My bp just died. I don't know what I did.

Bathsheba is the first snake I've owned and when I got her she had a RI and hadn't eaten in awhile. I took her to the vet and they gave me shots to give her and I've been giving them for about two weeks. Then this morning I gave her her shot just like normal and an hour later I checked and she was dead! I don't know what I did, I know the humidity in the tank was to low, I've been fighting to keep that up and had just run to the store to try a different kind of bedding and I came home and she was dead. I don't get it.

sick snakes die..it happens.. can't say it was anything you did..

Yeah if she was already sick and on a downhill path, if the enclosure isn't perfect, snakes do die. Sorry for your loss, but a Respiratory Infection is a serious issue and unless treated fast and correctly, it can kill a snake.

but is it possible that I gave the shot wrong? Since she died so soon after? Thats what worries me.

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Originally Posted by daze

but is it possible that I gave the shot wrong? Since she died so soon after? Thats what worries me.

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Is it possible?? yea is it likely naa..I feel pretty sure the stress of the RI, a new home, getting meds ect ect was just to much for it little system.

If you give the shot in the same area you have been giving the others I wouldn't think it was the shot either. Stress on a sick ball python can definately be lethal.

There was nothing you did. I have been doing reptile rescue/rehab for about 15 yrs, and some do great, some just don't......and they are all treated the same. IT's just the way things happen sometimes. Don't blame yourself for something that you can't control. Just know you did what you were supposed to do. You did your best. Sorry for your loss :(

my snake died about 2-3 weeks after vet treatment to. it was rough. My conditions were I would like to say ideal with ambiant temps and increased temps as recomended by vet and websites. I think like everyone else said if its not treated immediately it can easily be lethal I wasnt looking for all the right signs in the beginning, personal problem. but I am sorry for your loss.

Even if it is caught early, if the snake has underlying issues, treatment won't be as effective.

Thank you for that. Is wasn't caught early I don't think, and the vet said she probably hadn't been well in a while. I didn't think about that, I've got a lot to learn.

Yes, it wasn't anything you did wrong. You did all you could for her. If she wasn't getting well on the antibiotics, it's even possible that she had a virus, and not just a bacterial infection--nothing could have saved her from that.

Try not to beat yourself up about it.

From what I understand, an RI can get real serious real fast, and if it was already sick when you got it, the stress of being sick, and not eating,then the added stress of moving and a vet visit were probably just too much for the weakened animal. It wasn't your doing, but the ones who let it go untreated before you got it carry a lot of the blame in my opinion.

Comfort yourself with the knowledge you did the best you could for this poor, suffering snake, and hold your head high you at least gave it a fighting chance.

When you are ready, I encourage you to get another snake, but do sterilize everything the sick one came into contact with to be safe. I'm not sure where you got this one, but do consider trying to find a reputable breeder near you, to try and avoid this heartbreak next time around.

Gale

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Originally Posted by steveboos

Yeah if she was already sick and on a downhill path, if the enclosure isn't perfect, snakes do die. Sorry for your loss, but a Respiratory Infection is a serious issue and unless treated fast and correctly, it can kill a snake.

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Even in a perfect enclosure, snakes can die. And even the best treatment given by the most skilled professionals may not be enough to bring them back to health. :(

I'm sorry for your loss. But from what I've read, I don't see any blame on your shoulders.

Oh that's terrible :( I'm sure it's like the others say, she was stressed and sick. You did everything that you could have done.

I doubt it had anything to do with the humidity being too low. Whenever I've spoken with people who have snakes with RIs or mouth rot, the goal is to get the temps high and the humidity low, some even take the water out for majority of the day. It could just be their personal opinion, but it makes perfect sense to me when you have an animal with respiratory or mouth problems.