opinions?

[OsirisRa32]

One of my female dinkers I just got...seems to have the beginnings of a possible R.I....(at least in my opinion) would love some opinions based on the following symptoms.

I had her out for about 5 minutes today while i was sitting on the couch in the sun....she constantly opened and closed her lower jaw (i mean every 20-40 seconds)...the little bit of her gums I could see looked clear and slightly pinkish...I havent pried open her mouth yet to look inside.

The times she opened her mouth fairly wide I could see clearish mucus...not a lot but it formed a few strings of mucus/saliva between roof of upper mouth and lower jaw.

several times while in my hands i could hear a very raspy weeezy sounding breathing...not like a hiss when they get pissy.
one of her nostrils looks narrower with possibly some grey/whitish looking build up just around the nostril opening.

I have re-QTd her father away from my 2 other new BPs QTs and based on the advice of a friend of mine who manages a reptile pet store and keeps 14 of his own snakes...i have upped all of her temps and am more tightly monitoring and maintaining humidity.

[Daybreaker]

I've dealt with RIs in three of my snakes (all came to me sick unfortunately) and from what you mentioned it could very well be the start of an RI. Impossible to say over the internet of course. If you can get a photo of the inside of the snake's mouth that would help a lot. When you peel down the side of her mouth is there lots of bubbles/mucus? Has she otherwise been acting the same or have you noticed her not being interested in food, leaning her head up against her enclosure/objects, or being lethargic/not flicking her tongue as much as normal?

[OsirisRa32]

I've dealt with RIs in three of my snakes (all came to me sick unfortunately) and from what you mentioned it could very well be the start of an RI. Impossible to say over the internet of course. If you can get a photo of the inside of the snake's mouth that would help a lot. When you peel down the side of her mouth is there lots of bubbles/mucus? Has she otherwise been acting the same or have you noticed her not being interested in food, leaning her head up against her enclosure/objects, or being lethargic/not flicking her tongue as much as normal?

no bubbles or mucus just on the inside side of the mouth. no bubbles what so ever. Only had the 2 new dinkers since thursday...have yet to feed them or do anything other than QT them and switch things around today due this issue....as far as normal in regards to this particular snake...i have no clue what normal would be....she behaved as "normally" as my 3 established BPs do when I have them out in the house with me.

[Daybreaker]

no bubbles or mucus just on the inside side of the mouth. no bubbles what so ever. Only had the 2 new dinkers since thursday...have yet to feed them or do anything other than QT them and switch things around today due this issue....as far as normal in regards to this particular snake...i have no clue what normal would be....she behaved as "normally" as my 3 established BPs do when I have them out in the house with me.

I'd keep an eye on her and bump her temps a bit like you mentioned. If you can get a shot of the inside of her mouth that may help shed some light, but I would personally see how the symptoms are over the next week or so and go from there (vet visit asap if you see her decline, of course). RI's when caught early are (usually) easier to kick then when more advanced, so if she does have one at least you noticed it early on. Always have a culture done with RI's: after dealing with a snake that was resistant to Baytril I can't say enough how I wish I would have gotten a culture from the get go.

[OsirisRa32]

Any general idea how much a culture would typically $?

[satomi325]

Any general idea how much a culture would typically $?

Generally between around $100-200 depending on the vet. (Give or take)
But it will save you money in the long run.

Try not to handle her a lot either. Stress lowers the immune system as well.

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[kitedemon]

Absolutely a culture! Now is the time before antibiotics and before it advances too far. My vet is just under 100$ for the lung wash and labs. It is the way to go. Baytril has been over used and mis used for years it is questionable now, much like plain penicillin.

[OsirisRa32]

Absolutely a culture! Now is the time before antibiotics and before it advances too far. My vet is just under 100$ for the lung wash and labs. It is the way to go. Baytril has been over used and mis used for years it is questionable now, much like plain penicillin.

Much like every drug available in the U.S.

Yeah Im calling the vet first thing after work in the AM...and she isnt being handled at all...shes in negative pressure QT above and beyond the QT with the other 2 new BPs...who are also being closely monitored now too.