Need some help here guys...

[Nate]

I've never heard a noise like this from a snake...ever...

....it sounds almost like a cat or a dog vomiting....it's loud and sounds like he is coughing.. I'm sure he'll go see the vet, but just want the more experienced keepers to chime in on this and tell me if they've ever experienced what I am right now. None of the snakes I've ever had have had a RI so I'm thinking this could be my first big dilemma...

No other symptoms of an RI are present. He is not stargazing, no bubbling mucus in or around his mouth.

And on another note, for the ~9 months i've had this guy, he's been one of my worst feeders.

[dr del]

Which ends it coming out of? Is he making any strange body movements or contortions? Could it be the start of a regurgetation?


I don't have any ideas just asking for clarification to speed things up when the big dog's get here.


dr del

[Nate]

Which ends it coming out of? Is he making any strange body movements or contortions? Could it be the start of a regurgetation?

He hasn't eaten in weeks so no regurg. It sounds as if he is regurgitating but he doesn't...a dry heave.

No strange body contortions or movements. When I handled him he acts like a normal, curious snake.

[xdeus]

Sorry Nate, but I'm stumped. Do you think he may have had some air in his stomach? Was it a one time occurrence or is it ongoing?

[Nate]

This is the second time i've heard it. I've been keeping a close eye on him ever since the first time I heard it a little while back. I read this in the VPI book

"If one of our children sneezes, we do not rush him to the pediatrician. But if he sneezes a few times one day, and more the next and then we happen to notice that there are a lot of snotty tissues in the wastebasket placed there during the night, and the next morning he is congested, breathing through his mouth, coughing, and doesn't feel good---then we take him to the doctor."

The first time he did it was some time ago. It hasn't really been a progression of symptoms. It's been a heavy cough once or twice, and then he's back to normal, or so it seems. I know it could be an underlying problem and "looking normal" isn't good enough.

[xdeus]

I wish I could help you more and I know it's frustrating when something strange happens out of the blue that you can't explain. Hopefully the vet will have a better idea of what's going on and in the mean time maybe someone on this site will chime in one what it might be.

[dr del]

What kind of bedding is he on? Wondered if he was trying to dislodge a small bit ingested while he was digging or something. When you said no mucus inside the mouth I take it that means you looked inside his mouth for the usual suspects of mouthrot and r.i's.


That was good advice from the book though - I know I tend to panic at first if they do something "wierd".

Might be worth emailing or calling one of the bigger breeders to ask their opinions maybe?


dr del