Upper Respiratory Infection

[JoleneVissers]

I currently have a Male boa who weighs about 2lbs 9oz. I have been trying to get him into seeing a vet since he refuses to eat and has a little wheezing sound to him. All the vets in my area refuses to see him since they don't deal in exotics and of course hes a big scary snake, go figure! I was wondering if there is anything I can do at home until I can find a vet who will see him. I also have a female that's housed with him so I suspect that she may have one as well although she hasn't shown any signs. I live in New Brunswick Canada if anyone knows of any vets that are decent.
Thanks =)

[lady_bug87]

They should not be housed together number 1 but that wasn't the question...

I believe raising the temperatures and humidity can help. Try looking into the bigger universities in your area, some of them have veterinary programs..

[dinosaurdammit]

Raise humidity so he can get out all that gunk, raise temps up a bit to help get his body into fight mode. You could give him a soak if all else fails but a vet is your best bet.


TW Larder
Appleby Animal Clinic
545 Appleby St
Bathhurst, New Brunswick
E2A 3L3
506-547-8984 Leslie Jean McGregor
389 York St

Frederickon .
E3B 3P6
Phone: (506) 454-2224
Fax: (506) 458-2716 Moncton Animal Clinic
Moncton, New Brunswick
E1C 2R3
506-857-4271

[Terranaut]

They should not be housed together number 1 but that wasn't the question...

I believe raising the temperatures and humidity can help. Try looking into the bigger universities in your area, some of them have veterinary programs..

You raise the temps but reduce humidity not raise.
What is the humidity at now? Typicaly you drop it a bit if it is where it should be in the first place. Unless you are breeding you should seperate them right away.
Post you temps and set up please.



There is a good method of helping ri if you can'tget a vet using 2 tubs and some vics vapo rub in boiling water. Google it. Works great but only on mild cases.

[JoleneVissers]

Humidity is 40 right now, Temps are 85 Hot 80 Cold.
I have had them housed together for over 4 months now with out an issue.
I'm waiting for his terrarium to come in that's why they are housed together.
Anyways, I looked in his mouth and he does have a few bubbles in it. The female on the other hand does not and hasn't shown any signs of being sick. I have been checking her weight and shes still staying fine.

[Terranaut]

Ok forgive me here this is not what you will want to hear but the truth is your snake is sick because of improper care. Others will come on here and say the same. Not going to sugar coat but 40% is way to low for a bci. You should be around 56-60%. When I say to lower it I am talking about down to 50% your is way to low. Waiting for a tank is no excuse for cohabitating snakes. Get the viv first then the snake. What are your temps? What caresheet are you following? You do realize rour other snake will get sick too right?

Ok read caresheets for your boas. They will not survive poor husbandry.
I suggest you fix the husbandy issues then treat the ri. Drugs will not work if living conditions are wrong.

[SnakeyJay]

You want a basking spot of about 92, mine do well with this.... 85 is not hot enough im afraid. How are you heating the viv?

[JoleneVissers]

Ok for one I did as I was told by the vet, I was to lower it so I did. No one informed me until now what to lower it to. Its usually at 55%. And I use a radiant heat panel for heat but I can/am switching to their light to provide more heat.

Please enlighten me on the issues of cohabitation because from the people I have talked to and a few breeders I know quite a few people who cohabitant their bci. I would never do it with pythons or anything but I've never had an issue. Both snakes are not fed together, they are put in separate containers to ensure they eat and are kept in them for 24 hours before being placed together and that's after I clean them to make sure they don't have anything on them from their prey that they have eaten.

I'm very much aware that my other snake will get sick as well. Thanks for answering the obvious. All I'm looking for is a way to treat them at home until I find a vet who is willing to see them and is capable of treating them. I do my best to ensure my snakes get proper care and do have them seen by a vet when I get them. That being said they are not able to deal in treating the snakes because they only know the basics.

[lady_bug87]

You raise the temps but reduce humidity not raise.
What is the humidity at now? Typicaly you drop it a bit if it is where it should be in the first place. Unless you are breeding you should seperate them right away.
Post you temps and set up please.



There is a good method of helping ri if you can'tget a vet using 2 tubs and some vics vapo rub in boiling water. Google it. Works great but only on mild cases.

Thanks I will keep that in mind

Ok for one I did as I was told by the vet, I was to lower it so I did. No one informed me until now what to lower it to. Its usually at 55%. And I use a radiant heat panel for heat but I can/am switching to their light to provide more heat.

Please enlighten me on the issues of cohabitation because from the people I have talked to and a few breeders I know quite a few people who cohabitant their bci. I would never do it with pythons or anything but I've never had an issue. Both snakes are not fed together, they are put in separate containers to ensure they eat and are kept in them for 24 hours before being placed together and that's after I clean them to make sure they don't have anything on them from their prey that they have eaten.

I'm very much aware that my other snake will get sick as well. Thanks for answering the obvious. All I'm looking for is a way to treat them at home until I find a vet who is willing to see them and is capable of treating them. I do my best to ensure my snakes get proper care and do have them seen by a vet when I get them. That being said they are not able to deal in treating the snakes because they only know the basics.

Your temperatures are all messed up and it's waay too dry. Since snakes are solitary cohabitation of a male and female can result in unwanted breeding, cage aggression, and stress

And if you had a vet to tell you what to do then why can't they treat the snake? Sterilite tubs are cost efficient, come in appropriate sizes and maintain humidity and are readily available at most big box stores like Walmart or Canadian tire. So there is no excuse to cohabitate especially if one animal is ill

[Kavyrie]

What vet told you to lower it if you said you can't find a vet to take them too because they don't specialize in snakes. Most vets do not know the basic care of even common species of snakes.

[JoleneVissers]

The vet is the St Andrews Vet Hospital. He said he has learned a bit about snakes when he was attending the PEI vet collage but said he was unsure on how to treat the snakes for anything. I then called the Fairview Animal Hopsital in Halifax Nova Scotia and he said that it is an Upper Respiratory Infection and to get one of my local vets to treat them. I then called the Mayfield Vet Clinic in town but they said they weren't able to treat the snakes and it would be best to take them to PEI. well I live about 5 hours away from PEI and its the starting of winter so I'm trying to get things figured out on how exactly I'm going to transport 2 snakes in a car for 5 hours and make sure they are kept warm properly.

[dinosaurdammit]

The vet is the St Andrews Vet Hospital. He said he has learned a bit about snakes when he was attending the PEI vet collage but said he was unsure on how to treat the snakes for anything. I then called the Fairview Animal Hopsital in Halifax Nova Scotia and he said that it is an Upper Respiratory Infection and to get one of my local vets to treat them. I then called the Mayfield Vet Clinic in town but they said they weren't able to treat the snakes and it would be best to take them to PEI. well I live about 5 hours away from PEI and its the starting of winter so I'm trying to get things figured out on how exactly I'm going to transport 2 snakes in a car for 5 hours and make sure they are kept warm properly.

Did you read my above post of numbers and vets in your area?

[Gungirl]

If you do have to transport them.. Place them each in a pillow case and tie it shut. Then place the pillow cases in a plastic tub with air holes in the tub. Place the tub on top of heat packs made for transporting reptiles.. simple enough.

[dinosaurdammit]

also BAM

Reptile Veterinarians In Canada (http://www.repticzone.com/articles/vets/Canada.html)

[SnakeyJay]

Make sure the tubs are only just big enough to get them in... Stops them slamming into the side if the tub when you turn a corner!

[JoleneVissers]

Did you read my above post of numbers and vets in your area?

I called the 3 vets you listed and they don't deal with snakes.

Where would be the best place to get heat packs at for transporting snakes? I think I'm going to ship them to nova scotia where my father can take them in. That way I can get them in sooner than later.

I did find 2 vets, one in Moncton who did a residency in exotics and the other is in Halifax. So I just need to find out who has the earlier appointment.


Also if I use the containers as a temp viv whats the best way to heat them?
I hate to use them but I will use them while I'm treating them both to make sure they don't get sick again.

[Lankyrob]

Does your ddad keep reptiles? If so does he have quarantine vivs set upwith the ideal conditions ready before shipping?

In terms of heating tubs then a heatpad will be fine, obviously with a thermostat :)

I do wonder about the advice of a vet that can diagnose a snake over the phone tho......

[JoleneVissers]

Does your ddad keep reptiles? If so does he have quarantine vivs set upwith the ideal conditions ready before shipping?

In terms of heating tubs then a heatpad will be fine, obviously with a thermostat :)

I do wonder about the advice of a vet that can diagnose a snake over the phone tho......

My Dad has a corn snake. I can make sure he has a viv set up when Harley gets there. So just a heat pad from the pet store will work as long as its wired into a thermostat? I don't trust any vet that gives info over the phone, but it does give me an idea of whats going on. as far as treatments go I want him taken to the PEI vet college.

[KORBIN5895]

Okay I am going on record here to say yet again co habitation is totally fine with boas.... until they get sick.

The only vet I know who can help is in Moncton and I will get her info for you and email it.

Also wtf Dan? You cohab your boas!

As for the temps I would like to point out it is winter and the cooler temps aren't that big of a deal. They don't stay 90°f year round in Colombia.....

[SnakeyJay]

But they also have the ability to find shelter from the cold, and possibly stop eating etc.. But that's off subject anyway. Goodluck with getting them to a vet, keep us posted on how they get on.

[KORBIN5895]

What do you mean shelter from the cold?

Also 85 isn't that cold. Try tossing your snake in a tub of 85°f water. I bet it won't stay in that long.

[Terranaut]

This works. Do it right away.
Guide to Home Treatment for Respiratory Infections (R.I) With Pics - Reptile Forums (http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snake-care-sheets/758431-guide-home-treatment-respiratory-infections.html)

I tried to cohabitate my boas and once they breed they have a distinct attitude change but thats another thread. Seperate them asap. Don't get bitter at the advice just use it and thank us later when it works.

[Wildside]

Make sure the tubs are only just big enough to get them in... Stops them slamming into the side if the tub when you turn a corner!

Fast and furious much?

[SnakeyJay]

Fast and furious much?

Haha no... Well not too much :). It's just that little bit safer for them

[KORBIN5895]

Fast and furious much?

More like "Red Bruchetta"

[shaunyboy]

up your hot end temperature by 5 degrees mate

i use a nebuliser with dilluted F10 in it,its great at beating respiritory problems in the early stages

most vets will sell F10

cheers shaun

[shaunyboy]

This works. Do it right away.
Guide to Home Treatment for Respiratory Infections (R.I) With Pics - Reptile Forums (http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snake-care-sheets/758431-guide-home-treatment-respiratory-infections.html)

I tried to cohabitate my boas and once they breed they have a distinct attitude change but thats another thread. Seperate them asap. Don't get bitter at the advice just use it and thank us later when it works.

heres the original guy who first told them all on that forum about the alternative method mate

its by Christian Castille a good friend of mine,he does a lot of work with reptiles along with writing books and regular reptile magazine articles

Alternative R.I. treatment (http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snakes/400758-alternative-r-i-treatment.html)

cheers shaun

[Terranaut]

Thats even better. I am not a fan of drugs that aren't truly needed and this treatment works. Thanks for the link!!

[JoleneVissers]

Would a Vicks waterless vaporizer work? I do know it has Menthol, Eucalyptus Oil, Cedarleaf Oil (Myristica Oil), Nutmeg Oil, Thymol. Most of the stuff is the same as whats in the Vicks Rub so I'm just wondering if it will work the same as the other method.

[Terranaut]

No idea. Why risk trying something new?

[JoleneVissers]

No idea. Why risk trying something new?

It is something I had at the moment. I get paid tomorrow so I can pick up the stuff but I just wanted to know if it would work so I could do it tonight. He has a vet appointment on the 7th, they are coming to the house so I don't need to take him out in the -10 weather.

[Terranaut]

Thats cool. Still treat with Vicks tomorrow. I bet its almost clear by the 7th. Have you fixed the temps and humidity yet?

[JoleneVissers]

Thats cool. Still treat with Vicks tomorrow. I bet its almost clear by the 7th. Have you fixed the temps and humidity yet?

Yeah it was 92 hot and 86 cold humidity was 50 this morning when I left for work.

[Terranaut]

Your on the right track. Doing the vicks treatment today?

[JoleneVissers]

I will as soon as I get off work. Got fish treatments and eggs to pick then I can get home :)

[cossiecraig]

Good luck and i hope all works out well .

[Terranaut]

Well how did it go?

[SnakeyJay]

Goodluck :)

[JoleneVissers]

Well how did it go?

It went ok. He was cranky by the end of it. But I think that was partly my fault, I smelt like formalin when I got home to do his treatment.

[JoleneVissers]

Ok so I have a question. Once I start treatments do I need to disinfect their viv to make sure they don't get sick again or is the treatments enough? If I do need to disinfect would Ovadine work? its a 10% Povidone-Iodine (PVP Iodine) complex which provides 1% available iodine treatment we use at work to treat fish eggs so I was wondering if it would work for the snakes.

[Terranaut]

I only changed out the substrate. No fancy cleaning other than a bit of vineger and water.