Whistling

[CRAZY]

Hey guys,
haven't been on in a while and just thought I'd come and catch-up. Anyhow, lately my BP Hurcules has been whistling. I know that whistling often has something to do with an RI, but he dosen't always do it. Sometimes I have him out for hours, and don't hear it at all. Sometimes he's out for 15 minutes then I hear it. I usually put him away after I hear it so I don't stress him out at all. Could it just be stress? He's had an RI before and after a $150 dollar vet bill, some complications with the medicine we were giving him, another $20 dollars for a different type of medicine, and 3 weeks of shooting down his throat, we finally got rid of it. That was like... 10 months ago. Now he's whistling again and i don't have $200 to spare. There is no visable mucus in his mouth and nothing is coming out of his nose. Could it just be his nostrils are a bit damaged from before when he would rub his face against the walls of his tank? (He would create a lot of mucus when I gave him the first medicine, and would try to get it off his nose by rubbing against the tank, of course glass isn't very absorbent, so he would be hurting himself more than anything) So, over the past few weeks the whistling hasnt been getting any worse, so should I be worrying? I haven't increased the humidity at all to see if it was anything serious. I don't think it is at this point, but I'd just like some re-assurance that I'm doing the right thing. And it's important to know that it isn't constant, because sometimes I don't hear it for days or even a week or 2.

[Kaorte]

Could he be shedding soon? It could just be some loose skin flapping around.

[truthsdeceit]

My bp used to whistle sometimes when he breathed... I later found out my humidity gage was broken and I was keeping him at too low a humidity. Got that fixed asap he now breathes normally and sheds way better!

So make sure your humidity is right, not too low, not too high. And I wish you luck! I hope it's nothing serious.

[DrEwTiMe]

if it really sounds like a whistle then you may be ok. Of course im not a doctor but if i recall a RI would sound more like a bubbling or or a popping sound when they breathe. I would watch him or her closely for a while and see if you see any other signs of an RI.

[CRAZY]

Hey thanks guys, he actually might be coming up to a shed, his belly has recently been going pink, but it has been happening for a while now so I don't think its that. I'm glad you all agree with my that I made the right decision not going to the vet, and thanks for the help and info. I've recently been thinking of getting a water-vaporizer to put in the room I keep him in and I think I might just do that tomorrow.
Thanks again,
CRAZY & Herc

[truthsdeceit]

Hey thanks guys, he actually might be coming up to a shed, his belly has recently been going pink, but it has been happening for a while now so I don't think its that. I'm glad you all agree with my that I made the right decision not going to the vet, and thanks for the help and info. I've recently been thinking of getting a water-vaporizer to put in the room I keep him in and I think I might just do that tomorrow.
Thanks again,
CRAZY & Herc

yeah I would say if it's only whistling you should try to get your humidity right first and maybe wait for the shed to see if that fixes the issue. That is as long as there are no other signs of ill health. I've never used a water vaporizer so I have no idea how that would affect your snake.

However, if the whistling does not go away the vet is not a bad idea. I wasn't advocating not taking animals to the vet.

[disabled.101]

If you are worried a basic vet visit is less than 50 dollars. If it turns out to be RI you can take action. Just because you don't have 200 dollars lying around doesn't mean you can neglect your animal.

[CRAZY]

I usually take him to the vet every 6-12 months. My vet does reptile checkups for $54. I'm pretty sure that a humidifier placed out of reach of him wouldn't do him any harm. I just meant taking him to the vet in a hurry. I would never go for more than 12 months without taking him to the vet. I am probably taking him within the next 2 months anyways, I would never nightmare of neglecting him. He is set-up in my bedroom so that every morning and every night and everywhere in between I see him. He is also in a cupboard so I can close the door during the day so he feels more secure. The only other thing I've noticed is in the past few months he has gone from eating 2 jumbo mice a week to 1 a week, and I wouldn't think that is serious because he eats the first one so vigorously that I would only assume that he is healthy. If few weeks I offer him a second one to see if he wants it. Heck, one time he actually was afraid of the second one. ( I feed F/T) Sorry, I'm straying off topic. But no other health issues are apparent. Only the whistling. He has some trouble shedding because the previous owner didn't keep his humidity up and fed live, so he has a few scars, but slowly his sheds are getting better, in fact, last time it was almost a perfect full shed except the head and the tail were separated.

P.S. I know this is off topic but I want to click the help stop hr669 red stripe at the top, but every fiber of my being tells me not to 'cus it looks like a virus banner, so if anyone knows an admin or if an admin is viewing this thread, I'd suggest changing it in someway so that it looks more user friendly. Just a suggestion. Sorry for going off topic.