aLI HAS A MAJOR RI! PLEASE HELP Hurry hurry hurry!

ALI HAS IT BAD AND IM ALMOST IN TEARS. OPEN MOUTH BREATHING SNOTTY NOSE, CLASSIC, BUBBLY MOUTH PLEASE HELP WHAT DO I DO UNTIL TOMAROW AT THREE thats her appiint ment. do i have that kind of time or do i need toi go now

RI's can move really fast and based soley on your description I say take her to the VET IMMEDIATELY...not that it adds incentive but you have a $1000 animal at stake.

For now, the accepted recommendation is to bump the heat up to 95 or so reduce the humidity if you have too much, and if you have none I would suggest some.

I know that people say that high humidity is one factor of RI..but I have not found that to be so. Other's may have a different opinion.

you know what they are going to make an appointment for me! i don't care how god damn bussy they are.

Increase the humidity to help break up the mucus - don't lower it. Do increase the heat - and walk into your vets when they open - this isn't an "appointment" situation - this is an emergency situation.

Once you get her treated - you need to examine how you're housing her and what improvements you can make to prevent this from happening again.

I'd say increase temps and bump up humidity a bit.
Just make sure you get that girl into the vet.

you have been good advice so i wont repeat.

Just wanted to send good luck your way.
Hope it works out. i would just want to say make sure they do a culture so the correct antibiotic is perscribed. The bacterias that cause RI's react to specific medications. there is no one med does it all. Been there done that.

they have a spot for me a@ 6:40 and its 6 now. Omg i am balling up.:tears: this hit so fast the temps and humidity were perfect too. 80-85% humidity and 90 degrees or less on the warm side 75 80 cold. wtf

Don't take an appointment! Be waiting at the door when they open! It's an emergency, make them treat it like one!

Also Check out these videos they will help you get comfortable with the injections your going to have to give. Watch them over and over.. Best of luck for ya.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4nXFNICdDBQ

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MBPPPJww6m8

thanks i have seen them before.

I never had to give any injections for any of my animals just oral medicine and ointments. Had a blood and my female ball get RI

Is there an update? Back from the vet yet?
Ed, the vids were a great inclusion! Doesn't matter that he's (she's) seen them before; when t comes time to inject the snake, they will be priceless!! Good job!! :gj:

Hoping she get's some good news at the vet. I'll check back for an update.

Alright, back from the vet! The doc said she has got it. Obviously. He said that I shouldn't worry to much, that She was going to be fine. I was almost in tears. He gave me about 12 syringes, and i have some antibiotics that I have to refrigerate. He gave me three different viles of different anti biotics. She was pretty bad. Open mouth breathing, snotty nose, and rite under her chin was build up of "sluge". It was like a pocket of mucous. Eww. He popped it w/ a knife though. Just kidding! So he said she was going to feel better and I have nothing to worry about. Also if you dont see a depletion of mucous within 7 days then I would worry. But she is doing great. Poor baby looks so sad. I feel really bad. It came up so fast, we had a really bad santa ana up here and it was about 100 degrees and 2% humidity:O in San Diego:O amazing. thats what caused it. I had such a hard time getting the humidity up but its working. Thank you for all your support! :snake:you guys are great!:D

Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I just peeked at your profile.....
Are you really just 14?
If so, you totally double rock for making things happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Molten hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get better Ali!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:banana::banana::banana::gj::banana::banana::banana:

yep 14! Thanks!

Very cool.
So, I just had an uber paranoid thought: your other snakes :weirdface
YIKES!!!!!!!!!!! :O:O:O
QT Ali immediately!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! :gj:

crap I need to do that. They are in the same room but they don't touch each other. The cages are at least 5 ft away from each other. Is that ok or should I move her to a different room?

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Originally Posted by pythontricker

crap I need to do that. They are in the same room but they don't touch each other. The cages are at least 5 ft away from each other. Is that ok or should I move her to a different room?

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Different room would be supreme!!

ok thank you so much! You guys have been so great! #1!:gj:

Very best wishes on getting this RI under control. I'd agree, you need to put Ali in a totally seperate room. Make sure it's a room that's stable in it's temps, is quiet and isn't drafty at all. When you deal with the snakes, do all the healthy snakes first, Ali last for everything and don't go back to your regular collection that night after Ali is dealt with if you can avoid it. Very good handwashing after touching Ali as well as hand sanitizer. No sharing of any equipment or prey between Ali and the other snakes. QT is always important, even more so when you have an illness in the collection.

The only thing I would comment on. You said your keeping her at 80-85% humidity? That seems high to me. What are you housing her on substrate wise?

You had said that your having a hard time keeping her humidity up.
That kind of humidity percentage would lead me to believe the substrate must be soaking.

I would have to remind you that wetness does not equal humidity, and can lead to other problems if that is the case.

Again I could be mistaken and you have found some other means to keep the humidity so high?

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

The only thing I would comment on. You said your keeping her at 80-85% humidity? That seems high to me. What are you housing her on substrate wise?

You had said that your having a hard time keeping her humidity up.
That kind of humidity percentage would lead me to believe the substrate must be soaking.

I would have to remind you that wetness does not equal humidity, and can lead to other problems if that is the case.

Again I could be mistaken and you have found some other means to keep the humidity so high?

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That is exactly what I thought. 80-85% humidity is crazy high, but I am a little confused.

I had to compensate for the really low humidity in my area. It got down to 2%. Where should I have it at now and for the future? I just want to double check. I might have had it to high.

50-60% is the usual amount, but with an RI it may be better to have it a bit higher, I don't know now that you have the meds. Connie?

What are you measuring humidity with? 2% seems completely unrealistic to me, considering the lowest it got here in Michigan during the winter was around 20%, but I also don't know where you live.

EDIT: Also, you never answered my question. What is the substrate and how did you compensate to get such a high number?

No I meant 20%. Sorry typo. I'm using carefresh.

Definitely get rid of the carefresh. It is extremely dusty and that could have easily contributed to her respiratory problem. It causes respiratory distress in rats all of the time, which is the reason I will never use it. Plus, it stinks, and just looks gross.

I would just use newspaper for her for the time being, and keep her humidity in the 60s to 70s, but not wet. Make sure her temps are higher than normal too, as that will help the antibiotics work faster and will help her immune system. It sounds like the vet gave you Fortaz, which has to be kept in the freezer after it's mixed up. Good, but expensive, antibiotic.

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Originally Posted by SatanicIntention

Definitely get rid of the carefresh. It is extremely dusty and that could have easily contributed to her respiratory problem. It causes respiratory distress in rats all of the time, which is the reason I will never use it. Plus, it stinks, and just looks gross.

I would just use newspaper for her for the time being, and keep her humidity in the 60s to 70s, but not wet. Make sure her temps are higher than normal too, as that will help the antibiotics work faster and will help her immune system. It sounds like the vet gave you Fortaz, which has to be kept in the freezer after it's mixed up. Good, but expensive, antibiotic.

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I agree with you 100%, it could also be peprocil(spelling?) which also has to stay in the fridge;)

yep its in the fridge. As for the care fresh, I like it because it keeps in humidity really well when I mist it. And, after I mist it there isn't any dust. I actually don't notice the dust in the first place at all.

Believe me.. It's VERY dusty. Why would you want your snake breathing that in? Open a bag, stick your face in and breathe deeply. I bet that you cough and sneeze. I've never had good experiences with it when using it with rats, and snake lungs are about as fragile as rat lungs. Why chance it..

If you want to use carefresh, use the white Ultra type. It's not as dusty.

While she is sick though, use newspaper or paper towels. It will be much easier to keep things clean and keep the air clear of any dust. After she is better, if you have problems with humidity, put her on cypress mulch. Not dusty and won't mold easily. It's also SO much more economical than that Carefresh junk. Even aspen would be a better choice

Update: I have the RI under control. I switched from carefresh to paper towels. I started cleaning cages and I took a better look at the bottom of the tank, Ewwwww! So much dust and crud was on the class. Forget that stuff. lol. The mucous that was flowing out of her mouth is residing, not so much popping either. I'm on my fourth shot of Antibiotics tomorrow, and the antibiotics are called Fortaz, and I have two more voiles of it left. I will have a video up of me giving her a shot! Just for fun! thank you all, have a nice day!

Fortaz is good stuff, glad to hear he's doing better. I keep a humidifier controled by a humidistat in my snake room because the hot dry Cali air along with the dry air from the forced air heating cause some RI's for me in the past. Now I keep the heating vents closed in the snake room in the winter and heat with aa oil filled heater on a t-stat and have never had a problem since. I noticed that my sinuses would get fried I could only imagine how a Ball python must have felt.

Glad to hear it is under control:gj:

UPDATE:
Ali is on her last two injections. When she first got the ri, she had shed approx. 3 days before hand. She shed only a week and a half later. Right after that she started looking way better. Now I still here a little popping, some wheezing but she is finally eating (5 week fast), her shed was a perfect one piece and she looks beautiful! Thanks again for all your help! I really owe you guys! thanks!:salute:

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Originally Posted by pythontricker

UPDATE:
Ali is on her last two injections. When she first got the ri, she had shed approx. 3 days before hand. She shed only a week and a half later. Right after that she started looking way better. Now I still here a little popping, some wheezing but she is finally eating (5 week fast), her shed was a perfect one piece and she looks beautiful! Thanks again for all your help! I really owe you guys! thanks!:salute:

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Hey bro, actually I'm very proud of someone your age taking the problem head on, dealing with weeks of injections and having good results. You my friend are one hell of a herper.:salute:

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Originally Posted by West Coast Jungle

Hey bro, actually I'm very proud of someone your age taking the problem head on, dealing with weeks of injections and having good results. You my friend are one hell of a herper.:salute:

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Oh thanks bro! I couldn't have done it without you all! Seriously, I have learned so many things from you all. Not only about herps, but also about life. Things as easy as do your research before you post any thing, or say anything. I mean the list goes on and on. I cant give you guys enough credit! I feel like its a huge community of people who really understand, and who really know what they are doing. I am so blessed to have found this forum! I started here on a bad note to, I never said hey I am new here hows it going? If some of you remember, my first post was about my first snake, Bali, he had a uri, if it wasn't for your guys support, I don't know what would have happened. So heres my hello. 714 posts after may original post, and a thank you that cannot be emphasized enough! Really, you guys are great! Love the forum, love the community! Who ever thought of this site initially, props!

not to pry or anything, but i just got my first BP and am trying to get a plan down for any situation that might arise, such as the one you went through. how much was everything with the vet? for the visit and the meds and stuff. again if you don't want to answer, thats fine. thanks

it was a total of $120.

******UPDATE****** Ali just had her last bit of anti biotics today! she is looking good. here is a video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuSbix1_pFY

I'm so glad to know Ali is doing so much better. Do keep a really close eye on her though and if that RI isn't completely cleared up, even if the rounds of shots are done, give your vet a call and let him/her know. Hopefully it's all gone but don't assume anything with something this serious. You've done a great job getting this dealt with. :)

yeah like I said in the video, I still hear a little bit of popping and weezing, but I am going to give it a couple of weeks or so and see how she is doing. If it starts to come back, I will get her back to the vet! :D

I've never had to deal with a snake with an RI, but I thought if there is still popping and wheezing, then they aren't all the way cured yet? Maybe one of the more experienced people here will comment on that, but if it were me, I wouldn't wait to see how it goes. Since you are now out of medicine, I'd call the vet back and give him and update, and see what he says about there still being some popping and wheezing.

Maybe it is like people who can still have a cough that takes a while to clear up after the infection is gone, but it costs nothing to call the vet...

Yeah I probably will do that. I am still going to be diligent and keep an eye on her. The vet told me that I would still see a little bit of it left over afterwards, but if I keep the temperature and humidity correct, everything should all reside. Also, she eats on her regular schedule, sheds all in one piece, and is very active and alert when I hold her. Though she doesn't have a strong feeding response anymore, she still eats.

Hun, if you don't get the infection fully cleared up, it can come back even stronger and more resistant to antibiotics the second time. Get it gone the first time around, and you won't be fighting an uphill battle later.

Ask the vet to do a culture and put her on another course.

Also, I wanted to let you know about your injection-giving.. When you insert the needle into the muscle, you need to go slow and not just JAB-INJECT. If you put Fortaz into the vein, you could hurt your snake.

You just need to hold the part of the snake that is getting the injection, with one hand wrapped entirely around that part of the body. Restraining her head will just make her even more nervous. With your hand wrapped around the snake's first 1/3, pull the skin tight and insert the needle in between the scales, about 1/4-1/2" away from the spine. When you insert the needle, make sure the bevel is up(the spoon part of the needle. It inserts quicker and less painfully this way. When you have inserted the needle, pull back on the plunger to ensure you have not hit a vein. Then slowly inject the medication.

After you have injected the medication, put your finger over the injected area and hold it there so the medication doesn't ooze out. You lose a good portion of the antibiotic when you don't put your finger over the injection site. Press down and rub that area so the meds are distributed into the muscle and are less apt to ooze out of the injection site.

Always pull back on the plunger before giving an injection. Giving medications into a vein when they aren't meant to go IV, can cause alot of damage, and even death.

ok thank you.

Sorry to be frank, but it doesn't look like you're taking my post too seriously. Let's hope you do and you will take your snake back in for a culture and another round of antibiotics. That infection is not gone.

no I take it seriously, its just really late over here, so I am super tired. I will see what I can do.

great job young lady,you have got some great advice here.

i just wanted to relate my experience with carefresh,whenever my snakes got it wet it created mold quickly and seeing your misting it i would try another substrate.keep up the good work !

Becky's (SatanicIntention) post about giving injections is fantastic! Lots of details. Lots of people have no idea how to give an injection so I'm sure many will benefit from this!

Her point about the infection only getting stronger if you don't get rid of it now is also very good. It is never a good idea to stop antibiotics unless the infection is all the way cleared up. That is how we end up with these super drug resistant strains of bacteria.