RI Meds

[ladywhipple02]

Hey everyone! My boa, Kinky, has been breathing really hard for the past couple of weeks. There hasn't been any mucus or bubbles, no elevating the head, and I thought that maybe the breathing was just because of her spine deformations.

Anyway, when she ate, it took her awile because she always had to wait to exhale before she could swallow... and the exhalation was very loud. So, I decided a vet visit was in order.

Took her yesterday, and they couldn't find any mucus or anything either, but gave me meds, anyway. So, for the next three weeks, every three days, I have to stick her with a needle (I HATE being stuck with needles... and feel bad doing to her what I hate having done!) of RI medicine (Fortnaz, I think).

Anyway, I was wondering if there were any other tips to make her more comfortable through this time? I just want her to get better! Thanks for any and all advice!

[Shelby]

It's Fortaz.. I'm doing the same thing with my dumerils. Be glad you don't have to use Baytril, it is irritating to the muscle tissue. Amakacin is every other day and you have to freeze it.. so Fortaz is good stuff.

Reptiles do no feel pain the same way we do, it isn't as bad as you think it is for her!

[JimiSnakes]

I would be more worried about what caused it, any ideas? You probably already stripped her cage down good and cleaned it extra good, but it's usually something that causes RIs. Any ideas?

[Shelby]

Cooler temps are a major RI culprit.

[JimiSnakes]

Cooler temps are a major RI culprit.

Oh yeah, floor heat might read right, but the ambient temps could be dropping do to the season changes.

[rex322]

it might not be an RI. larger snakes breathe harder. my male BCI has breathed loudly since i got him when he was 4'...hes 5'5 now. even my female does it from time to time, but my male does it all the time. no mucus or RI signs either. could be that your boa is the same way.

[ladywhipple02]

Temps have been right on. Clean cage and all. I noticed her breathing was a little squeaky the day she arrived. I asked the sender (her foster) and she said Kinky might be a little cold from the trip. So, I upped her temps a bit. She was still breathing hard after a couple weeks, so I decided to take her the vet to make sure.

Like I said, no mucus, no elevating the head to breath easier. This girl has multiple deformations of her spine. They span all the way from directly behind her head to the tip of her tail. I asked the vet if this may be the cause of her breathing, and she said it was possible the spine had caused differences with the lung.

In any case, they wanted to make sure... and I wasn't going to take any chances. I've upped her temps a little more (95 on the hot spot) so, hopefully, we'll know soon enough.

Thanks!

[amg20102006]

what is the temp usually at on both sides?

[ladywhipple02]

With the thermostat keeping the hot spot at 95, the ambient temps are hovering around 84-85. A little warm, but warmer is better... especially since it's been damp and chilly here lately.