Respiratory Infection???

[illcyat420]

Just looking for some advice on what you guys think :confused:.
I have had my common boa for roughly 1.5 years now and since day one I have heard a bit of a wheezing sound come from him (he is roughly 5ft - don't know his age but shedding perfect sheds roughly once a month). I don't hear it with every breath but more when he deeply exhales when climbing etc. It starts with a bit of a popping sound (not continuous - just one 'pop') but there is definitely no mucus visible or anything crusty around his nostrils. He appears to be healthy and eats well. I have his cage maintained at an average of 90F and drops to low 80's at night. I don't believe there are any husbandry issues for temp, humidity, hides, sanitary etc. and the enclosure is not drafty.
My question is, do you think if it were a respiratory infection that he has had for the last 1.5 years that it would have gotten worse by now? Is there some kind of treatment I can try just in case it is an RI? Any input / advice is appreciated. My fear is that if I do wait to see the gaping mouth / more positive symptoms to indicate an RI, it may be to late. Thanks in advance guys.

[Jenn_06]

is he about to shed? i hear people say that some skin can be in the snakes nose and makes a wheezing sound. you can up the temps alittle more and up the humidity for a few days and see if it might help....but if you think your snake might have RI the best thing to do is get it to a vet.

[Paradise]

My answer to everything mate. when in doubt let the vet check it out.
But chances are without treatment he probably would not have made it this long without even getting worse at the very least. My boa, as mentioned by jenn, does the same when he shed which at the moment is not that often coz he is not eating as much as he does in the summer months. When snakes shed their old skin comes lose around the mouth and sometime, i find the worst shedding happens around the mouth like lil pieces of skin breaking off and getting lodged in the nasal cavity. Which does cause confusion and concern. It may even be something he rubbed up against that went it there or in my case water. Bo can lay in his water bowl for days on end most of the time with his whole head under water.

But the best advice I can give you is have him checked out. A health snake and peace of mind is the most important thing here.

[bladeblaster]

Its perfectly normal to be able to hear heavy bodied boids breathing, especially when they are exerting themselves. If it was an RI then after 18 months you would certainly be seeing some pretty serious symptoms.

[shaunyboy]

as above,it would be a lot worse by now if it had been a r.i. you heard 18 months ago.my mates common boa makes the same noises has done all its life with him.
cheers shaun

[illcyat420]

Thanks for the peace of mind guys....he isn't about to shed and he has made sounds for the last 1.5 years. Anyone else have boids in good health that make breathing noises?

[percey39]

I have dont have a boa, but I have an scrub python that i have had for nearly a year that does a slight wheeze when she gets excited lol. I have taken her to the vets a couple times as i was a little worried i had the temps/humidity a little off but she is in perfect health. As i have been told some snakes just do this and as others have said if it was an ri you would certainly know by now.

[Freebody]

my snake bella does it as well, sometime i hear her in the cage make a few sinus weezing type sounds pretty loud, as if she blowing her airways clear, then she stops and i dont hear it again for a week or 2.

[Freebody]

actually now that i think about it,she has not done it since i started using old news paper vrs the aspan bedding, maybe if you use aspen as well try paper for a bit, dont look as nice but its cheep and may work to stop it.

[infernalis]

Could be wood dust from the aspen causing a mild irritation.

Try the newspaper and see if things change at all.

[Paradise]

Bo blows bubbles like one of those fish tank air pumps but I don't think that counts here.

[illcyat420]

I am currently using newspaper but I do know the previous owner was using aspen; however, it has been over a year now so I don't think it is a mild irritation. I'll have to keep an eye on him and hopefully things don't get worse.
I appreciate all of the responses.

[citysnakes]

after reading all the reassuring responses, dont rule out the possibility of early RI symptoms. discontinue the night drop, keep your temperatures constant 24/7. a night drop is unnecessary and could be one of many reasons why a snake may develop RI symptoms. see what happens in a week or so of 24/7 daytime temperatures and if the symptoms disappear then keep the temps that way.

[shaunyboy]

after reading all the reassuring responses, dont rule out the possibility of early RI symptoms. discontinue the night drop, keep your temperatures constant 24/7. a night drop is unnecessary and could be one of many reasons why a snake may develop RI symptoms. see what happens in a week or so of 24/7 daytime temperatures and if the symptoms disappear then keep the temps that way.


they said its been making the same sound for a year and a half mate.thats what i based my opinion on.im figuring an untreated ri would have got dramatically worse over said period.

if however the sound has changed then early signs of an r.i. could be a possibilty.

as you said it definately wouldnt hurt to keep a close eye on things for a week.

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

Could be wood dust from the aspen causing a mild irritation.

Try the newspaper and see if things change at all.


this was my main reason for stopping using aspen.i new it ruled out any slight irratation re my carpets respiritory systems.
cheers shaun

[citysnakes]

shaun, i wasnt commenting in regards to your post specifically.

an RI doesnt necessarily have to get progressively worse within a set time frame. it is possible for a snake to show early symptoms of RI for many months before it gets worse. maybe, even after all this time, the increase in nighttime temperature will have a positive affect on the animal or maybe it needs a vet or maybe its nothing but either way something as simple as raising nighttime temps to see if anything changes cannot hurt. i wouldnt rule out RI right away.

[bladeblaster]

shaun, i wasnt commenting in regards to your post specifically.

an RI doesnt necessarily have to get progressively worse within a set time frame. it is possible for a snake to show early symptoms of RI for many months before it gets worse. maybe, even after all this time, the increase in nighttime temperature will have a positive affect on the animal or maybe it needs a vet or maybe its nothing but either way something as simple as raising nighttime temps to see if anything changes cannot hurt. i wouldnt rule out RI right away.

Also worth noting that a snake that has suffered from an RI and recovered can sometimes still display 'wheezing syptoms'

A visit to a vet and a mention of 'possible RI' is going to result in a course of antibiotics whether the snake needs them or not.

My personal opinion is that keeping the nithtime temps up is a good idea, and obviously keeping a watchful eye for any changes. However unless the 'symptom' worsens a trip to a vet is unecessary.

However its your animal, and you should do what what you feel is best.

[shaunyboy]

Also worth noting that a snake that has suffered from an RI and recovered can sometimes still display 'wheezing syptoms'


julian i realised you were talking to us all in general mate.i was just trying to explain to the op how i came to my opinion on his particular case.my mates boa's the same,it didnt cross my mind that they could both be ill (my bad,i think).


A visit to a vet and a mention of 'possible RI' is going to result in a course of antibiotics whether the snake needs them or not.

My personal opinion is that keeping the nithtime temps up is a good idea, and obviously keeping a watchful eye for any changes. However unless the 'symptom' worsens a trip to a vet is unecessary.

However its your animal, and you should do what what you feel is best.


i would say it all depends on how good your vet is re reptiles.im lucky as my vet is the special lecturer on zoo and wildlife at nottingham university so he really knows his reptiles.he keeps a pretty large collection himself and works for 2 zoo's.

so he isnt one of those vets that just throws antibiotics at everything without a second thought.

citysnakes you've got me thinking completely different re r.i.'s.i wrongly assumed that it would get worse a lot quicker or at least show increasing symptoms.im going to say to my mate with the boa to see if it helps with its constant very slight whistling noise.

one other thing i thought of,it may also be damage from a previous r.i. a carpet i rescued was on deaths door.after i got it back to full health the whistle was still there.it turns out the r.i. had damaged its nostrils permenantly.

ive also had a carpet with a piece of shed stuck up its nostril.that required my vet reverse flushing it out.

as said if you have a good reptile vet a health check would put your mind at ease.

cheers shaun

[bladeblaster]

i would say it all depends on how good your vet is re reptiles.im lucky as my vet is the special lecturer on zoo and wildlife at nottingham university so he really knows his reptiles.he keeps a pretty large collection himself and works for 2 zoo's.

so he isnt one of those vets that just throws antibiotics at everything without a second thought.

citysnakes you've got me thinking completely different re r.i.'s.i wrongly assumed that it would get worse a lot quicker or at least show increasing symptoms.im going to say to my mate with the boa to see if it helps with its constant very slight whistling noise.

one other thing i thought of,it may also be damage from a previous r.i. a carpet i rescued was on deaths door.after i got it back to full health the whistle was still there.it turns out the r.i. had damaged its nostrils permenantly.

ive also had a carpet with a piece of shed stuck up its nostril.that required my vet reverse flushing it out.

as said if you have a good reptile vet a health check would put your mind at ease.

cheers shaun

yeah very true mate

[illcyat420]

Thanks guys.

I have increased the night time temperatures to 90F.

I don't have a vet even remotely close to the one you describe shaun....By the sounds of it, you're a pretty lucky guy. I will keep a close eye on the boa for the next week or so to see if the increased temperature at night makes any difference. I appreciate all of the responses.

I will post updates.

[illcyat420]

Well it has been a few weeks now with the average temp kept at a constant 90F and I have not noticed a difference. Once again guys, I appreciate all of the input. He is growing / eating very well and doesn't seem to be unhealthy so I will just have to keep a close eye on him and hopefully it isn't anything to worry about.

[shaunyboy]

Well it has been a few weeks now with the average temp kept at a constant 90F and I have not noticed a difference. Once again guys, I appreciate all of the input. He is growing / eating very well and doesn't seem to be unhealthy so I will just have to keep a close eye on him and hopefully it isn't anything to worry about.


as said it could be a slightly damaged nostril.

imo its a great sign that theres no increase in symptoms.

as you said mate all you can do now is keep a close eye on things

cheers shaun