Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to this forum, but Im sure someone out there can help;

I just moved to Cincinnati, last weekend and in the past 4 days my 4 year old Yellow has developed a Respiratory Infection. This is my first experience with one ans it is definately scaring the Bejesus out of me. she has all the simptoms, wheezing and popping, and deep breaths. She ate 2 F/T rats on monday, just before everything started.

During the move she was exposed to cooler temperatures, and the cage temps in the new house has been down in the 70's. I have additional shop lights on her and the temps are back around 88. What else can i do until I can get here to a vet? About a Vet, I have contacted the Cincy Herp Society, but its christmas so who kknows when I'll here back from them. Is there anyone else in the area to recommend. Also what should I expect from the vet? this will be my first time to one, are there meds?

Thanks in advance, and I hope she makes it through this

--Nick

` That's a bad spot to be in. I'd do whatever I it takes to get to a vet. There are antibiotics, administered by intramuscular injection, that can help. Also, Vicks Vapo Rub. That's right, the same Vicks your mom put on your chest. A very small amount, smeared around the nostrils, can help with breathing, both before and after antibiotics are used. Don't get it in the mouth, or eyes.
` You didn't say whether she is losing mucous, or not. That is the latter stage, they drool and bubble. Clear mucous is not as bad as opaque, or yellowish/greenish mucous.
` I would provide 90 to 95 degrees of belly heat, until the snake is well. Overhead heat does not warm their guts and lungs, unless they're constantly under it. Don't think the snake is smart enough to treat its infection with heat. You've got to make that happen. Belly heat, whether sick, or well, is the only way to go. A warm floor can compensate for a sudden drop in air temperature, whereas even high overhead heat cannot compensate for a cold floor.
` You're right to be scared. Mortality rates from respiratory infection in Boids is high!
` Good luck. I hope you pull her through!
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Thanks for the input,

I will be contacting a vet in the morning ASAP. THere was never any mucous although she was opening her mouth to breath earlier. Her breathing has returned a little more normal, at least as compared to how she was earlier today. she doesnt seem to be struggling as much. Hopefully she will pull through afterall

Thanks again

` Sometimes during, or before shed, they will get their nostrils blocked by the decaying skin. I have been scared, on more than one occasion by this. Sometimes, they just whistle when they breathe. Other times, they get completely blocked, and breathe through their mouth. It can be disconcerting, and absolutely normal! I have one big female who has done this since she was a baby. She's so used to me prying her mouth open, to look for mucous, that I only need to touch her mouth, and she opens up!

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I wish that was the case!!!!! Last night I could hear the popping and snorting and horrible sounds she was making when she breathed, today was progressively better but still not back to normal. I just hope she doesnt get to dehydrated throughout this process(or even worse) On anothernote, how long can they live with this condition? Until I get her help or she heals, can they live at least a few days? she seems to be expending a lot of energy breathing! Man I hope this get over with soon

Have not seen it in to many boids, but at the pet store I worked at, when the snaked got Resp. Infections, all we did was put there temp up higher, and clean there mouth out with Hydrogen Peroxide. It was nasty and gooey, but it worked. We never lost a snake to a Resp Infection. As far as how long they will live, that mainly depends on the snake. Healthy and Happy will live longer than stressed and scared.

I am quite new to herping myself but had a similar problem with one of my bull snakes.

He was coughing up green mucas, was breeting with his mouth open and was in bad shape. Here where i live there are no herp vets within 8 hours drive so i contacted a specialist in Mexico city (i live in Aguascalientes mexico but i am from Britain)

He told me to make a tea from Eucaliptus leaves and leave this (somehow) inside the tank to evaporate. I did this for 2 weeks and raised the tank temperature to about 90 degrees, The snake as clever as he was after about the third day started going over to the cage in which i had the tea and put his head above the tea to inhale. I am glad to say that he is now fit and well.

You can try this method with all the confidence in the world as it helped my snake immediatly.

good luck

Andy

WEll I went to the vet today. he gave me Amikacin in 1cc doses every 3 days to give her for the next 15 days. her breathing has gotten a bit better, although there is still popping and wheezing. I have not seen a mucous coming out yet so I guess that is a good sign. I have the cage temps up jsut over 90 and have some vapor rub in the tank and on the top of her head. Hopefully i will see some positive results in a few days. Do you thikn I should try and feed her in this condition? she ate on monday, but could she use some additional nutrients or would that use too much energy that she need to breather right now?

If anyone is going to the All Ohio Reptile show tommarrow, I'd love to meet up and hear stories. Feel free to call me 386 383 6820. I plan on being there all day

Just out of interest, what is the weight of your yellow anaconda that you are treating.

Kelly

she's about 22 pounds

Nick,
Do you happen to know how many milligrams of Amikacin are in each of the one cc doses you are giving?

Kelly