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URI Questions

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Pythonbreeder99

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Hey guys, so I just had one of my males get a URI :( I had been hearing noises for about a week but couldn't figure out who was making them until a couple days ago. I just had a few questions, first is, could secondhand smoke have any chance of causing URI? I don't smoke in the snake room but both me and my father smoke in the house so there is a good bit of smoke always floating around. Second is, I have seen a lot of my bp's soaking and drinking a lot the past week or so, more so than usual, could this be a symptom of a URI starting? Also for those who have beaten this thing is there any one medicine you prefer for it? I had a breakout a few years ago and the meds the vet gave me just seemed to make it worse, I know different vets give different meds so I'd love to hear some suggestions to tell my vet. Any help would be awesome, thank you in advance!
 
Clean cages frequently, switch to news paper if your aren't on it. Bump up the temps if you can and keep the cages less humid. Should start to at least be on your way to beating it. How bad is the male? Bubbling out of his nose yet? Eating still?
 
First off, a vet visit is in order. Second, +1000 for the newspaper, clean cages, dryer cages, and warmer temps. Third, I've seen my friend's snake die from the F10 treatment, done just like on that video...so I don't like the F10 idea.

If I suspect a URI, I usually soak them with Oxytetracycline solution for 1-2 hours a day. Take a 12 qt. tub and put 1/2" of water in it. Then add some oxytetracycline to it--enough to make it yellow, probably about 1/2 tsp to 1-1/2 tsp. It's nothing you're giving them orally, so the dosage isn't as critical. Make sure they're plenty warm while soaking them.

This has wiped out any sign of RI that I've seen. Some of my snakes have definitely had an RI, and this tratment has worked, or helped. Only one snake needed Amikacin along with this soaking treatment.

In any case, keep a good eye on it. If need be, don't wait too long before going to the vet. (I wouldn't wait longer than a week or so, if it doesn't clear up.) Also, I'd soak any other snakes you may have transferred it to (which would likely include all of your snakes...)
 
TexasVipRoom said:
Clean cages frequently, switch to news paper if your aren't on it. Bump up the temps if you can and keep the cages less humid. Should start to at least be on your way to beating it. How bad is the male? Bubbling out of his nose yet? Eating still?
Click to expand...

I'm using paper towel for everyone, I clean cages twice a week and disinfect every 2 weeks. The male isnt that bad yet, not bubbling and still has his mouth closed, just vocal breathing and slight rubbing on the side of the tub leaving a little mucus behind. I asked my business partner (uconn grad and leo breeder) and she suggested paper towels high heat and high humidity, my instinct tells me high heat low humidity, any input?

RoyalPythonPros said:
I saw this on youtube the other day, they say it works but I've never needed it to this point so I can't say either way.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz0bSV9Pv4I
Click to expand...

Thats interesting, I may do that come next paycheck, but I would be a bit concerned putting the disinfectant directly into the snakes respiratory system. Is that safe?
 
Pythonbreeder99 said:
Thats interesting, I may do that come next paycheck, but I would be a bit concerned putting the disinfectant directly into the snakes respiratory system. Is that safe?
Click to expand...

Look up the newer video posted last month. I believe they mention that BHB uses that method. If it is them I would get in touch with them and ask their experience and advice.
 
Correct low humidity. Good luck seems like you may have caught it early. Is he in a rack? What level of the rack is he on? Bottom? If so move him up it will be warmer.
 
He's currently in isolation on his own heat source, He was on the top level of the rack. And referring to your "is he feeding" question, he actually refused food Monday which tipped me off to who made the noises.
 
I'd really be interested to know if anyone has any input on the secondhand smoke question, my business partner insists thats the cause, so I'm very curious to know.
 
I would bet the smoking has minimal effect on them, but you never know.

You can get oxytetracycline at a farm/livestock type store... I strongly urge you to stay away from the F10 treatment.

Speaking from experience, higher heat, newspaper, clean cage, and LOW HUMIDITY environment works immensely better than high humidity. The higher humidity tends to be a breeding ground for bacteria/bugs.
Hope it all works out for you.
 
Pythonbreeder99 said:
I'd really be interested to know if anyone has any input on the secondhand smoke question, my business partner insists thats the cause, so I'm very curious to know.
Click to expand...

Secondhand smoke isn't good for anyone. Imagine lying there in a tub, unable to get away from that disgustingness. At least talk to dad and see if you guys can start smoking outside. Your house will smell better, and then there's no question of whether or not the snakes are affected.

ClarkT said:
First off, a vet visit is in order. Second, +1000 for the newspaper, clean cages, dryer cages, and warmer temps. Third, I've seen my friend's snake die from the F10 treatment, done just like on that video...so I don't like the F10 idea.
Click to expand...

How can advice like this be discounted?? So many keepers willing to risk lives to save a buck. By the time you buy the F10 and the fogger and all that, you could pretty much afford a vet visit. I appreciate Brian's sharing his knowledge with the world, but I knew instantly when that video first came out that many snakes are going to suffer because now we have people who know just enough to be dangerous. A vet will always be best bet. If the one you have now sucks, shop around until you get a good one. They're out there. And they're not necessarily listed as "reptile" vets. Many exotics vets are well versed with snakes. My own is worth her weight in gold, and has seen everything from my cat to my birds to my snakes to my farm animals.

As far as suggestions for the vet, try a medication that can be nebulized. I've had very good success with that route of administration.
 
I'm seeing a lot of conflicting things about the humidity, I was reading on ball-pythons.net a thread saying to raise the humidity to 80%. Also I have a nebulizer for my little brother, its using Xopenex, any idea if that would work? And I'd like to try the f10 but for the life of me I can't find it anywhere.
 
There's no reason to give the snake Xopenex.
IMO, there isn't a generic answer whether to raise vs lower humidity for an RI. It really depends on the symptoms
 
Shadera said:
Secondhand smoke isn't good for anyone. Imagine lying there in a tub, unable to get away from that disgustingness. At least talk to dad and see if you guys can start smoking outside. Your house will smell better, and then there's no question of whether or not the snakes are affected.

How can advice like this be discounted?? So many keepers willing to risk lives to save a buck. By the time you buy the F10 and the fogger and all that, you could pretty much afford a vet visit. I appreciate Brian's sharing his knowledge with the world, but I knew instantly when that video first came out that many snakes are going to suffer because now we have people who know just enough to be dangerous. A vet will always be best bet. If the one you have now sucks, shop around until you get a good one. They're out there. And they're not necessarily listed as "reptile" vets. Many exotics vets are well versed with snakes. My own is worth her weight in gold, and has seen everything from my cat to my birds to my snakes to my farm animals.

As far as suggestions for the vet, try a medication that can be nebulized. I've had very good success with that route of administration.
Click to expand...

I agree about the secondhand smoke. I'm a smoker as well but don't smoke in my house at all. I don't want to subject any of my animals to that, as I have a lot more than just my ball pythons.

In a sense I agree that a vet visit is in order to see what they would say. I did however contact my vet that deals with reptiles and he said that F10 works well if done in an exact way. He said that using a lower dosage is better because too much could make things much worse. I would always suggest taking the animals to the vet first to get their advice and treatment before anything and ask them about the F10 to see if they know anything about it.

The only reason I even looked at the video is because a friend of mine tried it on a group of his snakes and he's been keeping reptiles for over 30 years.
 
The only reason I'm avoiding the vet is A. I'm broke and B. their gonna charge me up the ass, first to examine him ($60) and tell me whats wrong, I already know the problem. Then they'll charge $60 per syringe of meds (theyll insist injections). Leading back to point A. I'm broke. So vet wont be an option until at least next week. He really couldn't have gotten sick at a worse time.
 
I would say go to a vet! I have had vets tell me that depending on the type of bacteria you are battling the nebulizer can make it worse. I was told gram negative infections can be nebulized, but it is not a permanent fix. Fortaz is one of the better meds out there and I believe it takes care of both + and - infections. Other things I have used with success are baytril and amikacin, but you really have to know your correct dosage and frequency of administration. I have heard people have had success with tylan as well, but I have always seen the RI come back with that stuff. Truth is, go to a vet and get advice. People on here can only tell you so much without actually seeing the snake.
 
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