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RI, mites, and ????

SPJ

SPJ

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I got this boa as an adoption which is going to turn out to be a massive rescue undertaking to save it's life. Not only does it have mites and an RI, but it has been in this same position ALL DAY LONG. Even when I take the top off, it does not move.

The vet can't see it until Monday afternoon.

A little background on the snake from the person I got it from. There was a point when he first got them that the snakes were kept at 50 degrees for a short period. The warmest any of them have been in the past few months is room temp (maybe 75 degrees).

I have the temps up to 95 on half the cage for them now and the humidity is at 60%.

I am really worried this one will not make it until Monday and the staring up makes me wonder just what else it has. The boas I took in were housed together.

They are not in contact with my animals but even the fact that I put them in my snake room while I set up QT areas for them makes me worry about my other snakes.

I REALLY need some help with this.
 

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You can definitely tell by the mouth being opened that it is having problems breathing. I think the position it is staying in may just be related to the RI. It may just be as simple as it is the most comfortable position to be in with the strain to breathe. I would definetely put full quarantine procedures in place (changing clothes and showering after handling etc). I can't remember the exact temps for boas with RI's but I think you can even go higher. Hope it makes it!!
 
Well dammit. Let's add mouthrot as well!!!!!!

How can you let an animal get this bad!?!?!
 
Let me rephrase one statement, for the purpose of clarification: I should not have made the blanket statement that people are cheap...in fact, I understand that there is a huge market for young white girls, and apparently they go for top dollar :D. What I actually meant was that many people are too cheap to take a reptile to the vet.
 
Wow Steve

If that snake makes it and receives treatment, I would still keep it in full quarantine for at least 6 months. Sorry to hear about this as it really makes me sick........

Good luck with the snake.
 
Aw jeez Steve.....I don't have much info to help you out, but I'll wish you and that poor snake the best of luck. Kudos to you for taking on another needy critter.....just be careful you don't jeopardize the rest of your critters.

Man, people that do crap like that tick me off. If you don't want to take care of them, why the :censored: have them????? :censored: :censored:
 
Thanks everyone. I hope the male pulls thru.
Here is one of the females (I took in a group of 4 snakes).
She is sooooo sweet natured considering she has fresh rat bites all down her back and never saw heat until she came here.
 

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Steve, I hope they make it for you. People are stupid...You are doing a great thing for them. Best of luck!
 
Back from the vet with the male.
The boa is in sad shape. The RI seems to be getting a bit better. The snake can close his mouth but still has liquid coming out. I also found out he has scale rot as well. I did not notice it since it is in a small section on the belly which I actually had not looked at when he arrived.
The vet does not want to give the snake injections. He wants me to keep the heat up, change out the newspaper twice a day, and have as low a humidity as possible, then come back on Thursday.
Has anyone ever heard of this before? I thought for sure he would start the snake on baytril. Why wait?
 
I cant figure out why he would wait. You would think he would want the snake on antibiotics ASAP. Did you ask him why? Best of luck Steve. I hope he pulls through for you!
 
His excuse was since I said it looked better today than it did on Friday, that maybe proper care will help it. I was ticked. This snake needs meds today, not Thursday.
 
SPJ said:
His excuse was since I said it looked better today than it did on Friday, that maybe proper care will help it. I was ticked. This snake needs meds today, not Thursday.
Click to expand...

In my opinion (and take it for what its worth), the snake needs meds now. I would demand that he gives you the meds if he doesn't want to administer them. Proper care is medication along with raising temperatures, keeping a clean cage, keeping the humidity down.
 
does this particular vet deal with a lot of reptiles? specifically boids? It might be worth doing some investigation to find a vet that knows snakes, if this one does not have that experience.
 
How odd that he would wait to even consider giving meds. RIs will generally clear up on their own if not severe but scale rot can easily turn to blood poisoning . I would think it better to start the meds while its a " small " patch. I would guess he's not up on boids or other reptiles.
 
Would the fact that the snake is also dehydrated have a bearing on whether or not to go with injections?
 
SPJ said:
Would the fact that the snake is also dehydrated have a bearing on whether or not to go with injections?
Click to expand...
Yes. They are somewhat nephrotoxic and can impair renal function. As a rule, you want to ensure that the snake is taking fluids...soaking is an easy way, but sometimes tubing is appropriate. Again, I still question the idea of getting the humidity as low as possible, for the reasons I outlined previously...but since I have not even seen this particular snake, I have no choice but to defer to the vet's judgement. If the snake is bubbling over, so to speak (relatively thin, clear secretions, with bubbles...that are visible at the snakes mouth, and may drip/dribble out), it may be temporarily appropriate; but remember that they are a tropical species and basic husbandry requires maintenance of moderate humidity. Dry it out too much and you will end up with problems.
 
Well, this is of 2 of the snakes from this group.
This is how they were kept and delivered to me.
Not a pleasent sight though.
 

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