Help

For 3 years I've done everything in my whole power for my snake. Absolutely everything, fought for her, changed apartments for her, spent money on vet checkups, took her in when she got sick, she has the most elaborate set-up... But yet I'm still unrewarded all the time and I feel like giving up. 2 months ago she had an RI, cleared it up with some antibiotics. She ate last month once. Then refused to eat again. Still off food, I'm trying to help her eat and get some more muscle tone by letting her climb on a chair every night cause I can't afford a huge log rn. She seems stressed lately but I have no idea why. She has good humidity, heat, everything. But tonight after she was done on the chair, I put her inside her tank again and she starts whistling.... Of course my heart immediately sunk. I don't know if it's from stress or another RI. I checked her mouth and she had some saliva in the back of her throat but nothing around her airway. Idk what to do. Leave her alone for a few weeks? Or what? How should I check on her every day for RI if she's stressed? Literally don't know what to do. I would give my arm and leg for this snake. She's my baby and I'm just so worn from trying everything I can do.


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When she got the antibiotics from the Vet did they do a culture? If not its possible the treatments she has gotten helped the condition but did not kill/cure the Bacteria/Virus that is causing the RI.
Bump your heat a bit in the mean time and get a culture done if you think she has come down again with one. (IMO)

Stress can contribute to RI too, so I'd leave her be. Maybe only handle once a week for a few minutes for now. BP's don't need to be handled often to "keep them tame", they naturally are!

I wouldn't even think about climbing for muscle tone, that she's stressed and refusing food. Having muscle tone is great, if the BP is healthy. If the BP is not totally healthy or having other issues, climbing/taking them out to handle is low priority... they don't "need" it to survive. Make sure her warm side temps are on point, and her enclosure is clean with good ventilation, and let her be.

As a general rule, if a BP is refusing food due to potential stress or illness (and not just doing a fast), you should minimize handling/don't handle at all until they eat.

I also agree that if the vet didn't do a culture for her last RI, it's possible she never fully recovered from it. There are different types of RI, and you won't know what medications to use for sure until a culture has been done.

ETA: I know there are people who put SO MUCH emphasis on "exercise, enrichment, muscle tone" that it seems to actually mislead some owners to believe that it is critical for keeping a ball python healthy and sickness-free. It is not. It's more like icing on the cake, once the snake is already healthy. If the snake is sick/stressed, don't even think about it... worry about the basics first (temps, humidity, hiding spots, minimal handling). Forcing exercise outside the enclosure is simply additional stress.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Stress can contribute to RI too, so I'd leave her be. Maybe only handle once a week for a few minutes for now. BP's don't need to be handled often to "keep them tame", they naturally are!

I wouldn't even think about climbing for muscle tone, that she's stressed and refusing food. Having muscle tone is great, if the BP is healthy. If the BP is not totally healthy or having other issues, climbing/taking them out to handle is low priority... they don't "need" it to survive. Make sure her warm side temps are on point, and her enclosure is clean with good ventilation, and let her be.

I also agree that if the vet didn't do a culture for her last RI, it's possible she never fully recovered from it. There are different types of RI, and you won't know what medications to use for sure until a culture has been done.

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She had no other symptoms other than whistling. I'll leave her alone for a few days. Probably won't handle her at all all week if not longer. Only bothering her to check once in awhile. She's right beside my bed on my dresser so I'll be able to hear for any whistling and wheezing. She has currently stopped with the whistling. She's still circling her tank. But she whistled for a good 15 minutes. She was on meds but was completely fine and ate for awhile. I always keep her tank perfect. She could be stressed from me changing her tank around, handling, 2 vet visits in 1 week a month ago. And trying to get her to eat probably doesn't help.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Stress can contribute to RI too, so I'd leave her be. Maybe only handle once a week for a few minutes for now. BP's don't need to be handled often to "keep them tame", they naturally are!

I wouldn't even think about climbing for muscle tone, that she's stressed and refusing food. Having muscle tone is great, if the BP is healthy. If the BP is not totally healthy or having other issues, climbing/taking them out to handle is low priority... they don't "need" it to survive. Make sure her warm side temps are on point, and her enclosure is clean with good ventilation, and let her be.

As a general rule, if a BP is refusing food due to potential stress or illness (and not just doing a fast), you should minimize handling/don't handle at all until they eat.

I also agree that if the vet didn't do a culture for her last RI, it's possible she never fully recovered from it. There are different types of RI, and you won't know what medications to use for sure until a culture has been done.

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I just worry that she won't calm down again, she's such a gentle snake and enjoys handling. I think she's mad at me for poking her with needles.


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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

When she got the antibiotics from the Vet did they do a culture? If not its possible the treatments she has gotten helped the condition but did not kill/cure the Bacteria/Virus that is causing the RI.
Bump your heat a bit in the mean time and get a culture done if you think she has come down again with one. (IMO)

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I didn't end up getting a culture done because she didn't have enough symptoms to prove it was RI, only whistling. No mucus or any other signs, we checked her lungs as well.


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How are you trying to get her to eat? How's her weight? If she's not losing significant weight, don't worry about feeding right now.

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Originally Posted by DLena

How are you trying to get her to eat? How's her weight? If she's not losing significant weight, don't worry about feeding right now.

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I just use a frozen thawed rat, feed her in her enclosure using tongs. But lately she doesn't seem too interested. And her weight is pretty good just weighed her she's 1824 grams.


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Originally Posted by Medduussa

I didn't end up getting a culture done because she didn't have enough symptoms to prove it was RI, only whistling. No mucus or any other signs, we checked her lungs as well.


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Well then that Vet isnt very good at all because you dont give antibioics without seeing several signs or knowing their sick. They become immune to them... Can't say Id go back to that vet again. Hope that over the next couple days you dont hear anything.. Maybe somehing got in a nostril and its nothing.. Keep us updated. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Well then that Vet isnt very good at all because you dont give antibioics without seeing several signs or knowing their sick. They become immune to them... Can't say Id go back to that vet again. Hope that over the next couple days you dont hear anything.. Maybe somehing got in a nostril and its nothing.. Keep us updated. :gj:

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She was heavily whistling Sunday night, I truly believe it's from stress. I haven't heard her since and have not handled her and will not handle her until she has a meal in her. I took her out for 1 minute to move her probe back into place from the thermostat and she seemed completely fine. I've been keeping the humidity and heat properly and just leaving her alone. I've put a towel over her tank so I cannot see her and she can't see me to limit any kind of stress possible. I can still hear her at night but she seems to be clear of whatever that was bothering her Sunday night.


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As for the vet situation all the exotic vets in my area are pretty outdated... Meaning the information they have gotten was probably a REALLY long time ago. I've only kept snakes for 3 years and some of the stuff they said I even knew better about.


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And by "still hearing" her at night I don't mean the whistling I mean I can just hear her moving about lol


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Medduussa

She was heavily whistling Sunday night, I truly believe it's from stress. I haven't heard her since and have not handled her and will not handle her until she has a meal in her. I took her out for 1 minute to move her probe back into place from the thermostat and she seemed completely fine. I've been keeping the humidity and heat properly and just leaving her alone. I've put a towel over her tank so I cannot see her and she can't see me to limit any kind of stress possible. I can still hear her at night but she seems to be clear of whatever that was bothering her Sunday night.


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Good idea putting the towel over the glass.. Sometimes I do the same and give mine a few days to crash hard. I think it helps them too..
The weight is great so i wouldnt worry at all.. As you said she does the winter fasting.. Lol.

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Good idea putting the towel over the glass.. Sometimes I do the same and give mine a few days to crash hard. I think it helps them too..
The weight is great so i wouldnt worry at all.. As you said she does the winter fasting.. Lol.

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Thank you for your help, I do appreciate it! :) leaving her alone for the rest of the month besides trying to feed her on the 20th is what I think is best for her right now. I've been hovering over her the last few months from worry, but I know the best thing I can do is just calm down and leave her be. Besides I think we honestly need a break from each other lol.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Medduussa

As for the vet situation all the exotic vets in my area are pretty outdated... Meaning the information they have gotten was probably a REALLY long time ago. I've only kept snakes for 3 years and some of the stuff they said I even knew better about.


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If thats the only choice i understand.. Im in a tuff area too..if you think there is a problem be confident and before you take it to that VET look into its mouth, check for mucous, listen for weezing ect.. That way you dont fall for outdated practices that might not be needed and actually cause stress and resistance to some antibiotic they give you for no reason lol.