First time snake owner, looking for help!

[Kylie]

awe their cuter then i thought!!!!!

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by alessia55

I hope she doesn't bite those cage bars too often... it can have real consequences on their brain functioning!

how so? (curious) she does it on occasion when shes bored or hasn't been out of the cage recently or ran out of toys to chew on

[alessia55]

Originally Posted by Skumbo

how so? (curious) she does it on occasion when shes bored or hasn't been out of the cage recently or ran out of toys to chew on

Effects of wire bar chewing on teeth:

If a [rodent] chews on the wire, it can cause major damage to their teeth. This can actually cause malocclusion, broken/cracked/chipped teeth, and even rip teeth completely out! This can result in death. A mouse that is missing a tooth or suffers from malocclusion can't eat well, if at all, therefore they can't thrive.

Source.

Effects of wire bar chewing on brain and overall health:
[quote]Chewing on the hard metal bars of their cage can cause brain damage and misaligned teeth. Left untreated, misaligned teeth can grow up into the brain, eventually killing the rodent[quote]
Source.

There's more but I don't have to look up the better info. Just google for the effects of rodents chewing on wire bars.

[Skumbo]

[QUOTE=alessia55;698317]Effects of wire bar chewing on teeth:

Source.

Effects of wire bar chewing on brain and overall health:
[quote]Chewing on the hard metal bars of their cage can cause brain damage and misaligned teeth. Left untreated, misaligned teeth can grow up into the brain, eventually killing the rodent

Source.

There's more but I don't have to look up the better info. Just google for the effects of rodents chewing on wire bars.

ah, yeah she doesn't chew on it much (or hard) we check her teeth every once in a while and shes good, shes really docile and you can basically play catch with her and she wouldnt care lol.

[alessia55]

Originally Posted by Skumbo

shes good, shes really docile and you can basically play catch with her and she wouldnt care lol.

aww sounds like my hamster he is like a little puppy dog. You can do anything to him. He's never bit anyone in his lifetime.

[Kylie]

LOL

so i was going to create a new thread, but i thought everyone is still commenting on this one so i decided just to ask my question on her...why not?

So lately when i hold Bella, I hear some strange noises. Now i am not sure if its her hissing at me or if its a real sneeze? i have heard this noise a couple times before and just played it to be a hiss but i have only heard it twice before now. it sounds like a sneeze or a gust of air coming out of her mouse/nose/head area. could be just her breathing? she was mouth breathing a little while ago but i have not noticed it anymore as i had my heat turned up. She makes the noise more so when i am touching the end of her tail? she is eating a going to the bathroom to as what i think is normal...just need some opinions as there is no vet near my town that deal with snakes...

I all so hear a little bit of a "clicking" noise sometimes, mostly when she is near my ears...but i have heard a loader one...

Help?

[Lankyrob]

It could be that she is getting worked up and breathing heavier because you are handling her. However i would be finding a vet and getting it checked as this is the second symptom that you have found that points toward a respiratory infection - better to be safe than sorry.

[Kylie]

Theres no vets around me that deal or have ever delt with snakes and i dont drive. the next vet that deals with snakes is 3hours from me! boo

[Skumbo]

Originally Posted by Kylie

Theres no vets around me that deal or have ever delt with snakes and i dont drive. the next vet that deals with snakes is 3hours from me! boo

time to invest in a car?

[SpOoKy]

It could be that she is getting worked up and breathing heavier because you are handling her. However i would be finding a vet and getting it checked as this is the second symptom that you have found that points toward a respiratory infection - better to be safe than sorry.

I agree with rob, those symptoms you discribe can be a sign of something more than just heavy breathing.

Can you find anyone who can drive you to a vet?
Where are you located?

[Skumbo]

Joking aside, an RI can get much worse quickly and kill your snake pretty fast, so take every precaution possible (search the forums or someone will reply here, ive never dealt with a snake RI before) and get to a vet ASAP.

LocalVets.com

^ in case there are any near you you dont know about!

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by Kylie

Theres no vets around me that deal or have ever delt with snakes and i dont drive. the next vet that deals with snakes is 3hours from me! boo

What plans have you got in place for an emergency? Just curious - all our animals are registered with a vet that specialises in their own species. If something happens and you need an emergency appointment and you arent registered it adds roughly £150 to the bill - not sure what it is like over there tho

[Gungirl]

I agree with the fact that you NEED to have contact with a vet that understands your animal and knows how to treat it.


Is there a chance that you are hearing sounds due to stuck shed in or around the edge of the nose? If there is no stuck shed I would say it is an RI.. Bump the temps up a few degrees.

[Lankyrob]

She has already bumped temps up due to the snake "mouth breathing" previously, i really think it is time for a vet to take a look.

[Gungirl]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

She has already bumped temps up due to the snake "mouth breathing" previously, i really think it is time for a vet to take a look.

Ahh I must have missed that page in the book.. lol

Yes then a vet is needed asap.