Star Gazers Disease

D-Loc · #1 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 05:25 AM

I found out today that my Boa may have StarGazers Disease.
He was taken to the Vet today for X-rays, cultures , and a blood test.
The results will come in next week.

He has seemed pretty healthy; he eats well and sheds nicely.
The only symptom he shows of course is the arching of his head and back, staring of into space, "star gazing".

Does anyone have any experience in dealing with a boid with this disease?
I know it is very serious and I'm really worried about him. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img]
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LdyDrgn · #2 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 06:38 AM

Does your snake react to you when you run your hand by its head? Flicker of the tongue or eye movement? If the snake is responding then it's fine. Many snakes will stare up at seemingly nothing. If the snake is not reacting to you at all, then there could bea problem. Has it regurgitated at all? If flipped upside-down, can it right itself quickly?
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D-Loc · #3 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 07:09 AM

No, I don't think he responds, I'll try again just to be sure. It doesn't look good though.

He does not, however, show any other symptoms.
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LdyDrgn · #4 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 07:47 AM

The disease is known as IBD. There are links on it somewhere in these forums....I'd suggest you click the Search button, enter IBD for keywords and read what pops up.

Regurgitation is usually the first symptom. Try flipping him on his back and see if he can right himself....

Blood tests are usually inconclusive from what I understand. I've heard the only way to know if it is present is through a necropsy after the snake has died or been put down...

I certainly hope nothing is wrong. Good luck...
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Dr.Oviparous · #5 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 07:54 AM

Here, try this. Hope it helps. Do you have any other snakes? If so you gotta seperate them NOW. As far apart as you can get them. Even if it's not IBD, better safe than sorry. Does your snake respond when you wave at him, movement, tongue flicker? What kind of boa is it? -Juggalo

Edited to add: Why we don't know much about preventing'curing IBD

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"Well, it didn't look like a one horse town, but try finding a decent hair jelly!" -Eulisses E McGill

D-Loc · #6 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 06:34 PM

I'm pretty sure he doesn't respond to any stimuli when he's gazing, though I'll check again next time I catch him.

He turns over just fine, hes not regurgitating.

He is a Red Tail Boa, and he is my only snake.
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eddie · #7 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 06:40 PM

Snakes do that a lot and with no other symptoms of IBD then I would be willing to bet that it's most likely fine.
Just quarentine it from the rest of the collection and wait to se what the lab results say.

And by the way, if your vet says he can test for IBD on a living animal, then he is full of it and does not deserve any of your money from now on.

There is NO conclusive test for IBD on a living snake.

The only almost conclusive tests are done after the animals death.

Oh yeah, if the vet calls it stargazers disease, then that is just another clue that the vet is clueless and should NOT see anyones reptiles ever.
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talon · #8 (**permalink**) 09-19-2002, 07:53 PM

one of my boa constrictor imperators is doing the same thing. eats like mad and is an absolute pain in the a** to handle(shows inteligence). bout 7.5-8 foot female. but totally aware of me when she is not "gazing". defianately eats good and is always hungry. I'm going to get her checked for respiratory problems because she could be trying to drain the mucuos down. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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MajorLunitik · #9 (**permalink**) 09-20-2002, 03:59 AM

Before I got my RTB, I read about IBD and it scared the crud out of me. The things I do remember is that it is impossible to diagnose, it is a sort of last resort classification when vets cannot diagnose with 100% certainty. They will try to rule out every possible cause for symptoms prior to diagnosing IBD. Unfortunately, once the symptoms begin, it will eventually result in death. Of course we all hope that your buddy is just staring into space, as I catch my RTB doing occasionally, and that it is not IBD. Good luck..........

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froggystyle34 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 08:25 PM

my little one is doing the same thing. he can not right hisself over and he has little to none when it comes to tongue flicker. i dont think IBD is contagious since it is a nuerological thing. he regurged a mouse last week, and water every since. he moves around wuite a bit thermo regulating and all, but he is slow and lethargic like he doesnt know you are there. he is a baby about 16-18 inches long. i am going to take him back to where i got him and get my money bak and go somewher else and get one. well anyone else have any advice. i would appreciate it

froggy
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eddie · #11 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 08:57 PM

Uhhh... froggy...
IBD is contagious as heck!
The way it is transmitted is a mystery but it IS and prolly always will be contagious!
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gibson · #12 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 09:46 PM

just wondering what type of cage u got her in. My boa does the same thing sometimes. I have her in a 40gal tank and i belive she stares up to the top just so she can smell what is going on outside the tank. Snakes have a great sense of smell and most of the time if i am cooking dinner she can smell it.
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froggystyle34 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 11:21 PM

she died today. and the tank is outside and how can i disinfect the hides and all???

froggy
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XzyluM · #14 (**permalink**) 10-16-2002, 12:02 AM

IBD is 100% deadly. There is no cure for it. It is also very contagious. There is no real way to know if your snake has IBD until it dies and a necropsy is done on it. If I were you froggy, I would not try to disinfect anything from that cage. I would go ahead and throw the cage and any items in it away.
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froggystyle34 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-16-2002, 02:54 AM

can i just disinfect everything with bleach and bake the decor as well. i am not throwing away the tank and hides and stuff. the thermometers and substrate is fine, but the other stuff how can i disinfect them???

froggy
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wille7777 · #16 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 01:34 AM

I would think that any part of the tank should be disinfected with a mild bleach solution, rinsed with clear water at least 2 times, and let to dry 100%. Where moisture can accumulate or stay is where any problems may occur. Decorative objects have surfaces that can retain any potential health/disease causes, i.e., irregular and have a coarse surface texture and should be illiminated just to be "safe".

I would not trash it all out of paranoia.

Good Luck,

Wille

Revelation · #17 (**permalink**) 08-11-2011, 02:13 AM

Sorry we took 9 years for a reply Froggy but Wille seems to of straightened everything out.

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