i just got back from a trip to the vet with my bp norah. i needed to have her sexed and also wanted to have her checked for an RI. she had started whistling occassionally when she breathed which i thought was because of an impending shed, but when she shed the whistling didn't stop. i couldn't see any signs of an RI but thought something must be up. it turns out that she has the early stages of stomatitis. while there was no visible mucus or any other secretion that i could see, when the vet held her mouth open he pointed out some redness and slight swelling on the roof of her mouth.

the treatment will be fairly easy--a series of shots for 30 days and then a trip back to the vet to make sure it is all cleared up.

so anyhoo, the moral of the story is, if your snake doesn't stop whistling after it sheds, go to the vet! OR if it is whistling and isn't nearing time for a shed, go to the vet! better to catch these things early on before they turn into a major infection where you are seeing mucus and whatnot.


p.s. i need to get one of those hold-the-snake's-mouth-open-while-you-look in-it tools. muuuuch easier than trying to use your fingers.