I think a vet trip is in order =/

[Black.Rabbit]

I don't handle my bredli, Cranky, as often as I'd like to, but tonight I decided to get her out.

I noticed that she kept making this clicking sound. Her mouth wasn't opening, she wasn't sneezing or coughing, no other RI symptoms apart from the clicking. I tried to record it but the 'white noise' on my phone was too loud.

I did a APS search and it reviled a few people who have come across this but only one who later reported it was an RI. However all the advice given was to take the to vets. I also went onto youtube but only found 2 videos showing RI's (extreme cases) and one that had the same kind of clicking as my bredli and it shed 2 days later. Cranky hasn't shed in a while but she hasn't shown any signs from what I've seen.

I guess it's just to be on the safe side. Her temps are fine, she ate 2 days ago and it was the first time she ever took her food without me having to hit her with it (gently of course). The only thing I can think of is that I changed substrate to kritters crumble about a month ago, and for a few days there was a significant amount of condensation on the enclosure.

So I'm going to call David Vella tomorrow and hopefully get an appointment, not sure what vet appointments are like on Sundays...

Anyway, if anyone has any advice etc, let me know, I'm doing the vet thing to be on the safe side but if anyone has had experiences with the clicking noise, it would be good to hear how things turned out.

Cheers

 

[Kimberlyann]

My 4yr old coastal had a R.I i had to give her shots and she still isnt eating from it, i have to go to the vet and get her another vitamin b shot so she doesnt die of starvation she hasnt eaten for a good 8months

 

[Reptile_Lover]

that would have been me the 1 who only later reported it, i didn't see the symptoms early enough, yeah id be taking her to the vet and get her looked at, my girl was in late stages but had no lumps or anything in her mouth so i got it in time, she is on a 2 weeks corse of needles and after that the vet said i might need 1 more 2 week corse or if she is not getting better she will need to go to a reptile hospital for fluids and stuff, she is looking better tho so i think 1 more corse for mine after this 1 and she will be fine. good thing you caught it early you might only need 1 corse of needles.

 

[Renenet]

No advice to offer, Equinny, but good on you for being so willing to take Cranky to the vet. Good luck and do let us know how it goes.

Just in case it is RI, bump up the temperature if you haven't already done so. It will help her fight it until you can get to the vet.

 

[spida_0000]

Sorry but what's R.I? I've never been good with short terms :-/

 

[AirCooled]

Respiratory Infection (RI)

 

[pythonmum]

One of my womas clicks before shedding, but it is obvious that he is about to shed. David Vella is great and he will thoroughly check Cranky out in any case. I have been to him a few times - to have a ballot animal checked, for a pre-breeding checkup and to have hatchlings probed.

 

[mad_at_arms]

Thread started 2:36AM
Hope everything is ok and you got some sleep equinny.

 

[Black.Rabbit]

This is going to sounds little silly... but if she needs needles... there is no way in the world I can give it to her... I have the biggest fear of needles... last time I had one I had to be given a heavy dose of xanax an hour before it and I was still shaking.... and it's not just getting the needle I am afraid of, even looking at a syringe freaks me out...

I know... toughen up princess.. right? ughhhhh

Anyway, I called the Animal Referral Hospital and they said Dr Vella isn't in today but they called him to see if I should bring her in now to see someone else or if it can wait til tomorrow. He said it doesn't sound urgent but bring her in tomorrow morning. It means I'll have to miss a lecture and half a tutorial though... Damn

 

[spida_0000]

Respiratory Infection (RI)

Thanks, thought it was something along those lines but never had the issue myself.... Hope he is ok!!

 

[Black.Rabbit]

Thread started 2:36AM
Hope everything is ok and you got some sleep equinny.

I'm a chronic insomniac, or nocturnal rather.. Delayed Phase Sleep Disorder...

 

[wokka]

Crank the temp up to 32c -35c, remove the water bowl. When is your snake due to shed. My guess is it will shed soon. It is unusual for an animal to eat and then 2 days later to have RI to the extend that it effects its breathing.

 

[Black.Rabbit]

Crank the temp up to 32c -35c, remove the water bowl. When is your snake due to shed. My guess is it will shed soon. It is unusual for an animal to eat and then 2 days later to have RI to the extend that it effects its breathing.

That's what I thought, and she has never eaten so eagerly before either. She is due for a shed however I have seen no signs of shedding...
I have turned up the temps, just waiting for it to actually rise.

Not sure what the clicking noise is in relation to RI's.. perhaps someone could shed some light on this?

 

[pythonmum]

Clicking with a respiratory infection is because mucous and/or swelling may partially occlude the airways, so they pop open and closed when the snake breathes in and out. That is the click you hear - as they pop open/closed. A general narrowing of the airways will give a whistling or wheezing noise. This is also associated with RI.

 

[Black.Rabbit]

Ahh.. makes sense Thanks

She hasn't got any whistling or wheezing.

If she does have an RI, is it contagious? Will my other snakes be likely to catch it? (May be a stupid question.... :?)

 

[unicorns_dreams]

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask,

 

[Reptile_Lover]

Ahh.. makes sense Thanks

She hasn't got any whistling or wheezing.

If she does have an RI, is it contagious? Will my other snakes be likely to catch it? (May be a stupid question.... :?)

the vet told me to keep my girl away from the rest of my snakes till she is over the R.I

 

[elogov]

Hope all is well & it all gets better soon, Not to hi-jack this thread but whats the best way to go about preventing (RI)?.

Again fingers crossed that she is fine, Cheers Jason.

 

[longqi]

If it is feeding etc I would bump the temps up 2C and try to avoid medication if possible
Most reptiles with RI dont feed

Although treatments like Baytril will fix RI they often leave the reptile susceptible to worse RI in future
Although they can be given orally injection is far more effective in most cases
Just make sure it has been diluted at least 5 to 1 with sterile water and finish the entire course once you start
Baytril is virtually exactly the same as Bactrim which is the oral medication given to kids with chest/throat infections

RI is usually caused by a snake that got too cold for a period
It is basically a reptile with the flu
Keep reptiles at the correct temp and you will seldom see RI

There are other treatments that dont require this type of medication and go totally against what Aussie vets teach but work extremely well
Remember what your mum used for flu and go from there
6 drops of eucalypt and 1/2 teaspoon of vicks in a sweat bath for 10/20 minutes work wonders if repeated for two weeks
Increase temp by 2C and humidity by 15% if you use this

 

[Black.Rabbit]

I took her to Dr Vella today, he's awesome

He said there are no signs of RI apart from the clicking and he wants to hold off on any medication as it may not be necessary. He said that the next 6-8 weeks are crucial and to keep an eye on her, if anything changes, bring her back.
Also, in his time he has come across many pythons that make this clicking sound without an RI.


He also said something interesting about diamond pythons that kind of goes against the general consensus of this forum. Diamond pythons should be kept at 29 degrees regardless if it is winter or not, people think that if they can survive the cold in Sydney/Gosford etc then they don't need heat but what they don't realise is that the snakes burrow to keep warm and avoid the cold. As for DPS and heat, he told me that it's not often he see's a diamond python with DPS but the amount of Diamonds that come in with RI's is huge in comparison because people are under the belief that they don't require heat of around 29, if any.

That may (will) cause some controversy on here, but everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter... I know I'm sticking with his advice on the matter though!!

Don't want this to cause a debate so please don't start one... I'm just sharing information I learnt from a fantastic reptile vet.


So all is good, I've bumped up her temp to 36 degrees and going to monitor her every day. Here's hoping no other symptoms occur