Sick Python

[Jacob1750]

Okay guys and gals im kinda worried about my ball python nagini. He is making sort of a wheezing noise and hes got a little snot around his nostrils. I need to know your guys opinions on what you think is wrong with him. A cold? Respiritory infection? Some kind of mite? Low humidity? Low temps? My local vet doesnt take reptiles so before i make an hour and a half journey to find the one who does i need to see if you guys think its serious or not.

[LLinz]

Probably respiratory infection. He'll need a swab taken for a culture and then he'll need meds. My bp had one when I got him. What are your temps and humidity? Might be a good idea to bump up his temps a bit and get him to a vet asap. Good luck!

[stephanbakir]

RI, temps are probably too low. Baytril should knock it out, you can up the temps for the next 1-2 days but if hes already snotting that shouldn't fix it 100%, go see the vet.

(fix the enclosure temps and possibly the humidity)

[stephanbakir]

Respiratory Tract Infection in Reptiles (http://www.anapsid.org/rti.html)

[alessia55]

v/XK0Uvln4lY0?version=3&hl=en_US

I check both my snakes for RI every now and then. This video does a good job at showing you what to look for.

[mattchibi]

v/XK0Uvln4lY0?version=3&hl=en_US

I check both my snakes for RI every now and then. This video does a good job at showing you what to look for.

really helpful vid, thanks!!

[mykee]

Sounds like a respiratory infection for sure. If you're seeing mucous, you're well into it and require medical assistance.

" Baytril should knock it out"
Stephan is NOT a vet. Bad advice.

Get a culture and a trans-tracheal wash done to determine which type of bacteria is prominant so the PROPER TREATMENT is administered.

[youngster]

Stephan is NOT a vet. Bad advice.

Well, he did say to go to a vet as well.

[shaunyboy]

as said you need a vet to identify the exact bacteria causing the respiritory infection,so he can provide proper meds

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

First thing - VET
Second thing double check EVERY aspect of its environment for when it comes back from the vet.

[Jacob1750]

Thanks for all the help guys. One more thing is what would be a rough estimate of the cost of taking him to the vet?

[mykee]

~ $50 for the visit, and then maybe $200 for the tests and meds?

[stephanbakir]

Sounds like a respiratory infection for sure. If you're seeing mucous, you're well into it and require medical assistance.


Stephan is NOT a vet. Bad advice.

Get a culture and a trans-tracheal wash done to determine which type of bacteria is prominant so the PROPER TREATMENT is administered.
I never claimed to be a vet, and didn't tell him to get baytril, which I don;t even think he can get outside of a veterinary office.

[Snakefood]

Nope, baytril is prescription only!!

[stephanbakir]

Thats what I thought, he can't get it without first speaking to a vet anyway.

[Snakefood]

And they are even stickier in the USA on these things. My Aunty in WA needs a prescription for Claritin!

[mykee]

Sidenote;
I can get almost any med from my vet without bringing any of my reptiles in for an examination due to our longstanding relationship and our shared knowledge of reptiles. Even so, I would never treat an RI myself without a trans-tracheal wash and a culture done first.

[dnhhensley07]

My Ball is sick too. Have already determined that it's RI. So I'm drying him out. However, now it looks like he's got muck around the right and front of his mouth. Doesn't look like mouth rot. At least I don't think it does. But the foam is gone and he's going into a shed.

Could it be part of his shed? What should I do? I'm pretty worried about my little guy..

[shaunyboy]

Sidenote;
I can get almost any med from my vet without bringing any of my reptiles in for an examination due to our longstanding relationship and our shared knowledge of reptiles. Even so, I would never treat an RI myself without a trans-tracheal wash and a culture done first.

^^^^^
i also have the same relationship with my vet

i also have access to a private lab that runs tests at a very reasonable cost

so if i send my own swabs away,then collect the appropriate meds from my vet,i can reduce the costs greatly

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

My Ball is sick too. Have already determined that it's RI. So I'm drying him out. However, now it looks like he's got muck around the right and front of his mouth. Doesn't look like mouth rot. At least I don't think it does. But the foam is gone and he's going into a shed.

Could it be part of his shed? What should I do? I'm pretty worried about my little guy..

you need to take him to a vet so he can get proper med's to treat his condition,as it seems to be way past the early stage of being treated by upping temps etc

cheers shaun

[dnhhensley07]

I've got an appointment for next week. It's clearly not the easiest thing to find a vet who works with snakes.

[Lankyrob]

Whatever animals we own it is always a good idea to have a vet set up and prepared before something happens. Apart from anything else for us it saves a £150 emergency registration fee, by having the animal pre registered with the vet you uust pay consultation costs even if you need them at 3am. Without the animal registered you have the additional costs.

[millertime89]

I should call the herp vet here in town. I don't think we have anything like emergency registration fees here though, that seems slightly ridiculous if you ask me.

[dnhhensley07]

My vet told me to give him a warm bath. It helps with his shed since I'm drying him out. When he was bathing the much around his mouth came off and he's so much happier. It was like dried snot. I feel better about things now. Thanks for the help!

[shaunyboy]

if his nostrils are getting blocked with mucas then just give him a tepid warm bath

i submerge their heads under water for 10 to 30 seconds at a time

i have even blocked 1 nostril with my finger to allow them to blow the mucas out the blocked nostril

you know the nostril has cleared itself of mucas once you see air bubbles coming out of it

the above has worked great with any carpets i've treated

cheers shaun