Possible respiritory problem? - please help

[pythontricker]

I have a female ball python who is 3 ft long and 1Lb 8oz,eats frozen/thawed medium rats and is very kind.she has never bitten and never had any health problems, except till a week or so ago. Baisicly, every so often she makes this really high pitched squeeky sound that sounds like wheezing. She has never done the open mouth breething thing ever she just makes a weird squeek. could this be a resperitory disease.im really worried and i could not live with out my ball. could you PLEASE give me some insite on this problem! if there is any problem (i hope not)

[dr del]

Hi,

Is she due to shed? Sometimes that can cause them to make noises while breathing.

I would try and hold her head close to your ear and listen to her breathing for a little while when she is not stressed or breathing heavily. You could also try and have a look inside her mouth to see if there is any sign of excess bubbly mucus.

It might help narrow things down if you could give us an idea of the temperatures insode your setup and how and where you are measuring them.

Have you seen her rubbing her mouth on cage furniture lately or anything - or noticed slimy stuff in the waterbowl?


dr del

[pythontricker]

thank you for the reply. um well the squeeky thing started as she was getting ready for a shed but it continued after she shed. she does rub her nose on the glass,substrate,and climbing obstacles in her cage. the temperature in her cage is 85 F (at all times except until night time which is 75 to 80 F. yes i do notice the bottom of her water bowl is slimy every time i clean it and replace the water, but it has always been slimy as it is for all the rest of my pets. although i cannot see the "slime" i can mot definatly feel it on the bottom of the bowl and i do clean it on a regular basis. if there is any more info i could give to you i most certainly will.

[JASBALLS]

Bump her temps upto 92-95 (hotside) .Dont change temps at night for any reason. They dont need that at all.. If she gets worse get her to your vet..
Good luck!

[dr del]

Hi,

Did she get all her shed off ok? When she rubs her mouth against the cage furniture can you see "residue"?


dr del

[West Coast Jungle]

Check the inside of her mouth for mucos or fluid. RI's should not be taken lightly. I would take her to a vet and have a culture done. I always feel better safe than sorry. The temp advice is right on. Get her warmed up, it is much better for her imune system. Good luck

[pythontricker]

ok im gonna bump up he temperature to about 95F. she did get her shed off prity well it came in two pieces and the head was last to go (head was the third piece that came off.) no ther is no residue when she rubbs her head against the cage. could she be just conjested and have a Common cold for a snake? i dont know?

[pythontricker]

when u say mocus and fluid, what do u mean. all i can see is saliva. she has a nice pink mouth.

[pythontricker]

is it normal for them to do the jaw stretch/yawn thing even though they arent doing after they eat. because she will do that once or twice a day just out of the blue . it just looks like a yawn to me and when she does it i get a good look in her mouth and it looks all clear. i also sometimes use a q-tip to open her mouth and check and it all looks good.

[JASBALLS]

is it normal for them to do the jaw stretch/yawn thing even though they arent doing after they eat. because she will do that once or twice a day just out of the blue . it just looks like a yawn to me and when she does it i get a good look in her mouth and it looks all clear. i also sometimes use a q-tip to open her mouth and check and it all looks good.

Some do it more then others But, that is also an early sighn of ri. Dont take a chance get her to the vet..