Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went up to check on this girl tonight and noticed her neck looked swollen. When I picked her up it was almost like water on the knee. Definatley some sort of fluid in there. It runs under her jaw a little also. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Already have a vet appointment for Monday. If its worse tomorrow may bring her tomorrow. She is showing signs of a shed also.

May not be able to see it very well but definatley is swollen.
Any info would be great. She's in my rack right below my pastels. Should I move her?
-Bill

Is she getting ready to shed? I have had some snakes with the combination of loose skin and they way they were laying, look like their necks were swollen.
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Jay A. Martin

Sounds like resperatory concerns/infection. I noticed that too a couple of months ago on my ball. She held her head 3-4 inches off the ground at almost all times. Check his/her mouth for bubbles or lots of saliva. I'd bet that fluid IS saliva. I brought mine in, but the vet didn't get to her until it was too late. She died a week after I noticed the bulge. Until the appointment, raise the temps and humidity. It may not be an infection, but that sympton usually relates to it. If he/she has open mouth breathing, frothy saliva, the elevated head, clicking and popping noises, or wheezing, he/she could have an infection.

Don't be surprised if he/she doesn't eat, and get him/her to a vet ASAP.

Hope I could help,

Ryan

I had a severe case last summer with one of my prized male bps.

The neck and mouth swelled up beyond belief. I was very lucky and able to pull him out of it with the use of some strong anti-biotics.

Get it to the vet ASAP!

Rich Macias
BLOODLINES

Am dropping off this girl at the vet today at lunch. Earliest I could do it. Assuming it is a resporitory infection, here are a couple of questions.

-How contagious is this?
-Should I have some antibiotics on standbye for the other snakes in my collection or could I give them all the shot to be safe?
-What are the chances of suvival? Both if caught early and what if it is well established resporitory infection?
-I love all of my BP and really would like to avoid. I have good humidity and heat gradiant. I think it came from a new snake but have him in quarentine. Really don't understand haow it happened. Basically trying to avoid any further infection.

Thanks for all of your help! Another learning experience I guess but it keeps me up at night, literally. Tired as hell today. I am always afraid I will wake up to a deceased snake. My biggest fear.

-Bill

Bill,

At this point, we are all just speculating. Once you see the vet you will have a better idea of what must be done and what's happening. Hopefully, it's minor.
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Jay A. Martin

The earlier you catch the resp. infections the better.

Just remember its not going to be cured overnight. It will take time and patience just like anything else involving living creatures.

The othe bps in your rack should be fine, just as a precaution you may want to bump the temps up a few degrees.

Good luck
Rich Macias

-How contagious is this?
-Should I have some antibiotics on standbye for the other snakes in my collection or could I give them all the shot to be safe?
-What are the chances of suvival? Both if caught early and what if it is well established resporitory infection?
-I love all of my BP and really would like to avoid. I have good humidity and heat gradiant. I think it came from a new snake but have him in quarentine. Really don't understand haow it happened. Basically trying to avoid any further infection.

Well Bill, I'm not quite sure how contageous it is, but I would keep my balls away from an infected one.(hehe) The antibiotics I recieved from the vet was Baytril Suspension. It was like a syrup that you had to orally give the snake. If you keep your other balls (or any snakes) away from the infected one, you shouldn't have any problems with them catching it, or treating them. I think it's about a 50/50 chance of survival if caught midway through the infection. This all really depends on how and when it's treated. If you caught the symptoms early and gave the Baytril Suspension daily without problems for a week, your ball should be fine. The chances get slimmer the longer you wait for treatment. The heat and humidity will keep from the infections in the future, as will quarentine.

My ball has had the infection for about 3 weeks. 2 weeks ago, I started giving him the Baytril. I didn't see ANY signs of recovery whatsoever until today, when he ate for his first time in 3 weeks. I've offered him food twice since he first got the infection, and he didn't eat either.

How'd the vet app. go? Hope it'll all turn out alright.

Ryan

-How contagious is this?
-Should I have some antibiotics on standbye for the other snakes in my collection or could I give them all the shot to be safe?
-What are the chances of suvival? Both if caught early and what if it is well established resporitory infection?
-I love all of my BP and really would like to avoid. I have good humidity and heat gradiant. I think it came from a new snake but have him in quarentine. Really don't understand haow it happened. Basically trying to avoid any further infection.

Well Bill, I'm not quite sure how contageous it is, but I would keep my balls away from an infected one.(hehe) The antibiotics I recieved from the vet was Baytril Suspension. It was like a syrup that you had to orally give the snake. If you keep your other balls (or any snakes) away from the infected one, you shouldn't have any problems with them catching it, or treating them. I think it's about a 50/50 chance of survival if caught midway through the infection. This all really depends on how and when it's treated. If you caught the symptoms early and gave the Baytril Suspension daily without problems for a week, your ball should be fine. The chances get slimmer the longer you wait for treatment. The heat and humidity will keep from the infections in the future, as will quarentine.

My ball has had the infection for about 3 weeks. 2 weeks ago, I started giving him the Baytril. I didn't see ANY signs of recovery whatsoever until today, when he ate for his first time in 3 weeks. I've offered him food twice since he first got the infection, and he didn't eat either.

How'd the vet app. go? Hope it'll all turn out alright.

Ryan

Sorry about the...inconvienence.

.
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Tosha

1.1.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy)
0.1.0 Siberian Husky (Kita)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
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