Scared To Death My Snake Has IBD - My Collection?

[immortalic]

Hello, all. I am a newcomer, as you can see, I do believe this is my first post on this forum, and am glad to be here, lots of good resources. Nonetheless, I believe that my female BP has IBD... She was a rescue, and we've had her for about 4 months (she was our first snake). When we first got into snakes, we were never warned about IBD, nor had we even heard of it. So unfortunately, none of our snakes have gone through a quarantine process. About 1 week ago, we noticed that she had almost completely stopped using her neck, which of course, we found odd. This started about 1-2 days after her last feed, and during her last feed, she got to the hip of the rat, and basically fell over for a minute, and stopped swallowing, then just comes back up, and finishes. Eve (my female BP) was an LPS/rescue snake. When we got her, she had what looked like 2-3 small burns on her head, and a permanently dented eye cap (we have tried raising humidity, soaking, etc) and the eye cap is not stuck from a previous shed. As of today, she started doing a "cork screw" thing with her head, and as of about 5-10 minutes ago, having head tremors. Her body still has strength up to her neck, just before a scar. The scar was from when we first got her, we were just holding her one day, and this piece of skin just came off with a gentle rub, literally no pressure, and it didn't look abnormal. When I found her on her back earlier, it also looked like her cloaca was protruding. I called a friend, he asked if she had any lesions, and I said no, and he told me not to worry, that it was not IBD if she had no lesions, or mouth rot. I cleaned all my cages, and separated all the snakes, so each one is in his/her own room now. I'm scared because I'm afraid Eve (my gf's snake) will have given this IBD or whatever ailment it may be to Adam (my male BP) or Pandora (my newly acquired Dumeril's Boa). Eve has always had an attitude, and a big one, whereas Adam is the coolest, calmest snake I have ever handled/owned, and I would be absolutely devastated to lose him, or any of them, including Eve. My temp/humid always stays 40%-50% and 84-86 ambient, and 89 hot spot for the BPs. I am trying to figure out what to do, as I have no vet locally that will see a reptile except for one, and he didn't even know what IBD was! I read that you can have a blood test done to look for something (not sure exactly what) that goes along with IBD, but only a tissue sample in a necropsy will determine 100% what is going on. If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated, I know that no one here can cure IBD if that's it, but ideas/possibilities would be great. Thanks again.

-Brandon

[Stewart_Reptiles]

IBD kills BP within weeks so it is very unlikely that if your BP has indeed IBD she contracted it prior to being in your possessions!

Pandora (my newly acquired Dumeril's Boa).

How long have you had your Boa for? (Boas can be asymptomatic carrier)

As your male BP shown any symptoms?

Could your female BP been in contact with any type of chemicals?

Could the enclosure have overheat for a prolong amount of time?

[immortalic]

We have had Eve for 4 months now, and I just got Pandora 4 days ago. Eve has not been exposed to any chemicals, the cage hasn't overheated, not has my male shown any symptoms (yet, at least).

[shadi11]

I really am not sure what is wrong. I would be very careful. Moving the snake to another room is a good idea. have you brought any new snakes in, in the last month. ball pythons typically cant live very long with ibd from what i have read, about a month. Im lost. I have had a snake demonstrate those traits recently unfortunately she passed away. After having a necropsy it had turned out to be toxic shock from bad feeders. We had already found out about the feeders before she had passed. I hope yours turns out better than ours. I will keep you in my thoughts.

[wolfy-hound]

The only way to rule OUT IBD is a brain tissue biopsy. Otherwise, a blood test can come out negetive for IBD, but it might not be in the blood.. you can get a liver biopsy, but it might not be in the liver, etc etc.
If your snakes are together for longer than say.. 2 months, then I'd suspect something other than IBD, as ball pythons really don't survive very long when exposed.

[immortalic]

Just the Dumeril's Boa, 4 days ago, and that's it. My friend suggested the toxic shock, but the feeders always come from his brother's pet store (which I am beginning to question) but it is odd, considering that it all started soon after her last feeding, and neither of my other's feedings were from the same batch. I'm sorry for your loss shadi11, and I thank you.

[immortalic]

Wofly, I have only had Adam (male BP) for about 2 months, and no symptoms coming from him.

[JayBP]

My first thought was that it could be from the Dumeril's Boa, but I don't know if 4 days is long enough for your ball python to be cork screwing it was idb.

[blackcrystal22]

Well, if all else fails, take it to the vet!

We can't see what's going on, but a vet might be able to determine from experience. Go ask a professionals opinion.

[immortalic]

I don't believe it was from the Dumeril's, honestly, she's a very healthy snake. The only vet here that sees snakes, doesn't know what IBD is.