snake breathing funny

[AviculariaLover]

My solomon island tree boa, Mystique, is currently wrapped around my wrist, and seems to have some trouble breathing. Every once in a while I hear a wheeze or a popping sound. She periodically opens her mouth slightly, not enough for a yawn, though I've seen her yawn a bit more than usual as well. Everything has been kept the same since I left for college (I'm home for break), and she didnt appear to have any problems before I left.

Are these signs of a respiratory infection, and should I get her to a vet? It doesn't seem that bad but I don't want it to get worse. We thought my ball python had an infection before but even after giong to the vet and getting medication her wheezing persists. Does anyone else have experience with snakes who had this problem? What medications work the best? I won't have time to take her to the vet during my break since it's packed full of family visits and such but I could give instructions to my mother before I leave.

Also: she is wild caught, and has always had a few small bumps along the side of her body that I'm assuming are parasites of some kind? They have always been there (I've had her for two years), they look like small round bumps, a few millimeters across, under the skin.

She is otherwise an alert happy looking snake, about two feet long. Eats her treefrogs diligently (have tried EVERYTHING but I cannot get her onto pinkies).

A few pictures... (she's usually a bit darker, she seems to be able to change her colors a bit)

 

[OldHag]

Yes, if you can hear crackling/popping wheezing then she most likely has some repiratory problem. Ive noticed that snakes show symptoms rather late in the game so she may be pretty sick.
If it were my boa Id take her to a vet ASAP!
Good luck with her, she is gorgeous!

 

[AviculariaLover]

I'm just afraid that my parents won't be able to take me and her to a vet this week... I've been looking into medications for respiratory infections, and some of them say they are merely weaker versions of human medications.

One of them is Baytril (enrofloxacin), which is a weaker version of the human use ciprofloxacin. My parents are both pharmacists so I'm thinking they might be able to get me the human version and I could use a lower dose?

Does anyone have experience with certain medications?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Does anyone have experience with certain medications?

I would really, really recommend against doing this. You aren't a vet, and the dangers of getting the dosage or the medication wrong, from some random internet source, are just too high.

Vet vet vet.

 

[FOOTBALL FAN]

I would really, really recommend against doing this. You aren't a vet, and the dangers of getting the dosage or the medication wrong, from some random internet source, are just too high.

Vet vet vet.

x2 that would be a bad idea

 

[AviculariaLover]

Yeah... I know... I was just thinking of how my parents dont want to spend the money for a vet visit and I know they can get just about any medication I would need.

But I would prefer to trust a vet... Now I'll just have to find a time when my mom could take her... and she'd have to give the shots because I'm leaving. At least she did it before for my ball python. She's a great mom

I'm still wondering exactly what the vets would use? Even if I don't do it myself, any information you know of about certain treatments? Personal experiences?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

I'm still wondering exactly what the vets would use? Even if I don't do it myself, any information you know of about certain treatments? Personal experiences?

I don't have the paperwork, as this was in the spring before I moved twice, but when my ball python was coming down with the same problem, the local vet clinic charged me about 40-50 bucks for the full run of treatment. He had to go in for shots...I want to say three times, once every other day or so. Fixed him up good, though he didn't eat for a month or two after that. It was traumatic. (Sissy snakes. )

 

[AviculariaLover]

Wow that's not too bad... from what I remember when my ball python had the same problem the total cost was $80 and we had to give the shots ourselves. Thats why I was wondering if I could get my hands on the medication myself, since we know how to administer it. But I'll call up the vet in a few days and develop a plan of action.

 

[tjhammerhead]

Raise the overall cage temps 90-95 degrees and lower the humidity to 30 - 40% for 2 to 3 days.

That should solve the problem.

 

[brandi]

If she has a URTI then she needs to be seen by a vet. Baytril needs to be dosed out by a professional because at the wrong dose you will poison your snake. Remember medicines act differently in reptiles than humans, and your folks will more than likely not be able to adjust the dosage properly. (I have a doctor and a pharmasist in my family and they still say see a vet.)

Yes, drop the humidity and raise the temp so the basking area gets about 95F, but still try to get to a vet, and if you do have to transport her, keep her warm. A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel on one side of a rubbermaid or whatever you transport her in will work nicely. Try to avoid any gust of cold air.

Good luck! Please let us know how she does!

 

[Zarathustra]

I had the very same problem a couple months ago. I took the snake to the vet, and she prescribed Baytril, which I had to administer every two days by mouth with a syringe. However, she said to INCREASE the humidity. I have heard people, and books, recommend higher humidity AND lower humidity, so I have concluded that the humidity level doesn’t matter that much. It’s the increase in warmth that is important, in my opinion. Warmth and medication.

 

[TNeal]

If you really care about your snake take it to the vet. The minute one brings a pet home they are sighning a moral contract to do whatever they can to provide for it.

I have taken everything from fish to turtles to the vets as I feel it is my moral responsibility to provide proper care. Please listen to the advise given here, human medications do not work the same on reptiles.

I wish you and your snake the best,

TNeal

 

[Taceas]

Another thing it could be is its about to shed. I notice some of my corns and my Hog Island boa will crackle and wheeze right before a shed. Has it gone through the pre-shed ritual of bluing and then clearing?

If not, then I'd say its an RI. Although tell your parents that if you have pets they should go to the vet when sick. If you can't take pets to the vet, you shouldn't have pets. Simple as that.

Until then, as was suggested increase the temperature of the cage and decrease the overall humidity. If its possibly going into shed, this can affect that, so I'd set in a tupperware container with wet moss so it can go in there for more humidity if it so chooses.

And don't self medicate your pet unless you know what you're doing. At the very least I would consult an exotics vet in your area, ask if they have snake experience, say you think your snake has an RI, explain your situation and see if they can work something out for you for a lower payment or if they'll help you for free. I've found most vets aren't greedy, heartless people when it comes right down to it.

Btw, are they always supposed to look "crinkly"? It looks dehydrated. But then again all I have are corns, a Hog Island boa, and a Ball Python.