Whistle Breathing, Vet Not Concerned?

[Bogertophis]

Listen to your vet- wait! Antibiotics can help an RI but ONLY if they're the right one for the pathogen a snake has. That means either (1) you & your vet gamble as to what antibiotic to try, or (2) your vet does expensive lab work first to make sure that the Rx prescribed is the right one that will work.

Meanwhile: Assuming this is the beginning of an RI* your snake's natural immune system may be successfully fighting this off & no treatment is needed att, as your vet said, so to give antibiotics now could mess that up.

*This might NOT be an RI at all- you didn't mention how long you've had this snake & that would help to know here, but either way, snakes may have a minor deviation in their nose, just as people & other animals can. Such imperfection could cause some whistling but there's nothing "wrong" to fix. Snakes also get debris, water or bits of shed skin stuck up in their nose that can result in some minor sounds (whistling, popping, crackling) that may or may not go away. You'll just have to "wait & see".

Antibiotics are NOT without drawbacks: they kill off good AND bad bacteria, meaning (for example) your snake will have trouble digesting food after a course of antibiotics. Such meds are hard on their kidney & liver also, & if not used properly, can make an animal sicker by allowing "resistant" germs to grow. And another BIG downside: antibiotics are not effective when given orally to snakes- that means your poor snake has to endure a series of injections, & either YOU need to learn to do them, OR you go back to your vet for each one. Does that sound like fun? NOT fun for you OR your snake.

I agree with your vet- wait & see. ALSO: IF this is a beginning RI, you can improve your snake's ability to fight it off by giving him the BEST care possible. Don't handle him (that increases his stress, as did the vet visit) & let him rest, keeping his humidity & temperatures where they're supposed to be, or maybe a tiny bit raised. If he's eating, make sure he's getting good quality food & keep his water bowl cleaned daily, & keep his home clean too.

BTW, I give you a thumb's up for paying close attention to your snake & caring enough to seek a vet's help for him. Listen to his advice- that's what you paid for- his experience & expertise.

I also give "props" to your vet, for not caving in to "patient (or in this case, "owner") pressure" to give antibiotics whenever requested- that's not practicing "good medicine" & ends up causing more resistant germs for everyone to deal with in the long run. (Same thing happens with our family physicians- trust them to know when to say "no".)

IF this changes- IF you see excess saliva in or around his mouth, bubbling around your snake's mouth- frequent yawning or open-mouth breathing (may also keep his head up), please get in touch promptly with your vet to take your snake back to get help.

Snakes cannot cough effectively, & they can choke (& die) from serious untreated respiratory infections. Your snake, fortunately, is not at that point yet- let's hope he never is- just keep an eye on him.