RI or inshed

[JimiSnakes]

First things first, He does have a vet appt in one hour. Just in case. My anery is "clicking" his breath and has to open his mouth to breath...classic RI symptoms. My quick question is this: Has anyone ever encountered a snake having RI symptoms while he/she is in the blue (pre-shed)? I was thinking maybe that it could only be that he has some skin loose in his nasal area causing him to have a problem breathing.

No matter what, he is going to the vet, but I was just curious due to the fact that no other snake has any symptoms and all the temps/hum/etc are good.

Thanks everyone,
Jim

[JimiSnakes]

Well, not an RI. I didn't think it could be with everything stable, but you never know. He said you that it was the skin from his pre-shed that is giving him trouble. He plucked inside really carefully with these big ole magnifying glasses and low and behold it was a little flap of skin in each. Phewwww. Had me worried. No more mouth opening or clicking noises since. I'll keep an eye on him for awhile though, just in case.

[4theSNAKElady]

Open mouthed breathing is not at all a good sign...taking him to the vet....as you are, (yay) is a wonderful idea and will probably yield better results. My boyfriend bought an 8ft male BCI to breed with my female...he had a little bit of wheezing a few days later, followed by occasional open mouthed breathing two weeks later. I told my boyfriend he was an idiot for buying a snake without me present so I could give it a health checkover,as he is very unexperienced with snakes, but he has learned his lesson....I told him the snake needed to see a vet, cause it was seriously ill, and was probably sick when he bought it....it died less than a week later. Hope yours gets better!

[jglass38]

Glad he is ok! I have a couple snakes that this has happened with but it was a whistling sound and they still were able to closed mouth breathe. Sounds like he was completely blocked!

[JimiSnakes]

Yeah, he's good now. Actually, I JUST checked him and he is starting to shed. The vet I go to is a herper and he checked his mouth and listened to him breath for about five minutes after plucking the skin out. Funny watching a man stick a boa in his ear. He said to bring him back, free of charge, if it starts back up.

it died less than a week later.

Sorry about your boa. Sometimes you can't notice the signs if they are in the really early stages.

[jglass38]

I actually have a male that only whistles when he eats. He has been checked twice by the vet and treated. No other signs of anything but I am making another appointment to have him checked out.

[frankykeno]

Glad you got right on it Jimi and even happier it was nothing more than the pre-shed loose skin. Better safe than sorry though right. Sounds like you have a wonderful vet and that's just a blessing!

[JimiSnakes]

The vet also told me he'd do stool samples for all 9 of my snakes for $8.00 each. Called it a "group plan"...lol. That's awesome, with all the newbies I've been getting in.

[frankykeno]

It is appropriate to fall to the floor and sob happily at this news from your vet LOL That's excellent! Our vet is great too and offered us her "rehabbers" discount just because we took in a few snakes. A good herp vet is your best friend!