Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok, im a vet tech at a cat dog hospital, and have been rehabbing herps for years and i will call my vet but i just want ideas, i dont want to get yelled at and made fun of like what happened to me on another message board, just have to start with that...

ok now for the question..
i have had snakes for years, and i have had 2 that i was told died of IBD but reading stuff im not sure thats what it was, because the 2 had simmilar symptoms of head twisting around, kindof looking like they were drunk, but one lived for months of my attempt of force feeding and all that, the other died in less then a week after the onset of symptoms. well now ive got another thats got the head tilting going on. he has been fine, we just did a feeding and he refused, but he was about to shed so we were not shure if he would eat but we tried anyway. we let them (there are 2 girls and this boy) sit in the feeding boxes for a day to calm down, and he shed in his box, all but his head, when we went to try to help him with his head he was all unbalanced and looking drunk...this boy was a rescue, but was quarentied for 3 months and has been around for another 3 months acting perfectly fine. i guess what im looking for is anyone who knows how fast IBD sets in, and how long can they carry it before they are afected. or is this not IBD, is it something else? he is now back in quarentine, he was moved out of the room in miniuts of seeing him like this. ill be on the phone with my exotics vet tomorrow (he only works 1 day a week, but i got the cell #) and will get some blood to send off asap, but any thoughts from you guys would help!

The only other reason for the head twisting, star gazing type actions would be some sort of other nurological issue. Possibly caused by Chemicals of too high of temps, other then that IBD would be the issue
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

chemicals and temps are more common causes of "head twisting" than the dreaded IBD. What are you using for cleaners, and do you have an acurate thermometer in the cage?

i usually use a mild bleach and water solution, and rinse and air out between uses, he has been in his feeding box, not his cage and if anything the temp a a little lower in the feed boxes then in his cage

and thank you for your ideas

I am not a veteranarian, nor will I dispense veternary advice. However,... I will give the following advice about this subject.

Anyone who keeps Boas should buy and read "The Boa Constrictor Manual" by Philipe de Vosjoli. And in particulr study the information on I.B.D., and quarentine.

Second,...here is a website with wich we should ALL be familiar. It can be VERY helpful in finding a qualified herp vet near you. It has certainly helped me. www.arav.org It is the Association of Reptile & Amphibian Vets. And if you explore it thouroughly, you will find what you are looking for.

Next take ALL your animals in for a check up !!! The Vet will know what to look for, and could save us all a lot of heart break! Remember I.B.D. spreads, and if you have it in your' collection, you might give it to me or anyone else. Let's stop this night mare before it gets any worse!

And finaly,...you did the right thing in getting that animal out of there. However, I would not rule out the possiblity of exposure to something else like chemicals of some kind. Do you handle any chemicals, or keep any thing near that cage? Is that the same cage the other I.B.D. animals were in? Personaly I would be inclined to destroy that cage. Drag it out into the back yard, dowes it with deisel fuel, and toss a match! Or at least soke it down with a strong bleach, rinse well, and leave in the sun for a few days. Personaly, I would burn anything which came into contact with those animals!

Oh yeah, you might not want to adopt any more. Or at least keep those animals permanently seperated.

I hope I haven't come off as being to harsh or knowitallish. I just feel a little scared of this whole I.B.D. thing, and I would realy like to see everyone get more pro-active! If I ever aquire an animal like that, I will be absolutely LIVID! Good Luck,
Tony.