Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girl seems to be weezing heavily, and currently she is getting ready to shed. Why might she be weezing? And is there anything I can do to help her? I'm pretty worried, although she is a great eater and in very good shape. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Patrick

check your temperatures--- with a temp gun-- not a stick on thingy.
if your temps are ok-- it may just be the shed coming out of her nose-- makes a whistle sound. I've got a few snakes that whistle the day before they shed-- its thier skin starting to come off-- i assume that having a flap of skin flopping around in thier nose like a booger would itch/tickle and they try to blow it out-- which makes them whistle...

check your temps and makes sure shes not getting a respiratory infection... other than that-- see if it goes away after she sheds...

~Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

Hi Yall,..........Wheezing is not generally a good sign. I had one recently Diagnosed with glottitis. Inflammation of the glottis or the breathing tube in the mouth. This also caused mild stomatitis the vet assumed the glottitis infective agent caused the stomatitis. FIRST THING FIRST!!!!!!!! pick up the animal and press gently on the bottom of the throat and see if there is a lot of bubbly mucus if so it could be a respiratory infection. upper or lower is hard to say at this stage. If you see a good amount of mucus you can try "cooking" it out of the animal with increased temps. Say 90F ambient without a basking site.... Make sure humidity is on the higher side so as to loosen any secretions. Dry and hot sounds good but is generally NOT THE ANSWER!!.....If the wheezing has not improved within a week or 2 or if other symptoms appear GET IT TO A VET!!!!.... QUESTION when handling the animal and its head and neck is hanging down do symptoms worsen? If the animal is large enough and tame enough you may be able to hear the lung sounds by placing your ear about 2/3s down the side of the animal. If you hear wheezing or gurgling there it is respiratory.....QUESTION #2 it is not just hissing at you is it. with massive exhalations and in a defensive/strike posture???...IF that is the case it is just pissed and DO NOT put it up to your ear!!!!! Or we will be watching you on YOUTUBE....... If the animal is or becomes weak or if respiratory symptoms worsen GET IT TO THE VET!....Make sure the vet knows reptiles.....Snakes carry many naturally occuring bacteria in their mouth and a culture may not guide you to a cure. I have had 100% success with oral or injectible baytril, Actually I find oral better as it gets right in the glottis during administration.... If the Baytril does not improve condition within a week or so then I will try a culture............. NOTE: wheezing has a more "musical" quality, hissing just sounds like a lot of air moving and is often pre-emptive to a strike...Not sure your background with BPs take it as no insult to your HERP IQ......LASTLY if you are not comfortable with your animals health see a vet PLEASE!........ God Bless, Lee in soggy Iowa.

Hey wanted to specify. If given Baytril or any other oral antibiotic by a vet DO NOT deliberately administer it into the Glottis or breathing tube!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This WILL drown the animal!!...WHAT i was trying to say is that orally administered antibiotics often accidentally find their way into the glottis it happens and should not be a problem and may help a little!! DO NOT DOSE IT DOWN THE TUBE DELIBERATELY!!!!!...................Sorry if that was confusing!! I scare myself sometimes especially when I assume to much. Lee

Before you go rushing off in a panic, take the temps and observe your snake.
As Ok said, Upping the temps and humidity especially if going into shed can't hurt.
I see you are keeping it on Aspen... which can be a bit drying in an aquarium set up. You might consider switching to Cypress or someother substrate that can hold the humidity better. (aspen can mold if it stays damp)

If you do think you have the beginnings Of RI , I have had great success keeping them on damp sphagnum and upping the temps to Low 90's.(covering most of the venting)as one of my reptile mentors had advised me. Most importantly, observe, but leave the animal alone... you want to remove as much stress so it can recoupe.
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"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"
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