Mild RI first aid

[Aste88]

While doing the weekly deep cleaning yesterday I realized my yearling pearl burmese might be developing a respiratory infection.

While once out she's sweet she still hisses a lot when first picked up and the first hiss sounded "bubbly". Indeed she had a few mucus bubbles right where she sticks out her tongue. The mouth looks almost clear. No wheezing sound, clicking or any other sign.

I've already moved her to the warmest spot on the rack (she was on the bottom which stays around 87 F). I'm also making sure humidity stays higher with a brief spray twice a day (she does NOT line it lol).

Besides raising temp and humidity what else can I do?
Brian Barczyk suggest using a fogger with F10 to treat mild RI in this vid https://youtu.be/pJCnPfuqaBM and if I can find the damn product I might try. Is it something widely used?

I have a 24/7 specialized vet close by and will take her in if it persists or gets worse.

Thanks

PS: old picture but that's her

[Albert Clark]

I would absolutely take my animal to the exotic vet for definitive evaluation and treatment. This way you can get the appropriate diagnosis and be backed by a professional if things go awry. Just not worth it wasting time with these symptomatic relief remedies.

[CALM Pythons]

Several people are using the F10sc with the fogger and your right Brian and several others (I've talked to in person) are using it at beginnin stages. As a matter of fact some vets have prescribed Anti's and suggests using it each day as a part of the treatment. This isnt new and its been used for a few years now so i feel safe with it.
PS: I love that Burm. What a beauty!!

[montymiow]

As much as I love Brian, I agree arranging a vet visit would be the first thing I would do. In the mean time doing these home made treatments the snake could get worse, the diy treatment could help the problem initially but not kill it off completely therefore reoccurring. Not worth the risk imo

[Stewart_Reptiles]

There is no mild RI well there is but it has to be addressed like an advanced RI, you MUST see a vet, a culture MUST be done and the proper anti-biotics MUST be prescribed.

The sooner it is addressed the better, you do not take a snake with a RI if it get worse you take it soon as the animal shows symptoms.

Yes there are things you can do that helps but they mainly alleviate the symptoms, making the animal sound better while the RI is still present.

You have a RI it MUST be taken care off.

[Sauzo]

I have heard of people using F10SC in a fogger but me personally, I take my snakes into my vet. Raising humidity and temps can sometimes kick the animals immune system into overdrive to kill. It's really your call but me personally, I just go to my vet like I said. Best to find a good vet BEFORE you actually need them. I got lucky and found my vet like 3 years ago and she takes care of all my snakes and my overweight, very expensive beardie hahaha.

[Aste88]

Checked again today and she's back to her usual loud hiss.

I'll be getting an appointment with the vet tomorrow, there's a big animal clinic with a doctor that specialize in reptiles just a few block away from my place.

Seems like the F10 isn't sold in Italy and it takes too long to get it shipped from abroad.

[Aste88]

Forgot to update on this.

Got her to the vet two days after posting this and he didn't like what he heard trough the stethoscope although the upper respiratory tract was rather clean. Gave me the choice between broad spectrum antibiotics and a lung wash and culture (while strongly advising on the second one). Thanks to this forum I already knew which one to choose. Signed some pretty scary paper discharging them from liabilities from the anesthesia and did the wash. Luckily all went well.

Turns out the situation was worse than it looked but the vet is confident she'll recover. He was surprised too from the relative absence of symptoms.
He did agree on the use of the F10sc in a fogger but only after a visit.

So again, thanks for your help, you might have saved my snake. Important lesson for me: never even think about waiting before taking a snake to the vet.