RI, or am i anal about my snakes health?

anyone know the average price for an RI treatment???

For my herp vet, it's $40 for an office visit, and when my friends snake had an R.I., i believe that they gave her pre-measured baytril injections to give her every week, I think that ran about $60 if I remember correctly...It's been a couple years since then. Also, remember that the price is going to vary from Vet to Vet. You said that your BP is showing other signs. What other signs is it showing exactly? and is your BP going in blue? Check the mouth, and if there is no mucus and there's only a whistle every 10 minutes like you said, I personally would wait until your BP sheds before taking it into the vet. if your temps and humidity are what they are supposed to be, then chances are if it is an RI, waiting a few days for your girl to shed isn't going to make the RI progress any faster.

I was just about to post something similiar about my snake, and I read your post. My snake just had a hissing or wheezing episode when I put her in the tub for a swim. She isn't showing any signs of an RI other than the noise.

She hates a bath, so I thought she was hissing at the situation, but she continued even after I dried her off and put her back in her cage and left her alone. And it was more of a wheezing sound at that point, which is why I am concerned.

I have a feeling she is just :mad:at the world because she is also shedding right now. I know I'm going to wait until she finishes shedding and then possibly make an appt. with the vet.

ok.. ill still call around to get an estimate.. and wait until he sheds.. i fed him today and he ate like a champ.. other symptoms were: opening his mouth every once in a while... and made a wheeze or two.. but hasnt had one since last afternoon

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Originally Posted by temec

anyone know the average price for an RI treatment???

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I just paid $120, which included the initial examination and diagnosis, and 5 injections of Baytril. This is my first time ever dealing with this, so I have no idea how this price compares to others.

I would definitely go in and get things checked out. I thought I was overreacting too, but it turned out I wasn't, and because I acted fast the vet said things would be much better for the snake. The way she explained it was this:

Animals in the wild have evolved to not show any signs of weakness. The weak and sick are the ones who are preyed upon. They hide or mask the symptoms as much as possible. This means that by the time they start showing symptoms, it's because they simply can't hide it anymore, and the sickness has gotten quite severe. Better to nip it in the bud, because by the time the BP starts blowing bubbles and really gurgling, the RI has progressed to a level that is much more difficult to overcome.

ok called the vet.. its $45 for the visit *ouch*... didnt ask about RI treatment cost.... so it looks like I will wait until after he sheds?

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Originally Posted by tartcake

I was just about to post something similiar about my snake, and I read your post. My snake just had a hissing or wheezing episode when I put her in the tub for a swim. She isn't showing any signs of an RI other than the noise.

She hates a bath, so I thought she was hissing at the situation, but she continued even after I dried her off and put her back in her cage and left her alone. And it was more of a wheezing sound at that point, which is why I am concerned.

I have a feeling she is just :mad:at the world because she is also shedding right now. I know I'm going to wait until she finishes shedding and then possibly make an appt. with the vet.

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Bathing a snake during a shed is not the best idea since the water will leach the natural oils from the snake's skin which can lead to a less than wonderful shed.

Also, if she hates the bath, why bathe??

how do i open my snakes mouth to check for mucus?

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Originally Posted by temec

how do i open my snakes mouth to check for mucus?

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You can use a popsicle stick or the corner of a credit card, or anything else that is thin and blunt. You just get it into the corner of the mouth and sort of turn the object slowly and slightly, forcing the snake's mouth to open some. It's easier if someone else is there to help look :)

do i hold it behind the head?