Major mystery...RI or what?

I've also sent this to friends privately but here it is for public consumption, as well:

I'm stymied.

My boa, Bella, is either randomly gasping or gaping but she has NO signs of RI at all, such as mucous, bubbles, rattles, pops, snot and as far as I can tell via extensive listening with a stethoscope, no sounds of internal congestion.

She has been opening her mouth to breath at rest sometimes and today is 'yawning' and I can see inside of her mouth and it looks perfectly wonderful in there.

No visible signs of anything amiss at all.

Her post-partum mite ordeal seems to be over as I can't find any mites anywhere on her or in her home and I can't figure out what is going on with her.

I have no herp vets within a drivable area [I have my own health issues that keep me pretty much on a short leash, as it were] and my regular vet is terrified of snakes.
[he freaked out over a 2000g ball python so a 7 foot boa would blow his mind]

She's getting really stressed from me opening her mouth to peer inside and that stress seems to make her 'worse'.

She seemed to be doing fairly well until I 'fogged' her some yesterday with a humidifier as she's going into shed again and the heat is making the house extremely dry.
When I turned off the fogger, I noticed her doing her open-mouth respiration again.

Naturally, she is my most loved boa and I'm worried to death over.

She's had Baytril, Amakacin and just started on Liquamycin last night.

I don't know what else to treat for.

She doesn't have any 'symptoms' except the mouth gaping stuff.

Last night I took a wet cotton ball and rubbed her right nostril because it looked 'closed' compared to the left nostril and that is the side she was rubbing during the mite epidemic.
Her nose has a 'callous' from the rubbing but was never raw, open or infected...just scruffed up some and I think it affected her last shed.
After her last shed, her nose looked more normal but still not as perfect as before.

I would be very grateful for any suggestions.

Also, her temps are good, she does eat and goes potty normally.

I'm baffled.

With you being on top of the possible health issues, I wouldn't be overly concerned.
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...outh-open.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bmt87 http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...s/viewpost.gif does she do it when she notices you? if shes only doing it when she notices or senses you in the visinity then it could just be a defense mechinesm. Mine use to do it. But if its happening even when she dosnt know your there i think its vet time.

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...milies/no1.gif this. one of my boas used to gape like a little mare at me. However it may b an ri...and clicking? mucus?

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With the telltales of RI not being there I'd just continue keeping an eye on her as you have been.
Good luck.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Raven01

With you being on top of the possible health issues, I wouldn't be overly concerned.
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forum...outh-open.html



With the telltales of RI not being there I'd just continue keeping an eye on her as you have been.
Good luck.[/FONT][/COLOR]

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Obviously it's when I'm there else I wouldn't notice it.

Why would she be 'defensive' all of a sudden?

I'm pretty sure she ovulated recently [she had a huge bump that looked like a big meal and she hadn't had a big meal] and she couldn't get enough of my attention for about 2 weeks.
[looking for 'love' in all the wrong places!]

Even without that, she's a total cuddle bunny who's always begging to be taken out or petted and truly seems to enjoy interacting with people.

I'm going to hook up a DVR camera out there and see if she does it when I'm not around.


[these snakes are gonna drive me batty]

:(