Whistling sound

In the past week, I've heard one of my BP's make a faint whistling sound when exhaling. I'm scared that it might be a RI, and was going to take her in after the first time it happened if she kept making the sound. The next time I had her out (I believe it was later that day), she didn't make any sounds at all, so I dismissed it thinking something potentially had been partially blocking her airway. A few days to a week later I have her out again, and she makes the same sound. Has anyone experienced this before? I don't believe she is going into shed, and she has eaten for me twice since it started happening. I've had her out many times in between hearing it the first and second time without any problems. Temps: 90/80, Humidity in the mid 70's. I did notice her water was a bit dirty today, so I cleaned her dish, and she immediately went to drink from it. I've heard no gurgling, I've noticed no open mouth breathing, and I've seen no saliva/snot or anything else that could be a RI.

It could just be a little piece of stuck shed that when she exhales, it rattles a little causing a hissing noise. She could have also just had a drink and if water sticks to her face, it can cause the same sound. Just keep an eye on her and if you see her making bubbles, having mucus, or any other RI signs, then take her to the vet.

Ok, thank you, that makes me feel much better about what I'm doing. I was feeling like a bad owner by not taking her in right away...

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Originally Posted by towelie4365

Ok, thank you, that makes me feel much better about what I'm doing. I was feeling like a bad owner by not taking her in right away...

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Its not really something to freak out about and rush to the vet right away if only its something minor like a whistle. It could be something else that's not dangerous like RI. Now if your snake had allot of bubbles and mucous coming out of the mouth and seemed like it could barely breathe then that is something to act on right away. I once had a carpet python that would breathe loud every time I took him out for handling. I thought it was RI and I freaked out and went to the vet. Here they were suppose to do that lol:oops:. Just for now I would bump up the temp 4 degrees and try and get the humidity down to the mid 50's. However if I was u and if this does not clear up in a week I would take her to the vet just to be sure. It wouldn't hurt. Just gives a peace of mind.

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Originally Posted by Carl

Its not really something to freak out about and rush to the vet right away if only its something minor like a whistle. It could be something else that's not dangerous like RI. Now if your snake had allot of bubbles and mucous coming out of the mouth and seemed like it could barely breathe then that is something to act on right away. I once had a carpet python that would breathe loud every time I took him out for handling. I thought it was RI and I freaked out and went to the vet. Here they were suppose to do that lol:oops:. Just for now I would bump up the temp 4 degrees and try and get the humidity down to the mid 50's. However if I was u and if this does not clear up in a week I would take her to the vet just to be sure. It wouldn't hurt. Just gives a peace of mind.

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Yeah, my thought was the same to take her in for piece of mind, especially if it was consistent. I did drill a few more holes in the tubs to lower the humidity--I think the air is just humid here though. I'll probably do a few more tomorrow though just in case, but I figure a bit extra doesn't hurt as long as there isn't any mold growing, and there is a decent exchange of air :P.

Here's the way I see it- unless there is an obvious problem that can't be fixed at home, rushing a snake off to a vet everytime they do something suspicious is not only expensive, but it's stressful for the snake, especially ball pythons who are shy, secretive snakes with a low tolerance for stress. That vet is going to force open her mouth, (Which you can do in the comfort of your own home, btw) poke and prod at her, restrain her, etc. I don't know about anyone else, but I have a to do a bit of travelling to see my herp vet, too, which just adds to the stress. Peace of mind is a good thing to have, but don't panic until there's actually something panic-worthy. :gj:

Not to say don't keep an eye on her, but we should all be doing that anyway, right?

My big pastel girl has ALWAYS whistled, since I bought her in 2010. It's just something she does. It freaked me out for the first few months, but she's (usually) a very healthy snake. Idk what causes it, but I definitely need more proof than that to whisk her away to my vet. It's a strain on both of us. :oops:

I guess I'm just very weary of what a RI can do to a snake... I'm glad the consensus is to watch for other signs first. I definitely don't want to make an unnecessary trip and stress her out