Abused bp

[Feera]

Ok bare with me as I explain my situation so you fully understand before you reply. So a few weeks ago my dad called me from work and asked if I wanted a bp that animal control had picked up. I said yes (bc who doesn't want a free bp) and ask if it looked to be in ok condition. He said it looked ok to him but had stuck shed. He sent me a picture and it looked to be a good weight, so I agreed to adopt it. It took a couple weeks to get everything sorted out with animal control and I picked it up Monday. She is a good weight, but has several problems bc animal control didn't know how to properly take care of her. I got her shed off before I put her in her enclosure to settle in, as I was doing this I noticed that she had some mild scale rot. It didn't look too bad so I figured she'll be ok. As she was exploring her enclosure I started hearing a little bit of wheezing and some huffing. My initial reaction was ri but then I thought that she might be having a little trouble breathing bc one of her nostrils was scarred over (she has several scars, I assume from being fed live), but yesterday I saw her blow a small bubble so I'm pretty sure it is an ri. She is now on aspen for the scale rot and I put her water bowl on the warm side to try to keep the humidity up for the ri bc the enclosure she was in at animal control was very dry, which I assume is how she got the ri. Before everyone tells me to take her to the vet, yes I am aware that that is the best option, but there are no exotic vets where I live so that is impossible. I am going to try the Vicks vaporub treatment as soon as I can get some. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you.

[dakski]

Ok bare with me as I explain my situation so you fully understand before you reply. So a few weeks ago my dad called me from work and asked if I wanted a bp that animal control had picked up. I said yes (bc who doesn't want a free bp) and ask if it looked to be in ok condition. He said it looked ok to him but had stuck shed. He sent me a picture and it looked to be a good weight, so I agreed to adopt it. It took a couple weeks to get everything sorted out with animal control and I picked it up Monday. She is a good weight, but has several problems bc animal control didn't know how to properly take care of her. I got her shed off before I put her in her enclosure to settle in, as I was doing this I noticed that she had some mild scale rot. It didn't look too bad so I figured she'll be ok. As she was exploring her enclosure I started hearing a little bit of wheezing and some huffing. My initial reaction was ri but then I thought that she might be having a little trouble breathing bc one of her nostrils was scarred over (she has several scars, I assume from being fed live), but yesterday I saw her blow a small bubble so I'm pretty sure it is an ri. She is now on aspen for the scale rot and I put her water bowl on the warm side to try to keep the humidity up for the ri bc the enclosure she was in at animal control was very dry, which I assume is how she got the ri. Before everyone tells me to take her to the vet, yes I am aware that that is the best option, but there are no exotic vets where I live so that is impossible. I am going to try the Vicks vaporub treatment as soon as I can get some. Any advice is greatly appreciated, thank you.

DO NOT USE VICKS VAPOR RUB!!!!!!!!!

Not appropriate for snakes.

I'll let others chime with potential treatment options but please don't do the Vicks.

Additionally, no way to properly diagnose or treat an RI without a tracheal wash that I know of. Some people recommend F10SC nebulization, but I have no idea how successful or what dosing so I would not try that unless someone who knows what they are doing in that regard can comment. I've treated RI's successfully but only after proper diagnosis.

[Bogertophis]

Vick's vaporub IS TOXIC to snakes!!! I have likewise heard of the F10SC nebulization procedure, but have no first-hand knowledge of it & question the off-label use, as F10 carries warnings for toxicity to living creatures as well, and to my recollection the "treatment" was first & loudly endorsed by someone famous whose methods I question & who is first & foremost a commercial promoter & salesman of snakes, ie. not a pet-keeper & pet-lover whose individual loss of any given snake is likely to matter profoundly to him.

Proper diagnosis for an RI (via tracheal wash by qualified veterinarian) is essential because antibiotics are likely needed to get this snake healthy, but giving the wrong antibiotic not only wastes time & further stresses the snake, it can also be harmful to them physically. I hope you do the right thing for this poor snake- you don't sound truly prepared to take on such a "rescue" & perhaps should contact someone who is.

Please use this site to find help: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

Assuming you are keeping other snakes or reptiles, I SURE HOPE that you know how to quarantine this sick BP & are doing so, otherwise you may soon have more than one needing to see a vet.

By the way, Even if your heart is in the right place for taking in this animal, please understand that it's not always a good idea if you don't have enough experience or if you don't have access to proper vet care.

[Erie_herps]

DO NOT USE VICKS OR F10!!! Just read the warning labels and cancerous effects of the F10 and think if you want your snake breathing it in. You should take the snake to a herp specialized vet to see if they have medications to use that are healthy.

[bcr229]

Until you can get the snake to a vet it needs higher than normal heat and humidity to help it fight off the RI, and to keep the mucous moist so the snake can expel it more easily. This means getting it off aspen substrate because it will mold quickly in that environment, and onto newspaper which can be completely removed and clean paper put into the enclosure when the snake makes a mess.

Join a local (to you) Facebook herp/reptile/snake group and ask for a recommendation for an exotics specialist. Many are not registered with ARAV.

[303_enfield]

Vet trip. Pounds, for the most part, don’t know what to do with reptiles, birds or farm animals. I get calls weekly from three States about “stuff” pot bellies an mini pigs right now. Ask the pound if their Vet can treat your snake for free. Otherwise get to yourVet ASAP.

Good luck!

[Bogertophis]

Vet trip. Pounds, for the most part, don’t know what to do with reptiles, birds or farm animals. I get calls weekly from three States about “stuff” pot bellies an mini pigs right now. Ask the pound if their Vet can treat your snake for free. Otherwise get to your Vet ASAP.

Good luck!

That's a good point, actually- if truly no herp vet nearby, see if your local vet (OR the vet at the shelter?) is WILLING & ABLE TO CONSULT BY PHONE with a herp-qualified vet, but certainly CALL them first & see what they say. Let them know that the snake is sick with an apparent RI (respiratory infection). Just make SURE they know that only certain antibiotics are safe for administering to a snake- that's why they need to consult.

[Feera]

Update:
Thank you all for your swift replies. The bp seems to be getting better. She is on paper towels bc I don't get news paper and I have raised her humidity. She went through a quick phase where she would blow a bubble every once in a while, but since then I have been seeing and hearing less mucus. I have been leaving her alone as much as possible, except for cleaning and changing her water, so there is as little stress as possible. She also took a good sized meal earlier this week, which I'd say is a good sign since animal control couldn't get her to take frozen thawed. I will continue with this procedure until I am absolutely certain she has recovered.
Also, to address Bogertophis. Yes, I do have another snake and am taking every precaution to assure that she does not become sick. Just bc somebody does not know about one area of snake keeping does not mean that they are a complete new bee, but as I have only ever kept corn snakes, I am still getting used to the differences and have never had to deal with an ri before. Thank you for your patience and your advice.