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 #2207972


TwilightDreamer1979
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 Royal with respatory Infection

Hi all

we have a 7 year old Royal which is making some really odd noises. I’m pretty sure she’s got a respatory infection I’m going to get her to the vet asap, but I’d like some advice before I go.

I was going to check in one of my many Reptile books but they’re all packed as we’re decorating at the mo.

What meds are usually given to a snake with RI and how is it administered? injection I’m guessing?
Is there anyting I can do right now to help our Royal girly?

Help appreciated.

TD.x.
03/03/11  07:10pm

 #2207985


Reflex
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 2207972


 Royal with respatory Infection

She hasn’t shed recently has she? Is she in the process of shedding? Sometimes the loosening skin can cause them to make some whistle noises, especially if the skin gets stuck around her nostrils. Is there an excess amount of saliva in her mouth, gunk on the side of the cage, or bubbles in her nose? How often does she make the sounds?
Reptile books are usually stuffed with outdated information. There are very few books out there that are still useful.
Usually they just give Baytril which is an inexpensive antibiotic. I think they may still do injections but oral baytril is more common now, all you have to do is measure it in a small syringe and do it that way. I’m pretty sure there’s some good how-tos on administering medication online. To keep her comfortable, raise her temps and humidity. Make sure the infection didn’t come from the environment. If it is super humid, super dry, or too cold in her cage she could have developed an RI from that. Bedding like Carefresh and Desert Snow has a very high amount of dust and have been known to cause respiratory problems.



03/03/11  09:30pm

 #2208014


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: Reflex   In reference to Message Id: 2207985


 Royal with respatory Infection

she has shed recently!

I’ll check her nostrils.

I’ve not noticed any bubbles or fluids or anything like that (thankfully!)

cheers for this - I’ll check her over.

TD.x.
03/04/11  04:50am

 #2208043


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 2208014


 Royal with respatory Infection

Checked her. No retained shed anywhere. i didn’t think their would be she usually sheds perfectly.

I spoke to the guy in my local rep shp - he’s injecting on eof is snake at the mo cos she’s got the same thing. He said you can give orally but more often than not they spit the meds back out so you have no idea how much they’ve had, if any.

I’m probably going to take her down to see him tmrw and ask him if he’ll inject her.. not sure I can do it (I have a nasty needle phobia)

I thought her heat lamp had blown but it was still working when I checked her earlier.

I’ve upped her temps to 88 - was prevoiusly 86.

TD.x.
03/04/11  01:26pm

 #2208045


RichsBallPythons
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 2208043


 Royal with respatory Infection

should be 78-80 cool side and 88-90 warm side normal. And when sick you have room to bump each temp 2-3oF

If tank was a steady 85-86 that could be part of the problem.

And im guessing your using the stick on gauges for temperature. If so your temps are WAY OFF
03/04/11  01:40pm

 #2208129


Edf
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 2207972


 Royal with respatory Infection

As for meds, most common I heard of was baytril and fortaz. Baytril is a common all around med. For the most effective way to treat the RI, you should get a culture done to make sure themed chosen will indeed treat the bacteria causing the RI.

As far as orally versus needles, at first, I chose oral. I have never had the snake barf it out, but was told to hold the snakes head up high or it could come out. However, oral meds arent as effective as needles since it will take the snake more time to digest the meds. Also, it is much MUCH harder to give a snake meds orally- you have to restrain the snake, force its mouth open, and shove a tube down the snakes throat, then get the med despenser in the tube, all while the snake is fighting you ( or in my case, trying to bite my face...lol)

With the needle, you just have to make sure to alternate location sites, and make sure you get the medicine in the muscle an dnot floating in between the skin and muscle. If you get it in between the muscle and skin, it will bubble up. The snake won’t absorb it so good, but it will still work, tho really try to get it in the muscle. It’s scary the first time you do it, but the snake takes to the shots better than giving oral meds.

As far as temp bumping, I had bumped mine up to 92/95-82/85 and had no ill effects like belly burns based on the temps I work with, and I seen the snake lay on both sides equally. Basically, you want the snakes immune system to have the best advantage, and that happens when the snake is warmer.

Also, if your snake does indeed have an RI, you’ll want to look at why the snake got it to ensure it doesnt happen again. A filthy cage can cause an RI ( think of it, high humidity and warm temps encourages bacteria growth), as well as too cold of temps ( Now, its not the cold temps itself that causes the RI, its the fact that the snakes immune system doesnt work as good when they are cold, and ergo the bacteria has an upperhand to do damage) Stress can even cause an RI if stressed bad and severely enough and long enough. I don’t keep my snakes hotest side as low as 85, perhaps that could have been a cause. Its good to give them a cool side and a hot side so they can choose and regulate their own temp. In the end, it could have been a few factors combined.

Did you have this snake for a decent time or did you recently get it?

Best of luck with the bp!



03/05/11  09:22am

 #2208140


TwilightDreamer1979
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   Message To: Edf   In reference to Message Id: 2208129


 Royal with respatory Infection

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

We’ve had this girly for around 6 - 7 years. She’s always been a fussy eater, so the fact that she hasn’t fed for the past 3 weeks didn’t really concern me.

Her tank is spot cleaned as and when it requires it, and is cleaned out once a month (everything out, disinfected, rinsed, dried and put back in)

She’s in a 2 x 2 x 2feet wooden tank with a glass front. Her ceramic heat bulb is back left of the tank. The heat is regulated by a stat, the probe for that is middle back of the tank.

If the stat was set at 86, then where the probe is should be 86,
Under the heat bulb will be a few degrees hotter.
and the right size of the tank will be a few degrees cooler than 86.. yes?

I think giving her oral meds will be much more stressful for her than a quick injection.

I’v enot seen any other indication of RI aside from the odd noise. Is the wetness, bubbles etc symptoms that comes later when the infection is in a more advanced stage? I’m getting her booked in early next week, I’m just wondering how the vet is going to tell it’s RI if she only sometimes makes a noise? and if it’s not RI why on earth is she making noises?

Belly burns? why would your snake get belly burns?

We’re not new to reptiles, we’ve been keeping snakes (Royals, beauties, spotted’s) and lizards (plated, Beardie’s, Water Dragons) for around 10 years. But this is our first infected snake.

TD.x.
03/05/11  10:55am

 #2208455


Edf
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   Message To: TwilightDreamer1979   In reference to Message Id: 2208140


 Royal with respatory Infection

belly burns can happen if the hot side is kept too hot.... was just stating that my warm side of 95 didnt do damage to th esnakes belly- sorry for the confusion...lol- i ramble sometimes

I would make sure you are checking the actual temperate inside the cage and not just relying on what the tstat says- for example, i have t-stats set anywhere from 93 degrees to 103 degrees, but the warm side is not reading anywhere close to that- but it also depends on how you have your probe set up. I dont place the probe on the inside of the cage- snake can move it, pee on it and make it get cooler and ect. So my t-stats ar ereading much hotter than the actual temp on the hot spot. even if you ave yours inside, I would make sure to check what temp it is getting to if you did not already.

I personally aim for a 10 degree difference, and my cool side is room temp. So, say you want a 90 degree warm side, aim for a 80 degree cool side. However, I will state, that I dont always get a 10 degree difference, in winter, there is a little more of a difference, in summer, it may be less.

I didnt mean anything I said as you dont have knowledge on the bp- was kinda just giving you info to use as a checklist to see what can be causing it- if it is indeed a RI. I have a snake that when nervous, I can hear her breathe a bit, and firs tthought she was getting ill. Got her cultured, ( which is how the vet will be able to tell if she is sick- unless the snake is showing obviuos signs) and she came back clean...

If this was my snake, I would bump the temps and get a ve check up, and just make sure you spot clean and all.

BTW- when you say wood, what kind of wood are you useing?



03/07/11  09:06am


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