Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I brought my female out yesterday and noticed she wasn't herself. She kept bending her head 90 degrees back onto her body (laterally, not vertically) and she recoils as if she's trying to straighten it out and sometimes will fall over backwards. At first I thought she was trying to get a piece of un-shed skin off that was on her head but after I got that off she's still doing it and it seems like it's only getting worse.

When I put her back, she didn't "hold on" to me like she usually does by wrapping her tail around whatever she can get ahold of. It just lay limp. Watching her it's almost like she's in the wrong gear and just can't get out of it. I've had a coulubrid who died of stargazers disease several years ago and I'm fearing the worst.

She's about 13 feet long and she ate 3 rabbits yesterday. Does this sound like a neurological disorder or maybe even IBD? My albino male died unexpectedly on Easter and now I'm thinking there might be a connection.

First of all, let me say that I am truly sorry to hear about all of your unfortunate circumstances.

IDB is contagious and could have easily been transfered from one to the other. I would imagine though that if your male died of IDB that you would've seen warning signs.

I definitely suspect a connection of some sort.

Did the male eat any rabbits just before he died? Did the rabbits come from the same place? Were the rabbits treated, or being treated, for any parasites or an other health problems?

Were the male/female burmese related?
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

My male hadn't eaten in awhile (he didn't die of starvation though). I didn't observe any symptoms in him before he died.

My female is obviously not herself though.

I'd say that rules out a feeding (rabbit) connection.

I wish I could be of more help but I don't have much knowledge in IBD and/or neurological disorders.

The only other suggestion I can come up with is to try to think back about any changes, cleaning, etc..., that took place just before she started acting ill that might could have brought this on. (Which I'm sure you've already thought about.)

Is she like that continuosly while she's in her cage or is it more like seizures, coming & going?

I've been trying to avoid the ol' cliche "Get it to a vet!" because I'm not one to high-tail it to a vet every time something happens, but I'd believe I'd be gone if it was my 13-ft albino burm. Especially after losing the others.

Hang in there!
HH
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It is said that 1 out of every 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Think of your 3 closest friends, if they're normal, then it's you.

Don't cut corners by asking for advice here. Get the snake to a vet and get some good, solid advise. Only a qualified vet should make any diagnosis or guess; period. Symptoms could suggestd IBD but they could also suggest one of many, many other maladies that can be treated with proper medication.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>I brought my female out yesterday and noticed she wasn't herself. She kept bending her head 90 degrees back onto her body (laterally, not vertically) and she recoils as if she's trying to straighten it out and sometimes will fall over backwards. At first I thought she was trying to get a piece of un-shed skin off that was on her head but after I got that off she's still doing it and it seems like it's only getting worse.
>>
>>When I put her back, she didn't "hold on" to me like she usually does by wrapping her tail around whatever she can get ahold of. It just lay limp. Watching her it's almost like she's in the wrong gear and just can't get out of it. I've had a coulubrid who died of stargazers disease several years ago and I'm fearing the worst.
>>
>>She's about 13 feet long and she ate 3 rabbits yesterday. Does this sound like a neurological disorder or maybe even IBD? My albino male died unexpectedly on Easter and now I'm thinking there might be a connection.
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

Good point, thanks.

I've been reading up on IBD and unfortunately I'm observing many of the symptoms in my burm. Now I'm wondering what do I do? Should I wait until she dies? Euthanize her? On the one hand I want to be sure I'm not misdiagnosing her but on the other I hate to see her struggle.

I'm not going to take her to the vet because the nearest qualified vet is hundreds of miles away, and I really don't want to pay $100s to find out I'm right and she's terminal.

Have you treated her or any other reptiles for mites ?

It sounds neurological ... " Dichlorvos " which is the active ingredient in No Pest Strips can cause this as well.

Whats wierd is this --- My 9ft green burm started acting wierd 2 or 3 days ago... She wont eat and is acting sluggish, not her normal food agressive self... Could be the season but im monitoring her...

Anyone else having probs?
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Safari Tom
See'em Touch'em Save'em
www.SafariTom.com