Symptoms and care after URI?

[Skiploder]

Hey there. I recently had a bit of an URI epidemic go through all of my sub-adult and adult ball pythons within the last few months. They were all diagnosed by a wonderful vet to have a similar problem; all of them had an over abundance of naturally occurring bacteria which began to run rampant after a lowered immunity due to exposure to cedar bedding that was mixed in with the cypress bedding (never using cypress again). Needles to say, most if not all of the snakes are feeling better. My cinnamon (who has a bad burn scar due to his previous owner) is still struggling with it.

However, all of my balls still have popping in their mouths when they breath and are rather drooly. Its not thick like the mucus what was occurring during infection, but it still is rather gooey and concerning. I have had the heat raised for a while (as I have been recommended to do by users/breeders/vets) as well as occasional soaks for all of them in warm water (also recommended by vet/breeders). They are all eating well, except fro my albino male who had it the worst and the cinnamon who is still struggling but they eat every other week or so. the albino is even much more active than he was when I first got him.

Is this a residual symptom that takes time to go away? Is it still infectious? What can I do to reduce the drool/saliva/mucus (it seems to make breathing less comfortable). Any thoughts? All are welcome. =3

Did your vet culture the infection?

How did the vet know it was a naturally occurring bacteria?

How did the vet pin point the cause on the bedding?

What was the treatment? - Type of antibiotic and frequency.

Your snakes need to go back to the vet. The infection needs to be cultured and treated correctly. If the first vet did not do this, then you need to find a vet that will treat your snakes correctly.

The other thing you need to do is stop soaking them. Regardless of whether your snakes are sick or well, soaking is something that does nothing but induce stress in them. Stress is something they don't need right now.

If your current vet recommended soaking your snakes as help with an RI, I would advise that you find another qualified reptile vet immediately. Frankly, that was rotten advice.

Bottom line - your snakes still have an infection. They need to go to a vet that will diagnose the bacteria responsible. They need to not be soaked. They need proper diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.