problem child strikes again

So Carmen's gaining weight and her fecal came back clear, and she seemed up on the up and up...

Til this week. *sigh*

I noticed the past couple of nights that I thought I heard a very slight popping sound when holding her, her head near my ear and maybe some strange gurgles in her tummy. Uber-snake-mom-worries kick into overdrive!

Last night, I listened really hard (much to Carmen's annoyance, I'm sure) and was again pretty sure I heard a few random tiny "pop"s and one slight wheeze.

Called my new vet today, whom I now love-love-love, and she got me in today! Dr. Brothers in Highland, CA is great - so thorough and explains everything. Anywho, she checked Carmen's mouth (no signs of RI) and tried to listen to her breathing, both just by holding her head near her ear and with a stethascope, but didn't hear anything.

While I was still there, holding Carmen, I heard a couple of pops and a wheeze and immediately put Carmen to the doctor's ear - and the doc heard it too.

Anyway, the doctor gave me all the options (just turn up the temps, which I have already done, go with a 10 day treatment of antibotics, Baytril, try to draw some blood for a blood test). Anywho, I said I would hate if it got worse if we just went with higher temps in hopes it would clear up on its own, so I got the pre-measured Baytril shots and they showed me how to administer it.

My poor baby! :( :sigh2: :depressed

Your a good snake mommy!!! What I was told in case of a snake getting an RI is to up the temps and Reduce humidity a bit so it dries up the mucas in their noses. Sounds like an RI a bit. Is she keeping her mouth open and holding her hed elevated?

All husbandry has been spot on for both snakes, with Carmen's cage actually a bit lower in humidity (45% instead of 60%) as of late.

No mouth breathing and not much "holding her head up" that I can tell...but she is a boa and UP is good anyway.

The vet and I agree that we've got it really early and hopefully the raised temps (now at 84 and 94) plus the Baytril will knock the RI cooties right out...

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Originally Posted by cassandra

All husbandry has been spot on for both snakes, with Carmen's cage actually a bit lower in humidity (45% instead of 60%) as of late.

No mouth breathing and not much "holding her head up" that I can tell...but she is a boa and UP is good anyway.

The vet and I agree that we've got it really early and hopefully the raised temps (now at 84 and 94) plus the Baytril will knock the RI cooties right now...

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Oh ya, you seem to have caught it early enough where getting rid of it should be a snap. Remember that boas are suseptable to RI far easier after the first time they get one. Just keep the husbandry right and give her a kiss for me and she should be fine! lol

So been reading up on RI (since that is potentially/likely/who knows what Carmen has) but can't find anything clear on RI being a contagion.

Can anyone say for certain if RI is contagious and if so, by body fluid contact or airborne or what?

You know what...I've heard it is and I've heard it isn't, so that equals to me that it might be, which also equal that I'll treat it as if it is contagious. I have only ever had one snake with a RI, which was my Coastal Rosy, and that was a few years back anyways. It took three trips to the vet to get rid of it, because it kept coming back. The last time I took her I asked for extra Byatril (sp?) and I dosed her every three days for six weeks. It is, IMO-which is no way professional, caused by environmental issues, like cleaning solutions not fully rinsed out of his/her cages, or stress from too low of humidity, or weak temps.

One thing I will say is, if you're going to treat her...do it for at least five-six weeks every three days to nip it good. Good luck

Poor Carmen! Here's hoping my favorite Suri feels better soon!:grouphug:

Yeah, I can't figure out how she got it...:(

But, I think she's doing better (if any snake who doesn't seem to particulary like being touched who's getting daily shots can)...I'm now religiously "listening" to her breathing and I wanna say I heard less "pops" and no wheezes. And for those curious, giving a shot to wriggly, squirmy snake by yourself is not easy, but we're "gettin' 'er done".

Although the vet said to go ahead and feed her like normal, Imma skip her meal today. I'm more worried about having to handle her everyday and stress of the shot possibly causing a regurge than her just missing a meal. Gimme a "oh yeah, don't worry about missing a meal, Cassandra" so I feel better. =)

Still not sure about the contagion, but thanks for your thoughts Jimmy. While I'm not going to move her enclosure to another room, I'm wearing different clothes when I handle the two girls and scrubbing my hands and arms with anti-bacterial soap surgery style before and after Carmen (and Cleo, for that matter, but she's in blue anyway, so that works out). My uneducated guess is that RI is more contagious if there is visible muscus/open mouth breathing/etc. as it must contact, not airborne (snakes don't sneeze, ya know). Anywho, I'm trying to be careful.

Now if I could get my cat Cato to pee (have to collect a urine sample for him as his blood results look like he has diabetes *sigh*), Cassandra's Animal Hospital will be in full swing.

Note: the last time Rick went on a business trip, I ended up in the hospital with emergency gall bladder surgery. This trip (Rick's in England atm), the animals are sick. Meh!

Real sorry to hear about that Cass. Sometimes it just happens even though we have done everything right on our part. I'm sure that she will bounce back again stronger after the treatment.

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Originally Posted by iceman25

Real sorry to hear about that Cass. Sometimes it just happens even though we have done everything right on our part. I'm sure that she will bounce back again stronger after the treatment.

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Thanks Raj. Like the title says, she's a problem child diva...she still hasn't learned from Cleo: lay around, sleep, eat, get bigger, poop, shed, life is good. =D

Good lordy Cass but you're having a time of it! These things always seem to happen when are men are not handy don't they...geesh! I hope Carmen and the kitty are both okay.


I've never dealt with an RI so I hesitate to give you any advice other than just emotional support. If Carmen is of a good body weight and you are concerned that she might regurge a feeding right now in the middle of so much handling for shots, I personally think your instincts are bang on. A missed feeding would seem to me to be of no consequence compared to a regurge. Again though I've no real RI experience nor am I a vet so hon, if you are at all concerned give your vet a call when the office is next open see what they say.

Big hugs for you!