Introduction - with help requested (I'm at a loss)

irini · 11-06-02, 05:33 PM

Hi Everyone,

I just joined sSnakess and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Irini and I have an 8yr. old Columbian Red Tail Boa named Juji. I was recommended to join this group in hopes that someone can help me with a very frustrating problem.

Juji has had a recurring respiratory infection for about 5 years now. They began around the time when she damaged her nose, which fully healed but left her nostrils about a 1/3 of their original size. Ever since then, her breathing has been audible (slight wheezing), though our herp vet thoroughly checked her out and ensured us that all was well, but said she will always breathe with a slight wheezing sound without surgery. Shortly after her nose healed she came down with a respiratory infection and was prescribed Baytril. After two courses the infection/congestion cleared up. Several months later it came back, our vet examined her and again prescribed Baytril. This went on for three years. Each time blood test and throat cultures were taken and the results came back as a respiratory infection.

We then changed vets to a highly recommended herp vet who specializes in reptiles, birds and primates and who does house calls (very handy!). He took a complete blood panel and throat culture, and put her on a stronger antibiotic (with a name I don't remember but have at home and can tell anyone who would like to know). The results were exactly the same. The infection/congestion cleared up but came right back. The treatment was extended for several months, and the same thing happened again.

Her enclosure is in the right temperature range - throughout this, she has alway appeared active, her shedding is normal, her scales clear and healthy and her temperament is as upbeat as ever. I simply don't know what to do. I don't want to have her on antibiotics for the rest of her life and just can't get rid of this health problem. I'm really at a loss.

Thanks very much in advance for any help you can give,

Irini

josefg · 11-06-02, 05:44 PM

Hey Irini welcome to the forums. Sorry I can't help you with that problem as I don't have much experience. Be sure to check out the Boa forums!

Big Mike · 11-06-02, 05:47 PM

Welcome to the site....that's quite a problem you have there.

You say that you have the proper temp...maybe it's something else that you could change...

I'm no expert by any means but it sounds like maybe he's in an eviroment that is repeatedly causing the R.I. Have you tried keeping him in a completely different enclosure for an extended period of time.

I hope someone with a lot more knowledge than me will have some good suggestions to help you.

Good luck and welcome to SsnakesS.com

Pixie · 11-06-02, 06:04 PM

Welcome to the group

I don't have any experience with R.I. nevermind repeated ones but all that I've read up on says that it's due to temps or humidity. Have you tried different variants? I would do as Big Mike suggests and try a different enclosure for a while and also try different humidity %.

irini · 11-06-02, 06:23 PM

Actually, I have not tried a new house, but we are in the process of purchasing her a new enclosure from http://www.cagesbydesign.com and perhaps that may make a difference.

To be honest I have the jitters about doing this because of something that happened. At Christmas time she stopped eating - which she typically does for a couple of months in the winter. Unfortuantely time went by and she still didn't eat. Her temperament was fine, she was active and healthy otherwise. By the ninth month the vet was becoming concerned at her lack of appetite. I had no idea what the problem was and in desperation I actually (and DON'T laugh at this!!) went to see the Pet Psychic (Sonja - the one on Animal Planet). She was doing a seminar in Long Beach near where I live. I was lucky enough to be called on the stage and I simply said "I have a red tail boa that hasn't eaten in 9 months - can you help me?". Sonja promptly answered "Juji said you've been doing construction where you had to move her from one room to another, and she didn't like that at all". In horror, I realized that last Christmas, we demo'd the kitchen and installed a new one, and in the process had to move Juji to the living room. She'd been there ever since. Sonja said that as soon as we moved Juji back, she'd promise to eat again. Well, as soon as we arrived home, we wheeled her enclosure right back into the new kitchen, and that very weekend she ate for the FIRST time in 9 months!!!! She's eaten ever since.

So you can probably see why I'm kinda nervous about any type of enclosure change or move.

Pixie · 11-06-02, 06:51 PM

Okay, I do understand why you would feel nervous about changing her environment and honestly I'm pretty impressed that the psychic was dead on the problem! It's not that I don't believe they can help but it just seems a bit unlikely to me, glad to hear your story and it's time for me to think otherwise!

As for the moving, since you are already planning another enclosure and moving her do it. Just try and put all the chances on your side. Since winter is pretty much here, this may not be the season to try and move her, waiting for spring may be better. But then we have to consider her health problem too which makes it a bit more of a pressing matter. Have you thoroughly dissinfected her enclosure and furnishings with bleach recently? And about the humidity levels, what are they at or have been in the past? I've read that not enough or too much humidity can cause R.I. in boas so checking this and trying a different variant would be a good idea.

Go with your gut feeling for the move. If she's getting finicky and close to winter fasting you may want to put it off and disinfect for now and try different humidity levels. If she's eating well and in good shape, try the move.

So she won't be too lost after the move and stop eating on you again, put the new enclosure in the same spot as the old one and use as much of the old hide boxes and furnishings as you can but DO disinfect everything thorougly.

Good luck

lance · 11-08-02, 07:10 PM

welcome hope you get the info youre lookin for try the chat room

SilverTongue · 11-09-02, 01:35 AM

welcome

Linds · 11-18-02, 02:20 PM

Welcome to the site! Sorry to hear about your little girl having such a struggle. RI's are typically caused by stress and/or improper husbandry. Are you treating past the point of where her symptoms clear up or are you treating up until she no longer shows any symptoms? If treatment is stopped too early the RI will come back and with more punch than the first time, making it more difficult to clear up. It's good to treat an RI for at least one month after she appears to be perfectly healthy again. What are your temps (in degrees)? What is your humidity level at? What kind of setup is she housed in? Goiod lcuk, I hope this gets resovled quickly...