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Renta-cop   Cphill58   SoLA  
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 #2215338


Renta-cop
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 Possible RESP i need help ASAP

I have a new spider morph BP, and he has some popping going on first we thought it was in his nostrils but after looking in his mouth we noticed it was his trachea that was popping when it opened. He has a few slender threads of possible mucus that is clear and that bridge when we open his mouth but again they are narrow and clear (not sure if its this is normal?) We have upped his heat a bit to mid 90’s to try and stave off respiratory infection until the vet on friday.

What I am wondering is what would cause the trachea to make a popping noise when it opens, and if its actually saliva or mucus that we are seeing when we open his mouth. His trachea is a light red unlike the rest of his mouth (which is normal pinkish) and seems almost abnormally long as far as how long it extends from his throat towards the front of his mouth. What could be the cause of this? is it even RESP? Nothing to worry about? any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I am going to have my wife take pictures tomorrow morning and attach them to this thread then. He is pretty stressed from the activity tonight or I would tonight.
04/21/11  04:17am

 #2215571


Cphill58
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   Message To: Renta-cop   In reference to Message Id: 2215338


 Possible RESP i need help ASAP

It’s a typical RI ...the temps should be offered in the mid 90’s on 1 side to allow the snake to use those temps if it desires. A prescription of baytrill should clear it up ...either oral drops daily or injections are usually recommended.

Goood luck,

Cp
04/22/11  10:01pm

 #2215738


SoLA
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   Message To: Cphill58   In reference to Message Id: 2215571


 Possible RESP i need help ASAP

I just responded in the general forum on a respiratory issue and I will cut and paste it here. All of the comments don’t apply to this situation or the above response, so please don’t take offense if something doesn’t seem to fit, but I posted comments that should be considered for you. Hope it helps.

"A lot of people don’t understand that "RI" (respiratory infection) is a very generic term that gets thrown out there and can literally mean a lot of things, some fairly harmless, but some not at all. Raising or lowering humidity or temp is going to be completely dependent on the individual species as well, as you don’t want to be changing too much outside of the POTR (Preferred Optimum Temperature Range).

A Respiratory Infection can be anything affecting the respiratory system, and depending on where the infection rests is where the real concern is. If it is in the upper respiratory tract, "RI" could literally be a sore throat or something small that can be fought fairly easily with little or no medication. If the infection is in the lungs and your problem is stemming from there, the issue is almost always a type of pneumonia, and it isn’t possible to treat without the correct antibiotics. And don’t forget lung worms would also be a type of respiratory infection, and that can cause a much bigger problem, as the actual worms need to be surgically removed.

This is why I think it is very risky for new keepers especially to just start trying things that can potentially be hurting their problem instead of helping.

I highly advice all keepers (new and old) if they don’t already have Dr. Mader’s book "Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd edition," that they get it. In here you can read about all the different kinds of pneumonia, and what treats it. And contrary to popular belief, only one type of pneumonia can be affected by temperature. Mycotic pneumonia is a fungal growth that is temperature sensitive, but is much rarer in snakes (especially tropical) mostly because the conditions needed for this fungus to grow is far outside the conditions most people would be keeping a tropical snake anyway. Most cases derive from poor nutrition and hygiene, This book is like 1200+ pages, so you can read about upper tract infections too, and pretty much any question you might have on reptile health.
"
04/24/11  11:29am


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