thread ~~> http://www.boaconstrictor.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5124

As long as your willing to learn, and get your hands dirty so to speak, everything will be O.K.
-----
Jason Dowell

Coach Jan 19, 2007 09:48 PM

Crank up the heat. That sometimes works using the animals own immune system. If persistant the snake will need antibiotics.

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