Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I have european nose-horned vipers (vipera ammodytes), and one of them has some health problems. She hurted her horn when she was trying to change her skin. She has a little wound at the beginning of the horn, and it looks like her horn is going to drop off. So, because of it she couldn't change the skin from the head. Then she started to have some respiration problems, she's opening her mouth to breath.I removed the old skin from the head, but now her situation is even worse. Her head is swelling, like it's full of air, and it seems that she can't close her mouth, or she doesn't want to close it. Her head looks terrible. Her troat is also pumped up for most of the time.
I realy don't know what to do, can anybody help me with some information, please?
Thanks,
Nenad

For all the health aspects, you need to find a vet soon. Finding a vet that see's venomous snakes is a challenge and I hope you have done so prior to getting your snake. Contact your local vets and/or herp societies for referals. Where did you get the snake? Perhaps the breeder can recommend a vet.

There are several keepers of ammodytes that are regular visitors to the venomous reptiles forum. Ask them for husbandry tips as it is probably the root of your problem.

Ian

Thanks for the answer, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to find a vet for these snakes. I'm from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, and it is really difficult to find a herp vet here, especially the one who wants to work with vipers.
These snakes are not my pets, I caught them in some village where people were killing them a lot. I saved two vipers from some workers, and I wanted to release them at some better place. I took them to my home, to make some photos, because I was writing an article about our vipers. I have some other snakes, and I was volunteering in our institute where the antidote is made, so I have some experience with snakes. I planed to find a spot far away from people, where vipers live, and to release them at the beginning of the August, but then this thing happened.
I will wait for the answers, and will also try to find some help here, if it is possible. The good think is that snake looks better this morning, so maybe it's nothing serious. They do really well in captivity, and are almost tame, not attempting to bite if handled. They looked healthy and strong. Hope the snake will survive...
Nenad

You may also try talking to the zoos in your country as they surely have a vet for their captives.

The information is sparse, but here are some links to what I could find on Yugoslavic vets.

http://www.vetworld.com/vetworld/yugoslavia.html

This is the vet college, you may be able to contact someone via this site. Check out the department's link to get multiple emails of the faculty.

http://www.vet.bg.ac.yu/index_e.html

Thanks, I've contacted a vet, and I'm waithing for replay. The problem is that our vets are specialist for domestic animals, and few of them treated my turtles completlly wrong, few years ago. So I'm not very satisfied with them. Anyway, the snake looks better today.
Nenad

It sounds like the viper may be gaining some of its health back. Your description seemed to indicate some type of upper respiratory infection. Generally, raising the ambient cage temperature by 10-15 degrees will help boost the snakes' immune system. The better course of treatment would be a veterinarian familiar with reptiles.
Goodluck with the viper.

Thanks, snake looks better every day, but she's not interested for food. She still has a little wound at the beginning of the horn. Should I put some medicine on it?
Nenad

If you are used to "tubing" the viper, you may want to try one of the antiseptic liquid bandages, such as New-Skin. This product is good for topical infections, but if the infection is below the dermal layer, then the snake should be given antibiotics systemically. You seemed to indicate that this was a respiratory infection; therefore, a vet who is used to venomous snakes would be your best bet for an accurate diagnosis & treatment.

Goodluck