Snake makes loud breathing sounds

Hi, I just got a ball python snake that my relative found in her yard. She is acouple feet long.

Ive noticed that she makes loud breathing sounds. At first not as much, more when she was climbing around but lately ive noticed it more. It sounds alittle like a whistling sound. I don't want to say wheazing but i've never had a snake before.

I don't want to make an unecessary visit to a vet, even though it might be good for her to have an initial checkup.

- ?confused? :carrot:

Sounds like a URI(upper respitory Infection) I would take him to the vet either way. also, bump up the temps a little bit and lower the humidity to help dry up the mucus.

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Hi, I just got a ball python snake that my relative found in her yard. She is acouple feet long.

Ive noticed that she makes loud breathing sounds. At first not as much, more when she was climbing around but lately ive noticed it more. It sounds alittle like a whistling sound. I don't want to say wheazing but i've never had a snake before.

I don't want to make an unecessary visit to a vet, even though it might be good for her to have an initial checkup.

- ?confused? :carrot:

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Your relative found it in her yard:confused: .I say contact a vet ASAP.A healthy snake does not whistle or pop.Keep us posted

Also check this out for more info and treatment of an RI
http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....warticle&id=50

Sometimes she lifts her head up acouple inches for a alittle bit. Not more than a minute and not all the time. I don't know if it is usual snake behavior. I read that a snake might do that to drain fluid/whathaveyou from its nose/mouth. I'm arranging to see a vet this week.

Still no 'bubbles' in the nose or holding the mouth open.

I'll keep you guys posted.

It sounds like a RI to me too. I would definitely get the snake to a vet ASAP.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Sometimes she lifts her head up acouple inches for a alittle bit. Not more than a minute and not all the time. I don't know if it is usual snake behavior. I read that a snake might do that to drain fluid/whathaveyou from its nose/mouth. I'm arranging to see a vet this week.

Still no 'bubbles' in the nose or holding the mouth open.

I'll keep you guys posted.

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a snake lifting up their head is completely normal, they just do it to look around

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Hi, I just got a ball python snake that my relative found in her yard. She is acouple feet long.

Ive noticed that she makes loud breathing sounds. At first not as much, more when she was climbing around but lately ive noticed it more. It sounds alittle like a whistling sound. I don't want to say wheazing but i've never had a snake before.

I don't want to make an unecessary visit to a vet, even though it might be good for her to have an initial checkup.

- ?confused? :carrot:

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Could be RI and a trip to the vet is needed anyway especially since this snake was found in a yard :confused: I would have this snake throughly check for any other type of problems like parasites etc .

Now, until you have this BP check by an herp vet (http://www.arav.org/USMembers.htm) try to get the temp up and reduce the humidity level

Probly RI:(. Keep temps at ~84 cool side, ~95 hot side and bump up the humidity to around 65-70%. See the vet, and have a good Thanksgiving.


P.S. the famous ADAM said to raise the humidity cause it allows the snake's mucous to drain easier...:D

Ive been kinda putting this off because i want to see how it developes. buuut

I checked on my snake thismorning and before i picked her up, or she really even noticed me i heard abit of a whistling wheezing sound on almost every breath from her. I can tell she has some kind of congestion.
Before it was just once and again but now its much more constant. I'm deff. going to take her in on monday since im absolutly convinced.

What can I do to relieve her symptoms at this point?

I still havent seen 'bubbles' on her nose, or her keeping her mouth open or anything weird like that.

You said warm water was good. Should I try to coax the snake into submerging herself? ie. get her fresh warm water and put her near/alittle in it?

Also i'm kinda getting mixed messages on the humitity.

Should I kick it up a notch?

BAM!

thanks

I have heard that bumping up the humidity may help ease the symptoms, but it will not cure a respiratory infection. You definitely need to get the snake to a vet, the longer you put it off, the longer and more costly it will be to cure.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Ive been kinda putting this off because i want to see how it developes. buuut

I checked on my snake thismorning and before i picked her up, or she really even noticed me i heard abit of a whistling wheezing sound on almost every breath from her. Before it was just once and again but now its much more constant. I'm deff. going to take her in on monday since im absolutly convinced.

What can I do to relieve her symptoms at this point?

I still havent seen 'bubbles' on her nose, or her keeping her mouth open or anything weird like that.

You said warm water was good. Should I try to coax the snake into submerging herself? ie. get her fresh warm water and put her near/alittle in it?

Also i'm kinda getting mixed messages on the humitity.

Should I kick it up a notch?

BAM!

thanks

---

How about a vet visit? If she does in fact have an RI, anything you do will only mask the symptoms while the snake gets more sick. The cure is a vet visit, a culture and proper meds.

Look not to be rude or pushy here but if you are going to rescue snakes you are going to have to spend hard earned cash on them. Any rescue, especially one found loose in a yard, needs to see a vet. This particular snake is making suspicious breathing sounds, was loose in less than ideal circumstances, has a completely unknown past and could be either very ill or carrying gawd knows what parasitic load (either externally or internally).

Any one of those things would have me at the vet with the snake yesterday, yet your first post was some 8 days ago! If you aren't ready and willing to do these things for a rescue, and are more interested in online "vetting", then I would respectfully suggest you turn this snake over to a herp rescue or an experienced keeper who will be willing to have it's health needs immediately seen to.

Vet vet vet... no other way around it unless you want a really sick / dead snake soon.

I'll sixth everyone else. TAKE IT TO A VET! Your snake is going to die unless you get antibiotics to combat the infection and only your vet can help you with that.

Woah woah, calm down. I took her to the vet the other day and she got a clean bill of health. I got a bill for $60. Now the doctor wants to do a culture test for $110, just to "make sure". Just to milk alittle more money out of the visit of coarse.
I declined because I felt it was extravagant.

I'm going to bring them a 'sample' when i can to test for parasites.
I haven't seen any symptoms lately. Also the house heater was discovered to be broken and was promptly fixed. Now the temp. is much more stable. She seems to be feeling much better as a whole.

Thanks for all your concern

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Woah woah, calm down. I took her to the vet the other day and she got a clean bill of health. I got a bill for $60. Now the doctor wants to do a culture test for $110, just to "make sure". Just to milk alittle more money out of the visit of coarse.
I declined because I felt it was extravagant.

I'm going to bring them a 'sample' when i can to test for parasites.
I haven't seen any symptoms lately. Also the house heater was discovered to be broken and was promptly fixed. Now the temp. is much more stable. She seems to be feeling much better as a whole.

Thanks for all your concern

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If it was a clean bill of health, I doubt the vet would have ordered a culture. But its cool that in your vast experience you deemed it as extravagant! Rock on!

In most every thread you have started the main focus is how cheap you can get things. Keeping a living creature properly is not cheap. If you can't afford the essentials, you probably shouldn't be caring for an animal.

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Woah woah, calm down. I took her to the vet the other day and she got a clean bill of health. I got a bill for $60. Now the doctor wants to do a culture test for $110, just to "make sure". Just to milk alittle more money out of the visit of coarse.
I declined because I felt it was extravagant.

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If I were you, I'd call them back and tell you that you re-considered, because a culture ABSOLUTELY necessary to determine the course of treatment of an RI, or to eliminate that it's an RI all together.

It amazes me how many people seem to have so little trust in their vets, that they are willing to allow their animals to suffer the consequences of not getting the care advised by a professional.

How much experience do you personally have with RI's that you think that an expert is just trying to milk a little more money from you?

If MY vet recommends something, no matter what the expense, I trust him enough to provide only the very best care possible for my animals.

Let me clarify. The vet told me she was very healthy, but 'lets do a culture anyways'.
It seemed as though he didn't want to do a culture from anything HE saw, but just as a precaution just because thats what I originally brought her in for. I understand that since there are no visible symptoms the only way to be 100% sure there isn't RI is a lab culture.

Both my Biology teacher and a 'reptile' freind of mine told me a vet visit was unnecessary and the culture even more so. They were not convinced that my snake had RI.

I took the snake to the vet anyways because I felt it was important for her to be examined. I'm also following up with the vet to test for parasites.

There have been no "RI" symptoms (noises) for almost a week.
She stayed hidden to shed for afew days and when she emerged the sounds had stopped.

and Jamie, I'm not cheap and every thread I've made Isn't about being cheap. Its just called not being lavish. I don't have hundreds of dollars to throw around like you seem to be able to. I would guess that most of the time its not even your own money your spending Jamie.

So, if not a single petstore in your COUNTY carries a hide large enough for your snake, is it "cheap" to cut a hole in a platic bowl? Almost all of the pictures of setups I've seen on this website incorporate homemade things. God forbid you keep any of your animals in rubbermaid or clay pot hides.

and Okay so I can't afford to spend $200 on a thermostat "setup" from one of your guyses websites (that you all shamelessly promote) so tell me again whats wrong with asking about which brands are reliable and affordable? Is anything but what you use inadiquate and horrific? and "cheap"?

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Originally Posted by Rascal

and Jamie, I'm not cheap and every thread I've made Isn't about being cheap. Its just called not being lavish. I don't have hundreds of dollars to throw around like you seem to be able to. I would guess that most of the time its not even your own money your spending Jamie.

So, if not a single petstore in your COUNTY carries a hide large enough for your snake, is it "cheap" to cut a hole in a platic bowl? Almost all of the pictures of setups I've seen on this website incorporate homemade things. God forbid you keep any of your animals in rubbermaid or clay pot hides.

and Okay so I can't afford to spend $200 on a thermostat "setup" from one of your guyses websites (that you all shamelessly promote) so tell me again whats wrong with asking about which brands are reliable and affordable? Is anything but what you use inadiquate and horrific? and "cheap"?

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Who's money do you believe I am spending? I wish it was someone elses but unfortunately I have to go out and work for it everyday.

If you had the least bit of comprehension it would be crystal clear that I am not referring to making your own hides or keeping a snake in a Rubbermaid.

It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder and my comments struck a nerve. For the future, being more clear when you type a post will help everyone else understand what you are trying to convey.

Whoa Ras... No need to throw out there that Jamie is spending someone else money when you have no proof of that. A lot of us here work very hard for our money and well in return we can do what we would like with it. You can get a pre-wired tstat for $70 from Rich at reptilebasics.com We don't "shamelessly" promote anyone, we are only giving good advice and tips for those who may not know about certain things. Also please do trust your vet. I doubt he is trying to milk you but is only going all the way to make sure your snake is truly 100% healthy. Just because he didn't see or hear anything and gave you "a clean bill of health" doesn't mean there isn't something that is lurking in side your little one that may pop up. Also as for "cheap" stuff, no one here is going to bash anyone for wanting to use "cheap" stuff. I know A LOT of us on here use kitty litter pans for hides and tupper ware bowls for water bowls. Also a lot of us on here love those rubbermaid tubs because they make great houses.

And last but not least... Snakes are NOT cheap in the long run. Be prepared to deal with vet bills. It happens with all pets.

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Whoa Ras... No need to throw out there that Jamie is spending someone else money when you have no proof of that. A lot of us here work very hard for our money and well in return we can do what we would like with it. You can get a pre-wired tstat for $70 from Rich at reptilebasics.com We don't "shamelessly" promote anyone, we are only giving good advice and tips for those who may not know about certain things. Also please do trust your vet. I doubt he is trying to milk you but is only going all the way to make sure your snake is truly 100% healthy. Just because he didn't see or hear anything and gave you "a clean bill of health" doesn't mean there isn't something that is lurking in side your little one that may pop up. Also as for "cheap" stuff, no one here is going to bash anyone for wanting to use "cheap" stuff. I know A LOT of us on here use kitty litter pans for hides and tupper ware bowls for water bowls. Also a lot of us on here love those rubbermaid tubs because they make great houses.

And last but not least... Snakes are NOT cheap in the long run. Be prepared to deal with vet bills. It happens with all pets.

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Outstanding post!! :rockon:

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Let me clarify. The vet told me she was very healthy, but 'lets do a culture anyways'.
It seemed as though he didn't want to do a culture from anything HE saw, but just as a precaution just because thats what I originally brought her in for. I understand that since there are no visible symptoms the only way to be 100% sure there isn't RI is a lab culture.

Both my Biology teacher and a 'reptile' freind of mine told me a vet visit was unnecessary and the culture even more so. They were not convinced that my snake had RI.

I took the snake to the vet anyways because I felt it was important for her to be examined. I'm also following up with the vet to test for parasites.

There have been no "RI" symptoms (noises) for almost a week.
She stayed hidden to shed for afew days and when she emerged the sounds had stopped.

and Jamie, I'm not cheap and every thread I've made Isn't about being cheap. Its just called not being lavish. I don't have hundreds of dollars to throw around like you seem to be able to. I would guess that most of the time its not even your own money your spending Jamie.

So, if not a single petstore in your COUNTY carries a hide large enough for your snake, is it "cheap" to cut a hole in a platic bowl? Almost all of the pictures of setups I've seen on this website incorporate homemade things. God forbid you keep any of your animals in rubbermaid or clay pot hides.

and Okay so I can't afford to spend $200 on a thermostat "setup" from one of your guyses websites (that you all shamelessly promote) so tell me again whats wrong with asking about which brands are reliable and affordable? Is anything but what you use inadiquate and horrific? and "cheap"?

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Sounds like a hermit crab might be a better choice for a pet? A small sponge and some corn starch and you're rockin! :carrot:

-adam

Ha... ha.. ha

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Originally Posted by Rascal

ha .ha .ha

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Thanks, I thought so too. ;) :sweeet:

-adam

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Whoa Ras... No need to throw out there that Jamie is spending someone else money when you have no proof of that. A lot of us here work very hard for our money and well in return we can do what we would like with it. You can get a pre-wired tstat for $70 from Rich at reptilebasics.com We don't "shamelessly" promote anyone, we are only giving good advice and tips for those who may not know about certain things. Also please do trust your vet. I doubt he is trying to milk you but is only going all the way to make sure your snake is truly 100% healthy. Just because he didn't see or hear anything and gave you "a clean bill of health" doesn't mean there isn't something that is lurking in side your little one that may pop up. Also as for "cheap" stuff, no one here is going to bash anyone for wanting to use "cheap" stuff. I know A LOT of us on here use kitty litter pans for hides and tupper ware bowls for water bowls. Also a lot of us on here love those rubbermaid tubs because they make great houses.

And last but not least... Snakes are NOT cheap in the long run. Be prepared to deal with vet bills. It happens with all pets.

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Dang Allison I have to spread some love around before I can give you the good rep point you deserve for this post! Excellent stuff!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

In most every thread you have started the main focus is how cheap you can get things.

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I think theres one person here trying to bash on people for wanting to use cheap stuff. And I don't appeciate their sarcasm either.

And as for promotion.. I think its pretty shameless to recommend people to buy things from your online store and slander everyone elses store in the same post.

The person has nothing but good things to say about some .com and whaddyaknow? They're advertising the site in their sig. and as their homepage.

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Originally Posted by Rascal

I think theres one person here trying to bash on people for wanting to use cheap stuff.

And as for promotion.. I think its pretty shameless to recommend people to buy things from your online store and slander everyone elses store in the same post.

The person has nothing but good things to say about some .com and whaddyaknow? They're advertising the site in their sig. and as their homepage.

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Don't be vague and cryptic, its not your bag. Say what you mean since nobody has the slightest clue what you are talking about.

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Originally Posted by Rascal

I think theres one person here trying to bash on people for wanting to use cheap stuff. And I don't appeciate their sarcasm either.

And as for promotion.. I think its pretty shameless to recommend people to buy things from your online store and slander everyone elses store in the same post.

The person has nothing but good things to say about some .com and whaddyaknow? They're advertising the site in their sig. and as their homepage.

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Who exactly are you talking about Ricky? Man up and name some names ... I love a good drama! ;)

-adam

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Originally Posted by Rascal

I think theres one person here trying to bash on people for wanting to use cheap stuff. And I don't appeciate their sarcasm either.

And as for promotion.. I think its pretty shameless to recommend people to buy things from your online store and slander everyone elses store in the same post.

The person has nothing but good things to say about some .com and whaddyaknow? They're advertising the site in their sig. and as their homepage.

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Are you talking about http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=39197 this thread about thermostats and heat sources?

'Cause...I see differing opinions, but I don't see anyone with their own store promoting their own products and bashing others. I do see experienced breeders who USE said products saying that a Thermostat like a Helix or Herpstat are better than buying a an ESU or Alfie or dimmer...

--Kim

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Originally Posted by Rascal

Sometimes she lifts her head up acouple inches for a alittle bit. Not more than a minute and not all the time. I don't know if it is usual snake behavior. I read that a snake might do that to drain fluid/whathaveyou from its nose/mouth. I'm arranging to see a vet this week.

Still no 'bubbles' in the nose or holding the mouth open.

I'll keep you guys posted.

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Last year one of my snakes had an RI and lifting the head up is the snake struggling to breath. Thr culture is not only to see if there is an RI but also to determine what bacteria it has and what antibiotic will kill that specific bacteria causing the RI. We started my snake on a antibiotic that kills the majority of RI bacterias but when the culture came back it was detemined that the medication we were using did not kill this bacteria and could only be cured with a antibiotic that has to be injected, which I had to do everyday for a week. The snake was cured and the culture saved her life. In my experience the culture is a must to determine the correct meds. Considering the snake was outside the odds of an RI infection are significant. Good luck and don't take things so personally, everyone is just trying to help your snake not insult you! Peace out :sunny:

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

Dang Allison I have to spread some love around before I can give you the good rep point you deserve for this post! Excellent stuff!

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LOL
Thats funny. A LOT of the time I'll write back on something like what this post is about and I'll get half way though writting what I feel needs to be said then just click the X button up top. :oops: I don't know why I do this. :confused: Maybe because I feel like I'm coming off wrong on the subject?!?!?!
Buuuut once in a while I'll actually go about with hitting "reply" and not the X.

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Buuuut once in a while I'll actually go about with hitting "reply" and not the X.

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We like it. ;) :sweeet:

-adam

this was highly entertaining!!
:gj: