Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My yearling seems to be coughing. It opens its mouth and lets out a wheezing bark. It's cold here in So Cal and its bin stays around 75 degrees witht he panels at full blast. The humidity is around 80%. I put towels over the top hoping to raise the temps to 85 degrees. All my other GTPs are doing fine.

I'm wondering what to do next if this doesn't work. Is this common?

Thanks,

Kenny

The heat panels are basically designed to raise the cages only about 10-15 degrees over ambient room temps. I'm also in Southern CA and have recently set our home thermostat to 70 degrees in the house and the panels are keeping up fine.

I am scared for you a little bit though.... is the snake that is showing signs of URI one of the ones that you've been putting in group pics with the others? You will need to be extra careful and watch all the rest for signs of illness also.

Do you have a good exotic vet already lined up in your area? You might want to take your yearling in and get it checked out, definitely don't wait until it's in really bad shape. They're very hard to pull through once they start showing serious signs of distress.

Temps are important, make sure you get them up somehow. Perhaps you could use insulation sheets on the outside of the enclosures to help hold in the heat also.

Double Damn and frack! The others seems fine and are hungry. Can RI be spread through the air?

I got the temp up to 85 but just heard it cough again. I tried feeding it but no luck. A closer inspection showed no signs of anything wrong.

I am looking for a vet on the internet and might need to call a pet store for a recommendation. Is there anyone in So Cal (Los Angeles area) that can recommend a local, qualified vet? Also, could anyone let me know what I will be looking at as far as costs for the tests, antibiotics, etc??

Thanks,

My vet is great but down in San Diego, Tom Greek DVM is also excellent with exotics but is in Yorba Linda if that is not too far for you.

I did send out a quick email to a friend that is up in Burbank and asked him for vet referral. I'll pass it on to you as soon as I find out.

Yes, URI's can be spread by airborne virus's, but not all are. I would keep all snakes separate, clean with disinfectant in between handling of the cages/snakes so you can hopefully prevent any further spread. When making your rounds checking the animals, always save your sick one/s for last. If you do attempt to feed any snake with an URI and the snake refuses to eat. Toss out that mouse/rat and don't offer it to any other snakes.

Ok, heard back very quickly from my friend! No surprise, he's a real good guy and said this to me....

"Hi Cathy, the only one I would recommend is Dr. Lavac, he is at the VCA in Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd. If it were my animal I would go to Dr. Greek. I hope this helps!!"

I have met Dr. Greek and highly recommend him.... if at all possible that is where I would go, especially based on my friends suggestion too.

Your office visit will probably run between 40-50 plus cost of any medications prescribed, or treatments given while there.

If your snake grounds itself, that is definitely time to take him in, but you may be able to turn it around just by providing the proper temps. Watch very closely.... the signs are not real apparent outwardly. Look for nose tilted up, bubbles, grounding.

Cathy,

I can't thank you enough. So far, all I hear is coughing and it's becoming less and less frequent. Only 3 times last night and once tonight. No signs of mucus anywhere and he's perched normal. I'm being optimistic but have over $8k in snakes and I know that it's only a short time until I will need a qualified vet. Your info is priceless, thank you very much again!!

Kenny

Are you sure this animal isn't about to shed? They sometimes sound suspiciously like they have an RI before shed. Some even mouth gape. I used Adler veterinary in Van Nuys for my cornsnakes. There are 3 reptile vets there. Call and ask if they would know about chondros. Their number is: 818-893-6366 They are on Roscoe Blvd. near the Van Nuys Airport. I saw Craig Adler when I went there.
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Thanks for the info. I plan to stand by and see if it gets worse or if he sheds. No noises this morning and he was moving around last night but still would not eat. I hope youre right. His last shed was the beginning of Nov.

Thanks again, Meg.....Kenny

After a few days he stopped coughing and eventually ate! Still no shed though. My baby Indigo finally ate as well this week......hopefully, it's a sign that things are going to change for the better.