What do you do when they get flu?

Hi, this year I don´t know why, but I get with flu one of my regius. all of them are at the same temp. but almost 4 are with problem breathing and some bubbles. and the most of them stil are eating without problems,.. I gave some antibiotic. " Vibracina" through mouth, but didnt get well, I am thinking of using other antibiotic but this time punctured. I puto the temp over 32 - 33º C. what can I do more?.
Thanks


PD: forget to carry to vet, cos I am from spain and here are ilegal. I have some knowledge. about vet.

Snakes don't do well with oral antibiotics. They need to be injected. Dosage is based on weight.

yes ok, this week I will do it , cos oral yes I don't like, is slow and seems dont take effect. thanks so much. what antibiotic do you use usually?

Sounds like respiratory infections to me. I would examine your husbandry because something seems off. If it's not fixed the issue will not go away, even with medicine. Or return if it does clear up.

how do they get the respiratory infections?. is about bit air, or humidity? they have his bowl of water, and when they are going to change the skin, I increase the humidity. what can I do more?... thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reptilsoul

how do they get the respiratory infections?. is about bit air, or humidity? they have his bowl of water, and when they are going to change the skin, I increase the humidity. what can I do more?... thanks!

---

Sounds like your need to start searching and reading.

Yes, a respiratory infection (RI) usually comes from a combination of poor humidity, temperatures, and stagnant air.

The cages should be vented for air flow, the temps should be (air) around 75f and a a hotspot of 85f. That's what I shoot for. Humidity needs to be 45-55% and can be boosted to 70% for a shed.

If you do not have a good thermometer and hygrometer you need one ASAP. RI does not clear up on its own and they will most likely need medication. Without it they have a slim chance of surviving.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reptilsoul

how do they get the respiratory infections? ...

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

... a respiratory infection (RI) usually comes from a combination of poor humidity, temperatures, and stagnant air...

---

And from dirty cages or air-borne pathogens. Just like humans don't "catch colds & flu from cold air", snakes don't acquire an RI (respiratory infection) from just "iffy" temperatures & humidity.

In the case of snakes- for those that brumate (snooze for the winter at lower temperatures), they ARE at risk from any pathogens they might be harboring prior to brumation, even IF they appear to be perfectly healthy. That's why brumation is best only done when necessary for breeding (cooling promotes fertility), because it's not without risks- now & then, snakes wake up sick after their winter sleep, & more rarely, a few may not wake up at all. So just remember that really cool temperatures shuts off a snake's immune system. I have brumated snakes in the past, when I bred some- I never had any problems, but it's always a possibility.

The warmth & humidity in a snake's cage (especially BPs because they require warmer temperatures & because the air-flow is usually restricted) promotes the survival of "germs"- various pathogens (bacteria & viruses) that also hang around and multiply in enclosures that aren't kept clean enough. This includes the substrate, the water bowl, all furnishings, & the physical enclosure itself. If the enclosure is made of wood, for example, that wood can absorb & then continue to supply pathogens. Pathogens may also be shared from other animals etc, via the air in the room. (This is why we quarantine new pets.)

Just like us, the more you can reduce the number of pathogens, the less likely that a healthy & well-cared for snake will get sick. But when they're kept "24-7" in a dirty cage, it wears down their immune system. Their body may be able to fend off some germs, but not a bunch of them that are "permanent party" in their homes. BTW (Reptilsoul), I'm not suggesting your cages actually are dirty- that's just one possibility. Also, snakes that are stressed (excessive handling, especially when newly acquired) may have less efficient functioning of their immune system.

Don't forget that when snakes are shipped to us (owned or bred by someone else first) they bring all that previous exposure with them, so if they aren't given quality time to "settle in" (so their immune system is up & running better) they're more likely to get sick, even IF you've kept them clean. Just like us, stress matters.

yes ok thanks, yes I try to clean well all cage, and for me is strange because some are with IR and others no, and thy are in the same conditions. for this, I asked, to try to underdtans where I can find the problem o I have to try to be more alert. babys and subadult are ok, but adults get flu, and not all, for this I have doubts :D..

today I will punctured them, I will follow them to see if the get well. I use paper as sustract and when they pee I clean... i prefer paper to clean fast and avoid mites.

Thanks for advice. :D

Where are you that they're illegal? I'm just curious.

in Spain, are ilegal, goverment think they can invade the territory XD.... now where I live, in the morning are 2ºC...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Reptilsoul

yes ok thanks, yes I try to clean well all cage, and for me is strange because some are with IR and others no, and thy are in the same conditions. for this, I asked, to try to underdtans where I can find the problem o I have to try to be more alert. babys and subadult are ok, but adults get flu, and not all, for this I have doubts :D..

today I will punctured them, I will follow them to see if the get well. I use paper as sustract and when they pee I clean... i prefer paper to clean fast and avoid mites.

Thanks for advice. :D

---

It sounds like they're catching this RI (btw it's called a "respiratory infection" or RI for short, not the flu) from each other. It's contagious, so any healthy ones should have been kept well-separated from any sick ones, but it may be too late- it sounds like they may all be exposed? That makes it much harder to treat.

It's much easier to keep snakes healthy than it is to get them well again, sorry to say. That's why we stress quarantining any new snakes from each other, until you're sure they're healthy.

For your information- an RI can kill a snake, because they cannot cough as we do. They can die from the mucus in their throat & lung- it's serious & basically they "drown". :(

RI sometimes improves with slight rise in warmth, & also most vets recommend slightly higher humidity too, but most likely you'll need the right antibiotics (& luck) to get them well- sorry to say.

Antibiotics- each are only effective against certain pathogens- and antibiotics have side effects, so giving them on a hunch is risky to the snakes. As bcr229 already mentioned, they're not given orally to snakes- they're just not effective that way because snakes are cold-blooded & don't eat all the time. Also, antibiotics are hard on the snake's liver & kidneys- it's best not to try to feed them during antibiotic treatment, even IF they're willing to eat. (most won't)

The best way is to test (lab work) to be sure what specific antibiotic is needed for exactly what pathogen your snakes are sick from. An "RI" is not just one single pathogen, unfortunately- more than one thing can cause an RI in snakes. And if your snakes have (or had) mites, keep in mind that they are thought to be disease vectors that can cause RI and worse.

One more thing- antibiotics are normally given multiple times at specific intervals to fight an infection. It can be over a period of weeks- and if you stop before the full course is given, it creates "resistant" bacteria, which will not respond & need a different antibiotic, or may not be treatable at all. That's why lab work is really essential before giving antibiotics- not guesswork. I wish you luck- you're going to need it.

Keep in mind that antibiotics destroy not only the intended pathogens, but also the "good bacteria" that every creature has in their gut that helps them digest food. After a course of antibiotics, many have trouble digesting food because their "gut biome" was damaged by the drugs used to make them well. They might regurgitate their meals or have diarrhea- neither of which helps them recover & be healthy again. What can help their digestion- but only AFTER a course of antibiotics- is to add some probiotics to their food. I would NOT advise using those designed for humans or other animals though- I'd assume that a snake's gut biome is not the same.

There are a few products made for snakes/reptiles (or for birds, in a pinch) if you can get them- either Nutribac or Bene-bac. NEVER give those WHILE a snake is receiving antibiotics, ONLY AFTERWARDS. These products are usually powdered, & as I recall, don't dissolve very well. When I've given them, I put them in the mouth of the dead rodent I'm feeding to the snake. That way the snake will never notice them. If you try to dust the powder onto a damp rodent, it mostly falls off, & can also make the snake refuse the food because "it smells different". And snakes often lose their appetite (don't feel well) when they have an RI & are on antibiotics anyway, plus BPs can be fussy eaters anyway, so I think it's best to hide the probiotic powder in the rodent's oral cavity (mouth).