Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my BCI sounded like he had a stuffy nose, not when resting but just a couple times when I first picked him up and he was not settled down yet, so he was exerting himself. should I be concerned? I know "wheezing" = respiratory problem = bad, but not sure if this was wheezing.

That is the first sign of the infection, the bit of wheezing when you first go to pick up your snake and the exert more air then just normal breathing and you can here the slight noise. time to increase humidity, heat and a trip to the vet for some antibiotics.
Good Luck
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

check your temps also.

Thanks guys, I'm calling the vet right after I post this.

And, my temps are good, but having trouble keeping humidity up since winter. can dry air cause a respiratory infection?

also, is it contagious? he is with another boa. thanks again.

I have talked to about several Herp vets and I was made aware that the higher humidity I was using to help the R.I. was actually wrong. Everyone has their own belief, but I will say that the one R.I. I had this year was cured faster with dry air. I would leave the water in the cage for one day a week-- and clean up the urates etc. immediately. Anyone else feel free to comment on this....I am always eager to hear everyones opinions on this.

Thanks
Bob

That it may even depend on the stage of the RI and the cause. I use the thought of if the RI has caused blocked nostrails and the snake is gapping then warm moist air will help break things up and give some relief to the snake. I also tend to put in a small concentration of Benidine to make sure that I am not futher spreading the bacteria, but it would also make sense that if it is in the begining stages with just some wheezing sounds then higher temps and drier air could cure the problem. But please keep in mind that once antibiotics are started, it can cause diahrrea in the and dehydration, so a constent water supply and ocasionaly soaks are a must to keeps the snakes fluids up for the fight of the infection. Dehydrated snakes have a hard time getting the antibiotics through out the body and absorbed into their system.
Thanks for your thoughts, it is always good to share ideas
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

np

I dunno if this would pertain to a snakes large & small lung but DR.'s had told us that moister in R.I.'s helped open the Bronchi & would also aid in loosing sucretions thus aid in removing extra mucus
That's why when an adult gets an R.I. ,the hosp.(Doctor) will order breathing treatments mostly for the moisture & orders vaporizers for infants & children for the moister to do as I stated above.(usually)
As for snakes I've read both methods work. I usually increase the heat & lightly mist with warm water once a day.
I also give Tylan sub q (90 degree angle, right under the skin) not in the muscle. I give 1/2 ml per 12.5 lbs x 10 doses every 3 days. This has always worked for me
BY NO MEANS AM I A VET NOR DO I SUGGEST ONE USING THIS METHOD ON THEIR OWN SNAKES! IF YOUR SNAKE HAS R.I. SYMPTOMS....TAKE IT TO THE VET! I AM NOT A VET. I'M A NURES FOR HUMANS & HAVE KEPT BOIDS FOR 15 YEARS. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME ! BY NO MEANS AM I SAYING THIS WILL CURE ANYONES BOIDS. I'M JUST SAYING IT HAS WORKED IN THE PAST FOR ME.THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY ! Thoughts?
Dave @ East TN Reptiles
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Actions Speak louder than words.
Dave @ East TN Reptiles

similarities between reptiles and mammals in their physiological make up. Bottom line if you are unsure how to treat, it is time for a vet visit, get cultures done and continue with the correct antibiotics of choice. In the meantime correct any husbandry issues that might have caused it. Not saying that your husbandry care is inadequate, but it has been said that 90% of respiratory infections are caused by improper husbandry. I have had my first bout of R.I. this year with two of my boas I had cooled for breeding. Last year I did not cool them and they did not breed, this year I cooled them a little bit at night and wound up with two cases of R.I. both cured now, but I have determined that it was definitely my fault, through improper husbandry.

I love discussing issues here, keep the comments coming. Through everybody else's trial and errors we can come together on the forum and handle just about anything through the power of synergy.

Thanks
Bob

I had a boa come down with a R.I. Her cage was a 4ft Boaphile with dual thermostats & the room was heated. Well, this just blew my mind. The cage was dirty with stool. I had been out of town. I also feed my boas in time so they'd all deficate before I left....except this one,the one that got the R.I.
I took the animal to my Vet who is really up on snakes ,considering when I 1st started keeping boids,seems like I was in there once a week! She'd use cat catheters to probe my animals. Never the less, I gave her LOTS of practice, reading up on boids & even calling the Univesity of Tennessee Herp Dept. if she was unsure................ANYWAY....back to R.I.'s
Come to find out the same germ (the Vet said) that causes Stomatitis (mouth rot) is the same germ that cause a R.I......she said.
Everytime one of my boids gets a R.I. (which is rare) I've noticed their mouth becomes slimmy mucousy with bubbles. Have you ever heard that before? Dave
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Dave @ East TN Reptiles

two females that I had contract a R.I. The one that was exhibiting these symptoms was the one I dosed with Tylan 200, it cleared up almost immediately. However as I was leaving her normal size water bowl in the cage I noticed that everytime I filled it up she began exhibiting some mucous coming out of her nostrils. It was at this point I began introducing the water to her for no more than two days a week. I also began using a slightly smaller bowl. Now, after four shots of Tylan 200 every thrid day at 1c.c. (200 mg) she weighs around 8 pounds and a dose of 2 c.c. injected into the last rat she ate she seems to be perfect. The other boa is gravid and still has a slight wheeze, which Im inclined to believe is just a minor cold. All I have done with her is raise the ambient temps to around 83 degrees and her hot spot is around 95. She spends about 12 to 14 hours a day on the hotspot.
Thanks for sharing your insight.

Bob

The R.I. cleared up. 27 live 2 stillborns and 2 inferile ovas
Dave
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Dave @ East TN Reptiles

know if it would interfere with the gravidity. Ill have to take a close look at the female in question and think about treating her. What dosage did you use. I have been using 50 mg per kg. Does that sound right?

Thanks
Bob

I'm old fashioned. Don't know bout meters & kgs. Seriousley. Dave
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Actions Speak louder than words.
Dave @ East TN Reptiles

Dave
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Actions Speak louder than words.
Dave @ East TN Reptiles

If you snake has an RI it should be isolated, Most RI's are bacteria caused (vs colds in humans which are mostly Virus) and the bacteria can be past from one snake to the other.
Good Luck
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Jim Hopkins "Hoppy"
Hopkins Holesale Herps
Hopfam1@aol.com

Thanks for the wealth of information! I checked out my boa the day after I first posted and he did not wheeze once. I called the vet back and vet said "check him often and wait and see". I expected vet to say "bring it in just in case" because that's what vets always say! But I think mine wanted to go on holiday

Anyways, not one wheeze since that day. I'm keeping a close watch on him of course and have taken to heart all the good advice from
you all. Thanks!