Scared :(

[Immy]

I took my ball python Pennyworth out today to go weigh him, when I was done I did my routine of checking him out for any symptoms of sickness or scratches. Then my heart sank, I heard a little whistle-type sound whenever he breathed. Not like every time, but here and there I heard it. Signs of a respiratory infection I assume. I have no time whatsoever to go to the vet, he's going to have to wait tomorrow. Everything else looked fine except for that sound he's making.

Just curious, how much is it usually to check out the snake and meds?

[Patricia]

Well, it may not be a respiratory infection... could be merely stuck shed in a nostril. That's what happened with ours. It came out during the next shed, and all was well. We could see the stuck shed; can you see anything?

[Immy]

I heard about that, but he went through a shed sometime last month. He is probably due soon, but he isn't shedding yet, tummy is a little pink but no loose flakes. He eats normally, looks normal, too. Maybe he's just being cute? lol.

[Immy]

Yeah, I don't see any stuck shed. When I picked him up again, It seemed like he stopped, I listened very closely, still nothing. Then I spoke too soon and he was wheezing again. This time a lot more than usual. I don't hear any popping noises, I'm just going to send him to the vet just in case tomorrow. Better safe than sorry, right?

[Kaorte]

Well there is a difference between wheezing and whistling. If it is just the occational whistle, then it probably is not a RI. There can be stuck shed in there that you can't see. Much like a booger that you just cannot pick.

Personally, I would wait and keep an eye out for other symptoms.

[tbowman]

Doesn't sound like an RI to me, but you never know.

[h00blah]

ugh vet checkups are so expensive, but if ur that worried, which i would be too, i would probably do the same.

right: better safe than sorry

GL. hope everything checks out

[blackcrystal22]

Open his mouth and see if there's any mucus inside. You can do this by taking of the cotton of a q-tip and slowly rolling it into his mouth. If there's visible mucus or it just seems puffy and stuffed up in there, then I'd be more concerned.
Are there any bubbles or mucus that is noticeable?

[Immy]

I don't want to hurt him, he's active whenever I handle him and always moving his head around. but for anything visible, nothing.

[CoolioTiffany]

My female BP usually makes those whistling noises through her nose, and she does just fine. She's very healthy and not sick at all, so I'm not concerned. Not really sure why she makes that whistling noise, but I hear it every now and then, lately I haven't heard anything.

I'm sure your snake is just fine, but if you are really concerned I think using the Q-tip technique would work.

All you do is grab both sides of the back of the snake's head (you will feel a bone on each side that feels circular) with your index finger and your thumb and you will notice that the snake will open it's mouth a little bit, then take the Q-tip and slide the middle of it (try not to get the cotton ends close to the teeth because it can get caught on the teeth) through the opening then go downwards so that your making the jaw go down so you can look into the mouth. Sometimes you may find tiny little saliva bubbles but that's just fine and nothing wrong with that. Check for the big bubbles. If you take some of the mucus and try spreading it and you see it making strands, then most likely your snake has a respiratory infection. If you notice a lot of bubbles throughout the mouth (in the throat, on the sides of the trachea, around the nasal cavity, around the Jacobson's organ, and around the mouth and gums) then most likely your snake has a respiratory infection.