Ashley you are contradicting yourself again...

From here:
http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...207270&page=14

It's already been established that testing negative for IBD does not necessarily CLEAR your collection.

First of all, you claim to have tox reports on the 3 other snakes that died within the past year since you received a positive diagnosis of IBD..now you are saying you haven't had any tests done.

Secondly, I don't know where you found all this misinformation about Pythons and IBD. I've found 2ndhand accounts and speculation regarding it in forums, but that's where regurgitating information without researching a problem for oneself can lead to a WORLD of problems.

Courtney, thank you for that information from Dr. Jacobson about pythons succumbing faster and having more expression of symptoms.

er, i wish I could edit my post. DISPROVING that pythons succumb faster****

Thought for a minute there I completely missed something..lol

Not necessarily.

Remember, IBD often expresses itself in a series of subclinical or acute ailments, indicating a breakdown in the immune system.

I had IBD that showed up in two long term sonoran dwarf boas. The male began suffering from subclinical infections and, after liver and esophageal biopsies, was found to have IBD. The female was asymptomatic but also was put down because inclusion bodies were found in her liver biopsy.

The male was "successfully" treated for his secondary ailments time and time again until I put him down. There was no getting worse or quietly falling apart. He'd get and RI- it could be treated. He'd then have another small issue, and it was treated. If my vet had not put two and two together, I could still be wondering what the heck was going on.

Yep, no stargazing, and none of the other neurological symptoms everyone is so paranoid about.

This ongoing BS about pythons dying quickly after exposure and snakes NOT being asymptomatic carrier for years upon years is tiring. Dr. Jacobson has taken the time to answer e-mails from just about everyone I know who has contacted him.

When the foremost authority on this disease is so willing to share what he knows with the community, it's maddening when people still spew the same tired old half truths and faulty conventional wisdom from Kraplan's site and other care sheets that over simplify and mislead on this disease.

What amazes me most about IBD is that while people are buying more and more snakes, they can't spare $20 to send to Dr. Jacobson at U of F to further his research and hopefully help fund more affordable and more reliable diagnostic tests or a potential "cure."

Nope, according to the good Dr. himself, there has been little to no financial help from the reptile community and certainly not from some of the largest boid names in the industry - some of whom openly say that IBD is not as big an issue as it's made out to be.

You go, Craig!

Excellent post.

This is where the majority of info on this disease gets regurgitated from. Most people do not count her site as a credible source, as it is very outdated.

Exactly, and Craig that was brilliant, thank you so much for sharing your experience.

I think anyone who has lost a large collection, or has experienced this harbors some sensitivity to the subject of spreading false information that can prove devastating to collections.

It's firsthand accounts ALONG with documentation from new research that will help dispell the regurged info.
Over the years I've seen so much of this in regards to various aspects of snake keeping. Usually it's harmless, mindless drivel, and oftentimes it's actually pretty reliable information.
Other times it's detrimental to an animal's well being and possibly endangering other animals.

It would be nice for those that had made a living out of selling reptiles to have an option built in their price stating "do you wish to donate "x" amount towards IBD research @ UFl. Of course there would have to be a way to ensure that the donated money goes in effect towards that cause.

This... is a fantastic idea. :iagree: