Weird Behavior - Nibbles

[redshepherd]

Since you can hear a little clicking now too, very sure it is RI. He's not in an advanced state, so the other symptoms might not be showing up yet or aren't obvious. It's good to find out now than later though.

[KingWheatley]

Since you can hear a little clicking now too, very sure it is RI. He's not in an advanced state, so the other symptoms might not be showing up yet or aren't obvious. It's good to find out now than later though.

Agreed.

Is there any "at home" remedies or is this something that can only be solved with antibiotics?


Herp Derp

[redshepherd]

Agreed.

Is there any "at home" remedies or is this something that can only be solved with antibiotics?


Herp Derp

If my snake were showing symptoms of RI, I would bring to a good vet, one that will do a culture. RI's can be viral or bacterial (or fungal or parasitic, but less likely) and there's no way to know for sure except to culture. You don't want to start a treatment/antibiotic without knowing the kind of infection, since it can potentially do more harm than good.
I wouldn't go to a vet that wants to prescribe antibiotics without doing a culture.

[KingWheatley]

If my snake were showing symptoms of RI, I would bring to a good vet, one that will do a culture. RI's can be viral or bacterial (or fungal or parasitic, but less likely) and there's no way to know for sure except to culture.
I wouldn't go to a vet that wants to prescribe antibiotics without doing a culture.

My concern is funds. I barely made the vet bill before and my roommate covered the costs afterwords. To which I used to pay bills already.

I just did a close inspection of him. Double checked his mouth. Double checked for clicking noises. He still appears healthy. (Although he has a dent in his eye... how the heck did that happen??) the clicking is very very VERY quiet. And when I was checking his mouth, it wasn't clicking when the little hole opened.

So I'm beginning to wonder if the sound is coming from somewhere else...? Could it be coming from his esophagus or his tongue sheath?


Herp Derp

[BeksNY]

In my opinion, this is one of those "don't try this at home, kids" situations. RIs are nothing to mess around with and can lead to your pet's death, as others have stated. Having just lost our beloved BP, Wintre, (not to an RI) I can tell you that the pain of losing an animal you care for, as deeply as you care about Wheatley/Cookie, is so hard.

I understand from your other posts that you are very budget-conscious, but I offer you some food for thought: if you wait and try to treat by yourself at home, you may be delaying vet care and medicine that you will ultimately need to pay for and the RI may be much more severe/deadly at that point. Also, I wholeheartedly agree with RedShepherd on getting cultures to determine cause and therefore treatment. You want to make sure that the antibiotics you use are targeting the right problem.

I'm sorry to come across so Doomsday-y, but please heed others' advice and take Wheatley to your vet. This is not akin to a cold in humans or warm-blooded animals and its effects are far more serious.

[redshepherd]

My concern is funds. I barely made the vet bill before and my roommate covered the costs afterwords. To which I used to pay bills already.

I just did a close inspection of him. Double checked his mouth. Double checked for clicking noises. He still appears healthy. (Although he has a dent in his eye... how the heck did that happen??) the clicking is very very VERY quiet. And when I was checking his mouth, it wasn't clicking when the little hole opened.

So I'm beginning to wonder if the sound is coming from somewhere else...? Could it be coming from his esophagus or his tongue sheath?


Herp Derp

Ultimately, it's your judgment, since I can't see Wheatley from here. But if it is RI and you wait it out, it may develop into a more advanced state, and would be more serious to treat.

[KingWheatley]

Ultimately, it's your judgment, since I can't see Wheatley from here. But if it is RI and you wait it out, it may develop into a more advanced state, and would be more serious to treat.

I'm not trying to wait it out on purpose. But I have to wait until payday for anything right now.


Herp Derp

[KingWheatley]

In my opinion, this is one of those "don't try this at home, kids" situations. RIs are nothing to mess around with and can lead to your pet's death, as others have stated. Having just lost our beloved BP, Wintre, (not to an RI) I can tell you that the pain of losing an animal you care for, as deeply as you care about Wheatley/Cookie, is so hard.

I understand from your other posts that you are very budget-conscious, but I offer you some food for thought: if you wait and try to treat by yourself at home, you may be delaying vet care and medicine that you will ultimately need to pay for and the RI may be much more severe/deadly at that point. Also, I wholeheartedly agree with RedShepherd on getting cultures to determine cause and therefore treatment. You want to make sure that the antibiotics you use are targeting the right problem.

I'm sorry to come across so Doomsday-y, but please heed others' advice and take Wheatley to your vet. This is not akin to a cold in humans or warm-blooded animals and its effects are far more serious.

Not at all arguing with you.

But I don't appreciate the accusation that I am ignoring advice about going to the vet. Vet costs are EXPENSIVE. $300-$500 for cultures and what not for a cat. I can't imagine it's much different for any other animal.

Unfortunately, this is a big case of "I was told Snakes are a cheaper pet" and was stupid.

I can afford Cookie, if we ignore vet bills and initial costs, and if I wasn't in a loop I'd be able to afford his vet bills. But because I'm in this loop due to a situation outside of my control, I am finding it very difficult to simply go to the vet.

(I've been trying to live without any unnecessary loans. My Car loan is the only one I have and it's eating me alive... but as I've stubbornly had to admit and find out... living in the middle class of society is hard without loans... I may have to suck it up and get one....)


Herp Derp

[KingWheatley]

And to be 100% clear.

I WANT to go to the vet again. He was given a "good to go" by the vet not even a couple weeks ago and that was a very hefty bill. I don't know if they did cultures, to be honest, but it was approx $110. So I doubt they did.

Now... Let's say in-between now and payday, because I didn't take Cookie to the vet right away, he died.

Would it be my fault? Sure. Could I have done something to avoid it? Yea. For sure. Will I blame myself? Of course. Can I do something about it right this second? Pray. That's it at the moment.


Herp Derp

[Bennie1986]

Not at all arguing with you.

But I don't appreciate the accusation that I am ignoring advice about going to the vet. Vet costs are EXPENSIVE. $300-$500 for cultures and what not for a cat. I can't imagine it's much different for any other animal.

Unfortunately, this is a big case of "I was told Snakes are a cheaper pet" and was stupid.

I can afford Cookie, if we ignore vet bills and initial costs, and if I wasn't in a loop I'd be able to afford his vet bills. But because I'm in this loop due to a situation outside of my control, I am finding it very difficult to simply go to the vet.

(I've been trying to live without any unnecessary loans. My Car loan is the only one I have and it's eating me alive... but as I've stubbornly had to admit and find out... living in the middle class of society is hard without loans... I may have to suck it up and get one....)


Herp Derp

Have you considered setting up a gofundme? I am in a similar situation if my snake got sick so I understand your position. Do they accept payments? If so maybe you could take your snake in and post a copy of the receipt then a link to a gofundme and people would help out. I for one would kick down something, wouldn't be much unfortunately because again I'm in the same boat but I'd rather kick down a few bucks than see your guy suffer.