Please help, very sick ball python!

Hello,
Been 1 week since i have my new BP. He's 6 months old and been very healthy till last night. I used carpet as substrate and it was a bit wet and moisty. Yesterday i ve changed its substrate (paper towels) and moved him into his new tank (which includes hiding spot and water dish from exo-terra) because i noticed he is acting really weird.. He didnt really moved in fact, he hardly moves himself when i handle him. Didnt even show his tongue since last night. This morning i ve checked him when i woke up and his head was turned upside down i thought he might be dead but he wasn't. Now he is not really moving only does head wobbing sometimes. i tried to give him a warm bath but all he does is doing head wombing and sliding. And i noticed he have some red dots on his scale and took a picture of it. Anyone have an idea whats going on on my BP =(
http://a1109.hizliresim.com/11/9/5/8977.jpg

Where did you get him? Was he housed with any other snakes?

Sounds like a possible virus or a bacterial infection that has gone septic.

If you flip him onto his back, can he right himself?

Please please please get that baby to a herp vet now! If you had an unresponsive dog that was lying on it's back, you'd take that to a vet- your reptile isn't any less important just because it has scales and no fur. I don't know what that might be, but I know that it's not normal healthy behavior, and if my BP did that I would take him in yesterday. (By that I mean very quickly.)
I hope your little bud gets better, keep us updated.
Also, if you've only had him a week, I would contact the place where you got him and be askin some questions.

I don't have any other snakes. just have 3 tarantulas but they are not in contact or near to him. I got him from someone (not breeder or petshop) traded with few of my tarantulas. He was really healthy tho. Now i handled him again to see how he reacts. He still doesnt move much just lays on my hands, took new pics again.
http://a1109.hizliresim.com/11/9/5/9702.jpg
http://a1109.hizliresim.com/11/9/5/9791.jpg

Aw, these pics are seriously breakin my heart, poor baby... I implore you to find a good herp vet and get him in asap...

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Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

Please please please get that baby to a herp vet now! If you had an unresponsive dog that was lying on it's back, you'd take that to a vet- your reptile isn't any less important just because it has scales and no fur. I don't know what that might be, but I know that it's not normal healthy behavior, and if my BP did that I would take him in yesterday. (By that I mean very quickly.)
I hope your little bud gets better, keep us updated.
Also, if you've only had him a week, I would contact the place where you got him and be askin some questions.

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I would take him immediately believe me, since there is no reptile vets in my country im asking around to help.. I called every possible vets but they said they dont know anything about snakes.. Even the university faculity.

This is an emergency. I recommend Herp Vet right now!

I'll have to leave this to the more experienced on here, then. Is it possible that he got over heated? He looks a bit dry around the nose. :tears: Good luck with your snake. I really do hope he gets well...

The poor baby..he does look bad. I second the idea of possibly going septic, and if he gets worse (could it get worse?) it might be more humane to euthanize him. :(

He also looks like he didn't/can't shed properly, could it be affecting his breathing?

I get to a vet asap qit hthat much mucsue from nose I betting really bad RI and it gone septic,It will also help to know if any pest guys been around and the temps ) an Ri can get bad really fast if not kept warm.

Comon sense will tell you that if you have a very sick animal you need to take him to a vet.

No one on a forum can diagnose your snake, people can give you some guesses however it will not help your animal.

You need to find an Emergency vet for now and follow up with an herp vet if there are none given the condition it is probably best for the animal to be put down.

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Originally Posted by thewesterngate

The poor baby..he does look bad. I second the idea of possibly going septic, and if he gets worse (could it get worse?) it might be more humane to euthanize him. :(

He also looks like he didn't/can't shed properly, could it be affecting his breathing?

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He didn't shed since i got him, and no shedding symptoms that he showed, eyes are perfectly normal his skin a bit crusty now tho.
Hes like he is drying but everything is normal in his cage, i gave him a warm bath too

I think Deborah is right, he really looks like he's pretty bad off. If he's suffering, it might be best to let him go without anymore pain. And a forum will not be able to diagnose or help your snake, you've got to find him a vet.
Don't soak him anymore or try handling him, just try to find a vet. As an inexperienced owner, without professional direction, you could make the situation much worse while trying to make it better.

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Originally Posted by blueberrypancakes

I think Deborah is right, he really looks like he's pretty bad off. If he's suffering, it might be best to let him go without anymore pain. And a forum will not be able to diagnose or help your snake, you've got to find him a vet.
Don't soak him anymore or try handling him, just try to find a vet. As an inexperienced owner, without professional direction, you could make the situation much worse while trying to make it better.

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Thank you, i am trying my best to find some prof vet in university faculity, all the vets i ve called said that is the only place that i might find help for my snake.

Hi,

Which country are you in?

It might be worth asking the uni or another vet if they would be willing to do a phone consult with a good herp vet from another country?

Your guy looks pretty far gone though I'm sorry to say. :(


dr del

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Which country are you in?

It might be worth asking the uni or another vet if they would be willing to do a phone consult with a good herp vet from another country?

Your guy looks pretty far gone though I'm sorry to say. :(


dr del

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I'm in Turkey/Istanbul. And the university faculity said they do not care with snakes =/ I'd do whatever it takes to bring him back to his health. I don't think he will make it through this night.

Go to herpcenter.com at the top of the page in there is a link to vet finder if that dont work in google type in herp vet in ____ fill in the blank with your city...

im not trying to be rude or insensitive but that snake needs to euthanized. its far to gone to save at this point imho. its body is sucking in and its unresponsive...your just delaying the inevitable. im sorry for your troubles. hope you figure out what is wrong so it doesnt happen again
adam jeffery

I think he has Inclusion Body Disease. :(

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Originally Posted by djann

I think he has Inclusion Body Disease. :(

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Given how fast this came on...and the symptoms you've pictured and described...I think this is a possibility. The neurological symptoms could be caused by things like chemicals or overheating...but the crusty junk on his nose and the spots on the skin indicate a systemic infection. A bad one. :(

Please know this though...we're NOT vets...and even a vet (an honest one, anyhow) would tell you that no one can make a diagnosis over the Internet. All we can do is guess...and there's nothing we can do to help make it better. :(

I'm really, really sorry. I don't think your little one is going to make it. Even if you found a vet qualified to diagnose and prescribe medicines...it looks like that little one is too far gone for treatment.

If I were in your situation, I would euthanize the poor thing. I would also dispose of the enclosures and all the stuff inside of them. You should also inform the person you got the snake from because his collection may be infected as well. I for sure would NEVER accept another animal from that person.

Again...so sorry! :(

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Originally Posted by JLC

Given how fast this came on...and the symptoms you've pictured and described...I think this is a possibility. The neurological symptoms could be caused by things like chemicals or overheating...but the crusty junk on his nose and the spots on the skin indicate a systemic infection. A bad one. :(

Please know this though...we're NOT vets...and even a vet (an honest one, anyhow) would tell you that no one can make a diagnosis over the Internet. All we can do is guess...and there's nothing we can do to help make it better. :(

I'm really, really sorry. I don't think your little one is going to make it. Even if you found a vet qualified to diagnose and prescribe medicines...it looks like that little one is too far gone for treatment.

If I were in your situation, I would euthanize the poor thing. I would also dispose of the enclosures and all the stuff inside of them. You should also inform the person you got the snake from because his collection may be infected as well. I for sure would NEVER accept another animal from that person.

Again...so sorry! :(

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I will take him to a normal pet vet for euthanize now :( Hope they are capable to do that

honestly just putting im in a container and placing im in the freezer is just fine at this point.
adam jeffery

I would like to know if IBD is contagious to animals other than snakes ?
I ve read it is very contagious to snakes but i don't know if it can affect my Tarantulas or cat or even me?

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Originally Posted by djann

I would like to know if IBD is contagious to animals other than snakes ?
I ve read it is very contagious to snakes but i don't know if it can affect my Tarantulas or cat or even me?

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IBD is only contagious to pythons and boas, so far as I know. It may or may not affect other snakes. But you, your cat, and your T's are not in any danger at all.

I would not ever put another snake into the same enclosure you had that one in, though...or use any of the same supplies. I'd get rid of them.

I just got a new bp this week I would be very worried right now...I hope you get him help and hope he recovers quickly...good luck :)

I still can't believe how is that disease showed up only in few minutes. I used Desert sand as substrate for maximum 2 hours then i changed that to carpet then he started to act weird.. then i used paper towels and it gots worse in few hours and so on

Sand is never a good substrate.

Im sorry you can't find anyone locally to help you.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by djann

I still can't believe how is that disease showed up only in few minutes. I used Desert sand as substrate for maximum 2 hours then i changed that to carpet then he started to act weird.. then i used paper towels and it gots worse in few hours and so on

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IBD and other sorts of infections can be in the system without you being aware of it. Chances are, the snake was already pretty sick, you just didn't recognize it. And it's possible that even an experienced breeder might not have recognized how sick the snake was, because they will hide their illness for as long as they can to avoid becoming easy prey. Just a little bit of stress on an already sick snake can allow the infection to flare up and gain full control, so to speak.

The rapid changes in an environment that was still new and unfamiliar (it can take longer than a week for even a healthy snake to feel comfortable in a new home) probably caused a great deal of stress....and the already severely compromised immune system just gave out entirely.

But please don't blame yourself. I believe that snake was already close to death...it just may have taken the symptoms a little longer to show up if the snake had had no additional stress.

This is very truly just sad. :( I am sorry that you are going through this but I really feel sorry for that poor little snake. It just breaks my heart to see the poor animal suffer like this.

He is dead now :( no symptoms of life anymore

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Originally Posted by djann

He is dead now :( no symptoms of life anymore

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I am truly sorry for your loss but at least he is no longer suffering.

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Originally Posted by djann

He is dead now :( no symptoms of life anymore

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mojos :( sorry to ask, but did he die naturally?

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Originally Posted by Munizfire

mojos :( sorry to ask, but did he die naturally?

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Yes, he died by himself :(

:tears:

I am soo sorry....that is awful.

When a reptile is that bad, there is very little a vet could have done...

How much did he weight...he looked very skinny.

He was in shape last night but as i said all these occured suddenly, this morning his stomach was a bit like leaned inside, like something sucked him from inside, poor thing:(

I'd notify why guy you got him from, and NEVER do business with him again. I am so sorry for your loss :tears:

So sorry for your loss!! :tears:

I am very sorry that you lost your snake. That is really terrible.
If you decide to get another snake, make sure you don't use the same stuff, it could contaminate your new snake and you don't want to go through this again. I would err on the side of caution and even get a new enclosure.

Thank you for everything, i hope no one ever experiences this with their pets.

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Originally Posted by adamjeffery

honestly just putting im in a container and placing im in the freezer is just fine at this point.
adam jeffery

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Freezing is NOT a humane form of euthanasia for reptiles and should NEVER be used.

This is an article written by DVM. Adolf Mass, a very reputable herp vet.
http://www.pnwhs.org/Articles/Freezi...orm-euthanasia

To the OP, I'm sorry for your loss.

So sorry for your loss.

By the looks of the pics he was sick for a while and probably not eating at all.
Sorry for your loss

I'm really sorry for your loss, and this is hard to say, but if there are no herp vets anywhere near you maybe you should stick with tarantulas and leave out the reptiles.

Thanks to Maixx, that was a very interesting article.

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Originally Posted by Maixx

Freezing is NOT a humane form of euthanasia for reptiles and should NEVER be used.

This is an article written by DVM. Adolf Mass, a very reputable herp vet.
http://www.pnwhs.org/Articles/Freezi...orm-euthanasia

To the OP, I'm sorry for your loss.

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Too late to edit, and changed by my phones auto spell check.
-- This article was written by DVM. Adolf Maas

http://www.theexoticvet.com/index.html

very sorry to hear of your loss.

before you jump to IBD though, is it possible that there was some sort of chemical that the snake could have absorbed through it's skin? scented laundry detergent used to wash the carpet, or oxy clean, etc?

suffer for hours waiting to die on your own or die within minutes???? hmm i know what choice i would make. animal is suffering either way. trip to vet would take longer than time spent in freezer to pass. neither is a humane way to die.
adam jeffery

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Originally Posted by adamjeffery

suffer for hours waiting to die on your own or die within minutes???? hmm i know what choice i would make. animal is suffering either way. trip to vet would take longer than time spent in freezer to pass. neither is a humane way to die.
adam jeffery

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Quoted from the article
"Chilling a herp to death is an awful way to die, and, could they speak, they would describe it as torture. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Zoological Veterinarians classify this as cruel treatment of animals and animal abuse and the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians categorize it as an unacceptable method of euthanasia, as well. If a veterinarian recommended this to you, it could be categorized as malpractice."

"As a result, reptiles and amphibians can feel their body get cold, which produces pain, but they can do nothing about it. Studies show that they can, literally, feel their cells freeze and rupture as they get further chilled, sensing pain as intensely as if they were being burned alive,"

End quotes -----------

Freezing is not an acceptable practice period!
There are other methods that are acceptable such as instantaneous decapetation or destruction of the brain that do not require a vet visit, and while seeming barbaric to us, it is far more humane then freezing.
There is even debate over decapitation, that some reptiles with very slow metabolism will survive (mentally aware) for several minutes after the head is severed, leading many to say that brain destruction (instantly crushing the skull) is the fastest and most humane, drug free method of euthanasia.
Freezing might be easier for the owner to perform, as opposed to crushing the skull of a loved friend, but its not about the owner, its the owners responsibility to make quick and painless.

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Originally Posted by Brion99

I'm really sorry for your loss, and this is hard to say, but if there are no herp vets anywhere near you maybe you should stick with tarantulas and leave out the reptiles.

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X2
Very sorry for you loss...