So I went to the vet today...

ga77 · 05-27-14, 04:45 AM

Hi

My 2012 ball python, hitch, has not eaten or pooped for 3 weeks now. No big deal, I know. But last week I started to hear strange noises from him when breathing, like a klicking sound and some soughing. So I called the vet and went today (40 min. ride). Packed hitch up nice and warm with a heatpack...

I am very relieved that the vet did not find anything special... said maybe he caught a cold, although he had no slime in his mouth, but nothing too serious. Gave him two injections with antibiotics and some vitamins. I will give him some days rest now and leave him alone.

I read that such sounds can occur before shed? Hitch should shed soon, his belly is turning pinkish. Has anyone made similar experiences?

Gabriel

jpsteele80 · 05-27-14, 06:52 AM

Usually a clicking or popping sound means the beginning of an RI, I've never personally heard of a snake doing this before shedding but perhaps I've just never noticed it

FWK · 05-27-14, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpsteele80

Usually a clicking or popping sound means the beginning of an RI, I've never personally heard of a snake doing this before shedding but perhaps I've just never noticed it

Agreed, I'd take any unusual breathing sounds very seriously. Double check your temperature and humidity readings and keep a close eye on Hitch for any more symptoms like coughing or excess mucus around his mouth. You did the right thing, taking him to the vet. You probably caught it early enough and the antibiotics will help Hitch knock it out. Be sure you temps are right so it does not come back. I had a Bull Snake get sick on me once before because I took him out and walked around the house with him. My snake room is heated but the rest of the house was cold. He coughed up bubbles a couple days later, scared the crap outa me. He doesn't leave the snake room anymore lol.

ga77 · 05-27-14, 08:05 AM

Of course I will keep an eye on him - like I said, the vet didn't find any symptoms of him being sick, but I am very cautious.

the thing with the sounds before shedding I read in a german forum I think. There it said that this could happen due to the nostral scales becoming dry, which leads to the building of slime in there. But I am very sceptical as well. So I hope he will have appetite in some days and the sounds will disappear.

Btw: he has not yet lost any weight, so I am not too concerned about the not eating / not pooping thing.

Thanks for your posts
Gabriel

Charis · 05-27-14, 06:17 PM

I have had a few snakes make clicking, popping and wheezing sounds while in shed, thankfully not many and not often. It clears up after the shed. Was convinced one of my Puget Sound garters was getting a terrible RI his first shed after I received him but had read in my What's Wrong With My Snake? book that that does sometimes happen during a shed, their nostrils can swell and the skin can make popping noises. It cleared up immediately after he shed and he never had a shed quite as bad as that afterwards, though sometimes got mild symptoms during later sheds. Some of my other snakes every now and then will get one or all of those things to a degree when shedding as well, though none as bad as that garter's first shed.

ga77 · 05-28-14, 01:09 AM

Ok, so this does occur... I will keep you updated about what happens after shedding, although now it will be impossible to tell why the sounds disappeared because he got antibiotics. I will see during the next shed.

Gabriel

**Aaron_S** · 05-28-14, 12:47 PM

Why did the vet administer antibiotics without finding out what bacteria or virus the snake may have had? How does the vet know it would work?

This is akin to going to a doctor and saying "I'm not feeling well" and giving you a prescription for a sore foot. It's a guess at best.

ga77 · 05-28-14, 01:10 PM

He gave him one shot against internal parasites and to get the immune system going and one against the most common bacteria causing respiratory problems I think.

He is the most frequented herp vet in the northeastern part of Switzerland, so I suppose he has some clue.

Gabriel

**Aaron_S** · 05-28-14, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga77

He gave him one shot against internal parasites and to get the immune system going and one against the most common bacteria causing respiratory problems I think.

He is the most frequented herp vet in the northeastern part of Switzerland, so I suppose he has some clue.

Gabriel

That was my point. What if it's not the most common bacteria and it escalates or kills your snake? How will you feel when it passes because the vet used statistics to guess in saving your animals life?

How did the vet diagonose a "cold" and yet gave it a shot for internal parasites? You personally would have to have horrid husbandry and bringing in new animals from the wild to have internal parasites.

The vet may be the most visited but that doesn't make it the best. McDonald's is a highly visited food establishment so would you take healthy diet advice from them for that reason?

The vet may have wasted your money. I would seek a second opinion.

ga77 · 05-28-14, 02:50 PM

I do understand what you are trying to tell me. But he did not diagnose anything because he did not find any symptoms. He told me to let him know if there was any change for the better or the worse.

He is the most frequented vet because he has the most experience in reptiles and has published some books on them and has made himself a good reputation.

If you go to a doctor and say you have a headache, he wont put you in the CT, unless you show some serious symptoms that point to a brain tumour. Otherwise - and in most of the cases - he will prescribe you pain killers.

I will monitor Hitch closely and seek out a vet again if it doesnt get better, dont worry.

Gabriel

**Aaron_S** · 05-28-14, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga77

I do understand what you are trying to tell me. But he did not diagnose anything because he did not find any symptoms. He told me to let him know if there was any change for the better or the worse.

He is the most frequented vet because he has the most experience in reptiles and has published some books on them and has made himself a good reputation.

If you go to a doctor and say you have a headache, he wont put you in the CT, unless you show some serious symptoms that point to a brain tumour. Otherwise - and in most of the cases - he will prescribe you pain killers.

I will monitor Hitch closely and seek out a vet again if it doesnt get better, dont worry.

Gabriel

He didn't see any symptoms so he gave the snake shots of medicine to cure something he didn't even see present?

I'm sorry but that's akin to saying to a doctor "I'm feeling ill" and giving you chemotherapy just in case it's cancer.

I'm not worried because this isn't a vet I would use nor could if I wanted to.

Sounds like he's smart but it's just odd in his practices compared to the vets I know and would use myself.

ga77 · 06-08-14, 07:07 AM

Hitch did shed tonight, all in one piece. The sounds have disappeared as well.

Gabriel

SSSSnakes · 06-08-14, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

He didn't see any symptoms so he gave the snake shots of medicine to cure something he didn't even see present?

I'm sorry but that's akin to saying to a doctor "I'm feeling ill" and giving you chemotherapy just in case it's cancer.

I'm not worried because this isn't a vet I would use nor could if I wanted to.

Sounds like he's smart but it's just odd in his practices compared to the vets I know and would use myself.

Vets do the same thing in the USA, give a snake shots to cure something they don't have. They can't find anything wrong and have to justify the vet visit, so they give treatment for a ghost illness. It's wrong. I have experienced many times snake wheezing and clicking while in a shed. It goes away after they shed.