RI? not eating

china · #1 (**permalink**) 12-22-2006, 07:49 AM

hi i am new here but i need help with my snake. i just got a dumeril boa about a month ago and he had RI when i got him. i took him in to the vet and had to give him shots for about a week untill i was told that the only thing the shots where doing was dehydrate him. i took him to a new doc that told me to reduce handling and give him a moist spot and try and feed him twice a week to get his strength back up. well i have tried almost every thing as far as feeding him and he just wont eat. he also is not using the moist spot so he is very dehydrated. i started soaking him again . he is in pretty bad shape and i am afraid that he might not make it. i dont know if i should try force feeding him. and if so what and how should i do that? i think he may be to weak to eat on his own. if any one can help i would appritiate it. i am going to try and get him back into the doc. but i am here in co stuck in like 3-4 feet of snow. so any advice would be great.

thanks
china

nanatokane · #2 (**permalink**) 12-22-2006, 09:44 AM

Hiya China, welcome to RTB.

It is still very early here for anyone to respond to your plea for help, but as SOON as they wake up, someone ( a lot of someone's, I bet) will get back to you . They are very knowledgable separatley, but put them together and they can fix almost anything, or at least point you in the right direction.

Again, welcome to RTB and Happy Holidays to your home from ours.

Slithers · #3 (**permalink**) 12-22-2006, 09:49 AM

I dont recommend force feeding.
We really need to know some basic history though. What temperatures, humidity, last time it fed, how old is it, what kind of shots it received, symptoms of the RI, etc.

I know people will recommend holding the temperature at a steady 90 degrees 24 hrs/day to help with the RI. Also lower the humidity. Try that to start.

How do you know its dehydrated? What does it act like? Is it drinking?

Thanks and Good Luck.

Bigdogg · #4 (**permalink**) 12-22-2006, 09:53 AM

Well I don't hear of babies getting RI as much as I hear of adults. But we need some info of how you are keeping him.

How warm is the cage on the warm end and the cool end.
Are you keeping water in the cage all the time.
What Kind of cage is it.

I have heard of a lot of dumerils that have been not eating. I personally don't keep dumerils anymore but have in the past. Once you give all the info and maybe what you have tried to feed him. You will get help a lot faster.

nanatokane · #5 (**permalink**) 12-22-2006, 10:23 AM

And it begins, China

RTB is waking up

Good luck, you (and your friend) are in great hands...

Happy Holidays to all !!!

Demona · #6 (**permalink**) 12-23-2006, 01:21 AM

RI's are caused by a bacterial infection, that gets the "best" of your snake when its immune system is weakened.

Antibiotics can treat a RI, but they can be vary dangerous with young snakes. Is your snake young?

What are its living conditions now? what kind of tank? lid? temps? humidity?

You can boost your snakes immune system without ( or alongside) antibiotics to help treat a RI.
Keep the temps up at the high end of the ideal temp scale. I believe for a dumeril the hot side is supposed to be 87, so you'll want the whole tank that temp, with no night time drop. You also want to keep the humidity low so that they do not chock on their own mucus. about 30-50%.
Avoid handling and try to create the most "unstressfull" environment you can.

Demona · #7 (**permalink**) 12-23-2006, 01:32 AM

oh, and how long has it been off food?

please don't force feed, it is super stressful, which you really do want to avoid while treating a RI.
You've only had him for a month, so him mot eating in that time isn't to much to worry about. Don't handle him, and only offer food once a week. offering more often will also cause stress and will probably get him so worked up he'll just keep refusing.
Check out my "very upset" post for some feeding tips.

How are you offering the food? on the cage? f/t? dangling in tongs?

Did any of your vets get a culture swab from his mouth? With a culture swab they can properly treat the type of infection that your snake has. Baytrill is a common drug for treating RI, and it wasn't dehydrating when injected orally to my BP. Are these vets actually snake/herp/reptile/exotic pet vets or just general ones?

china · #8 (**permalink**) 12-23-2006, 06:40 PM

thank you for the reply. i just got back from taking him in to a new doc that specializes in herps. he was very helpful he did have to tub feed him so i just need to make sure that the temps stay at like 90 in the hot spot and at least 85 in the cool. he is very young so i am hoping that he will regain his strength and get better so i dont have to put him on any thing again. i took him to one doc that gave me baytrill that i had to inject which only seemed to dehydrate him even more. so i would like to avoid that if possible becauese he is only about 2 mothes old. by the way if you know any one in denver make sure they NEVER take there herps to Alameda East Veterinary Hospital!!!!! i recieved the worst care there which i think put my baby in even worst shape!!! Doc. Fitzgerald was so distracted with the fact that he had and animal planet show to do after our appointment that he failed to tell me where i needed to give him the shot so i didn't puncture any thing, the fact i had to go between the scales and the fact that it would dehydrate the #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^& out of him!!!! i can't believe the lack of concern that he has for his patients!! the only ones he seems to care about are the ones that are going to be on the show! anyways let people know that if they care for there herps not to go there. they will end up worst then when they where when you bring them in. sorry had to vent. thanks for the help i really appritiate it

china

Demona · #9 (**permalink**) 12-23-2006, 07:21 PM

good to hear that you found a better vet.
Good luck

just a reminder, its a very g-rated site, so any kind of curse will give you bad points. Might want to edit through your posts next time

china · #10 (**permalink**) 12-25-2006, 08:29 AM

hey hoping for a christmas miracale here. after his visit to the vet he seemed to be doing ok. well now he seems very very dry to thepoint that his eyes even seem that way. almost like a shed maybe? but when i just went to soak him he seemed extremely dry and almost stiff. i was afraid he was dead untill i saw him trying to look around! i had to curl him up to put him in his soak. i am doing every thing that i can but i am still very very worried!!! i cant tell if he can breath because it almost seems like his mouth is crusted shut. hopefully the soak will help. i dont know if he is getting worse from the stress of the vet? like before any help will help and wish some christmas magic on him maybe he just needs the extra help.

china

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