Ball python disease thread idea (ALL READ)

While I was cleaning up one of my Ball python enclosures, I thought of something that could be very helpful to those who think there is something wrong with their Ball python. I see TONS of threads asking "Does my Ball python have RI?" so this got me thinking, there should be a Ball python disease thread to educate those who don't know much about the diseases. The thread may include anything of infectious diseases, non infectious diseases (such as bone problems, organ failures, etc.), external parasites (mites, ticks, etc.), internal parasites (worms), and anything you can think of that would cause problems in a Ball python.

So no false information gets in the thread, here is what I'm thinking: Send me a PM saying what disease you would like to have posted in the thread, and I will ask you if you know what causes it, how to treat it, the symtoms, etc. so if you really know your stuff on that disease I'll give you the OK and you send me a PM (not copied from a site) all about the disease so I can put it up on the thread. Note that there will be other people wanting to do the same disease you want to do so I will choose the best out of all answers.

I would love as many diseases on this thread as possible so when someone asks a question if their Ball python has a disease or they want to know how to get rid of something you can always post up the link to the thread so they can go to it or tell them how to get to the thread. You CAN post links of other threads that tell you how to treat something such as what to use to get rid of mites or how to get rid of mites.

Would this be a good/helpful thread to make, in your opinion?

Tiff you are amazing!!! I think it is a great idea!!!!

Sounds like a great idea to me, would be very nice to have that

Yeah I think it would be a great idea too, I bet I will even learn and hear of some diseases I never even thought of or thought a Ball python can get. I still don't even know how mouth rot it caused:oops:

While I know the intention behind this is good I actually think it’s a bad idea for several reasons.

No one on this forum is qualified to give a diagnosis to help treat an animal, even if they were qualified unless an animal is actually seen by a vet who will perform the necessary exams, no one knows what the best treatment course will be for the specific animal.

Like with anything there is no one treatment fits depending on the progression of the disease the strain of a virus as well as the animal itself treatment will differ.

There is also the problem of people (often newer inexperienced owners) panicking imagining the worse simply because their animal(s) has some symptoms that might be similar to some very serious diseases or virus. (seen it many times).

This forum is in no way a substitute for a vet visit, yes we can give basic recommendation/suggestion on what it might be but when it comes to specific diseases/viruses we must leave it to the people who are qualified and will see the animal in person, they will be the one performing necessary exams and prescribing adequate treatment.

On top of what Deb already said - I'm also uncomfortable with one person making the decision as to who is the most qualified to answer the disease question.

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Yeah I think it would be a great idea too, I bet I will even learn and hear of some diseases I never even thought of or thought a Ball python can get. I still don't even know how mouth rot it caused:oops:

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Not to pick on you Tiffany, but that's what I'm uncomfortable with. Since YOU don't know how it's caused, then how are you qualified to determine who gives you correct information?

well with all that above being said i still think its a good idea .. as it may give other members a rough idea as to what could be wrong with there snake and when they refer the problem to there vet that they have a certain knowledge of what is going on and it is not just jibberish to them .. so what i would do is not have members give out diagnostics .. i would just create a list of diseases and the potential signs of them to give everyone a heads up

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Originally Posted by cgator

i would just create a list of diseases and the potential signs of them to give everyone a heads up

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with pictures =D! :gj:

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Originally Posted by rabernet

On top of what Deb already said - I'm also uncomfortable with one person making the decision as to who is the most qualified to answer the disease question.

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it doesn't have to be tiff, or one person, it can just be a sticky that a mod or admin can update when someone wants to add more info, or change something.

i think this is a good idea. of course when an idea is proposed, there are always going to be things that should be edited, but its just a suggestion. =p.

modify this idea. make it a poll!!

"should there be a disease thread?
yes / no"

i vote BG be the president! LOL!!!!(jk) ;p

>_>

:thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by cgator

well with all that above being said i still think its a good idea .. as it may give other members a rough idea as to what could be wrong with there snake and when they refer the problem to there vet that they have a certain knowledge of what is going on and it is not just jibberish to them .. so what i would do is not have members give out diagnostics .. i would just create a list of diseases and the potential signs of them to give everyone a heads up

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And that kind of resources can already be found online sadly for the untrained, inexperienced owners this can be misread and lead them to conclude to the worst.

Over the years I have seen people panicking because their animal had a reddish belly :rolleyes:, and because they read somewhere that reddish belly could be scale rot they were already imagining the worse.

There are list of diseases out there (not very hard to find), but those are still not a substitute for a vet visit and a list of treatment as suggested is definitely not something that should be done for serious illnesses such as RI and/or others.

I understand giving advice for minor injuries (then again I would seriously question the person level of experience first) however recommending treatment for RI or mouth rot needs to be left to vets.

ALSO:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

There is also the problem of people (often newer inexperienced owners) panicking imagining the worse simply because their animal(s) has some symptoms that might be similar to some very serious diseases or virus. (seen it many times).

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it'll just be a list of possibilities. its no different than when YOU'RE sick or when someone else is, and they look online to see what symptoms they feel, then go to the doctor "hey i think i have this" then they exam u.

theres always a little note if its something serious that says "if you feel like you may have -----, please seek medical attention" so after a serious snake disease you can add that. if its something like "my snake has stuck shed!" (i would add that to the list =p), then i would add suggestions, including a link to the "bad shed? no prob" thread we have here =p.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

This forum is in no way a substitute for a vet visit, yes we can give basic recommendation/suggestion on what it might be but when it comes to specific diseases/viruses we must leave it to the people who are qualified and will see the animal in person, they will be the one performing necessary exams and prescribing adequate treatment.

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at the end of the sticky, u can use this quote (^up^there^) just like the disclaimer type of ending in the bearded dragon caresheet(VdownVthereV):

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This care sheet is made up from what I have learned from years of research and keeping these animals. This does not mean that this is the "Beardie Bible" and the only way to keep and care for them. You are the one that ultimately decides how to properly care for your pet. Please feel free to print and use this care sheet.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

No one on this forum is qualified to give a diagnosis to help treat an animal, even if they were qualified unless an animal is actually seen by a vet who will perform the necessary exams, no one knows what the best treatment course will be for the specific animal.

There is also the problem of people (often newer inexperienced owners) panicking imagining the worse simply because their animal(s) has some symptoms that might be similar to some very serious diseases or virus. (seen it many times).

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This is why people should at least look at the thread to see the possibilities of what their snakes COULD have, so if those posibilities are serious, they should take a visit to the vet to see what the snake really has and get advice from the vet on what to do for the snake (such as getting a culture if the snake has RI so it can get on the right course of anitibiotics). The thread would be useful for also helping people learn about different diseases--which I think is very important for someone to know just so they know the risks of what can happen if they owned a Ball python and/or while owning a Ball python if they already have one.

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Originally Posted by rabernet

Not to pick on you Tiffany, but that's what I'm uncomfortable with. Since YOU don't know how it's caused, then how are you qualified to determine who gives you correct information?

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When I read through the PMs, I would also look up the disease and research it before I post up the answer on the thread. I'm not just going to choose the best answer out of all and post it up, I would take my time reading through it and research the disease before I put it up on the thread.:D

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

When I read through the PMs, I would also look up the disease and research it before I post up the answer on the thread. I'm not just going to choose the best answer out of all and post it up, I would take my time reading through it and research the disease before I put it up on the thread.:D

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Not to pick on you, but if you haven't experienced a disease first-hand, just reading up on it won't completely educate you on it--knowledge comes from both reading and hands-on experience IMHO. I think your idea is a good one, though, but perhaps it should be a thread left to a mod/admin or someone with a lot of experience with reptiles. I also agree with those here who think that diagnostics/treatments should be left to the vets. A list of symptoms of a certain disease, sure. A recommendation to take your animal to the vet if it is experiencing many of the symptoms for a certain disease, absolutely.

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Originally Posted by SnakeGirl3

A list of symptoms of a certain disease, sure. A recommendation to take your animal to the vet if it is experiencing many of the symptoms for a certain disease, absolutely.

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That's what I want exactly on the thread. But I also want a sentence that says "You should take your snake to the vet as there is no home treatment for this disease" so the person KNOWS to take their snake to the vet instead of creating threads on how to treat it at home.

I'm sure not one owner has experienced EVERY problem a Ball python can get. Other owners have experienced different things with their Ball pythons. I've only encountered mites twice (with a Corn snake & Ball python) and encountered RI once (with Kingsnake). I'm sure I'll face more problems in the future, but I even think I should be educated about each disease/problem so I know what CAN happen. No I don't know everything, but I know enough from research and experience that I need to know, and I'm still learning. I think a disease thread would be very helpful, to me even.

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Originally Posted by snakegirl3

a list of symptoms of a certain disease, sure. A recommendation to take your animal to the vet if it is experiencing many of the symptoms for a certain disease, absolutely.[/color]

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v

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Originally Posted by h00blah

theres always a little note if its something serious that says "if you feel like you may have -----, please seek medical attention" so after a serious snake disease you can add that.

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h00blah gets my point!:D

Thank you:gj::bow:

It's far better to have a few people panic needlessly than to have one person dismiss serious symptoms as normal.

The worst that can happen in the former case is that their snake gets a vet checkup, and they're out 60 bucks.

Such a thread is currently in the works however the said thread containing links and recommended readings will be for general knowledge only and will not a substitute for a vet visit.

This thread will be compiled by the staff.

If members wish to contribute the thread in question they will have to contact the staff to submit info and articles for to be reviewed by our team prior to being posted.

Again in the work does not mean it will happen overnight. ;)

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Such a thread is currently in the works however the said thread containing links and recommended readings will be for general knowledge only and will not a substitute for a vet visit.

This thread will be compiled by the staff.

If members wish to contribute the thread in question they will have to contact the staff to submit info and articles for to be reviewed by our team prior to being posted.

Again in the work does not mean it will happen overnight. ;)

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aHA! so it IS happening =]!! :gj:

leaked info from the mod wooo LOL just keeding ;p