Scared To Death My Snake Has IBD - My Collection?

[lillyorchid]

After a little searching these are some herp vets I came up with that are located in VA/WV

West Virginia
Dr Miller 304-336-7300

Fairfax
Dr. Scott Stahl
111 Center St S
Vienna, VA 22180-5746
Ph. 703-281-3750
Recommended by chelonian keepers at the "Vets_For_Herps" list serve


*****DR Stahl is one of the best herp vets on the east coast*****

Roanoke (SW Virginia)
Paul Stewart
Valley Animal Hospital
Roanoke, Va.
(540) 366-3433

Waynesboro
Wildlife Center of Virginia
P.O. Box 1557
Waynesboro, VA 22980
(540) 942 - WILD
wildlife@wildlifecenter.org
Recommended by chelonian keepers at the "Vets_For_Herps" list serve

[Skiploder]

The incubation period for IBD is unknown--it can range from just a few weeks, to a few months in pythons--usually several months at least in boas.

It's absolutely crucial to quarantine all of the snakes away from each other if you suspect it. It's transmitted by droplets and contact, so extreme attention to hygiene, and seperation, might save some of your other snakes if it IS IBD. Nothing from one cage must touch another--nothing that touches one snake should touch another or its cage before being sterilized. It is highly contagious. IBD is 100% fatal in snakes showing symptoms. If your snake doesn't show signs of recovering quickly from whatever event has caused the neurological symptoms, you should probably have it euthanized, order a necropsy, and disinfect absolutely everything. Avoid visiting others who have snakes until you can rule out IBD--you don't want to pass it to their collection.

Also, your friend doesn't know what he's talking about. IBD symptoms do not include mouth rot or lesions. They only include neurological signs, and loss of appetite in pythons. In boas, regurgitation can also be a symptom.

Pythons can show signs running from stomatitis to scale rot to respiratory infections to septicemia to sarocmas, etc.
Pythons can also hold out for months with this disease.

[MiniJ83]

So....you were laid off two months ago, correct? And then about a week ago, you brought a new snake into your home. So after two months of zero income, you thought the best thing to do was put more of a financial load onto yourself? And now, your snake is sick, and you can't afford care. Make some smarter decisions in the future man. Come on.

[immortalic]

My new snake was actually a gift/rescue. He could no longer take care of her, and there wasn't anyone around here he wanted to give her to, except for me, and I couldn't give him money for her, so he just gave her to me.

[immortalic]

Thank you, lilyorchid, I will be contacting these vets to see what can be done.

[immortalic]

I just got off the phone with Dr. Stahl, and they said that I could overnite her to them if I wanted, and they would do an examination, and determine from there what to do, and whether they thought it was IBD or not. They also said that with the symptoms she is showing, that basically no matter what it is, her chance of survival is basically non-existant. So, I'm trying to decide what to do, whether euthanizing without an exam would be the best choice for this snake, since shipping would be very stressful on the snake, and so would the 6 hour drive. Plus cost of shipping, exam, treatment/euthanazia. I'm really unsure about what to do at this point. Any one have any suggestions?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Don't you want to know regardless of the possible outcomes?

Remember there are 2 other snakes at stakes here, since you do not practice quarantine!

[immortalic]

All snakes are quarantined now, I had never heard of something like this until it happened, unfortunately. I also don't really have the money, this could easily go upwards of $500.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

All snakes are quarantined now, I had never heard of something like this until it happened, unfortunately. I also don't really have the money, this could easily go upwards of $500.

A bit to late for quarentine now and you obviously have already made up your mind

[lillyorchid]

If any of those snakes were in the same room or even in the same building with the same ventilation system, they have been possibly exposed to whatever your one snake has. It's a little late to quarantine now if they have been anywhere near each other.

Like MiniJ said.... this probably wasn't the best thing to do for the sake of the sick and possibly other sick snakes. Pet ownership is a major responsibility specially when it comes down to being able to afford vet care when something should happen. Just because it was a "gift" doesn't make it OK to take it in when you know you are jobless. Also no pet is "free" by any means. They ALL cost us money.

I'm sorry but you have made some super poor decisions and should have read up on BP's and Boas back before you got one. If I were you I'd do my best to try to save the other ones you have, but you seem defiant on any help that have been given to you that cost a penny or more. Vet care is NOT free, pets are NOT free. People on this site are not vets but are willing to help others when problems do come up on finding a vet. All we can do is try to help you and point you in the right direction, YOU must then take it upon yourself to follow up and do the right thing. We can't just snap our fingers and tell so and so's snake to get better.