Ibd case 17yr Redtail - New symtoms?

91kenny1 · #1 04-03-2012, 06:57 AM

Ok, Ive had this snake for 17 years, he has not ate in months. Ive tried getting him to eat monthly for a while and nothing. He began puffing his throat up and corkscrewing his head. He has little energy and is weak. Ive called some vets but its late and I will have to wait until am. He wont even coil up anymore. Im sad because all the symptoms sound like IBD. This is all new to me. Ive never even heard on this until tonight. Any suggestions? I bet this bloodwork is expensive and the vet probably is not cheap. I dont want to lose my 17 yr old friend. Im going to try some herp vets in the am. Any help would be appreciated. Can these symptoms go for other problems too? or just IBD?

HERPHAPPY · #2 04-03-2012, 07:25 AM

Is this your only snake? and has he ever been exposed to any other snakes? Because if he's been your only snake for 17 years, it's not likely to be IBD.

But he sounds pretty sick, maybe 'just' a respiratory infection...but a RI can be fatal if untreated! (staying alive requires breathing! & snakes cannot cough!) Get him to a vet (with reptile experience) ASAP!

Sounds like this has been going on for some time? that's never a good thing, btw...

As for IBD, here's a long thread recently posted about another member's ordeal with what turned out NOT to be...*you may want to print it out & show your vet?
http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/showthread.php?t=75329

Snake Plisken · #3 04-03-2012, 10:46 AM

Could also be old age.

DiamondCreek · #4 04-03-2012, 11:59 AM

Yes, if this is your only snake and it has had no exposure to other snakes, then it is very likely not IBD. There could simply be, as WinWizard suggested, some neurological issues related to old age.

Dayswalters · #5 04-03-2012, 04:02 PM

Hope the vet can give you some positive news but let us know what happens...I feel for you.

Thunder Mountain Boas · #6 04-03-2012, 05:08 PM

A lot of neurological problems will make you think IBD, but it's not a common disease to just "pick up". Your snake would have to come in contact (extended close proximity) with other infected snakes to pick it up. There are likely other possible way to contract it, but right now too much is unknown about it to be sure. It's far more likely that if these are neurological symptoms he is displaying, he has come into contact with some sort of poison. Pest control sprays, cleaning agents, woods that are toxic to boas (cedar/pine), overdoing mite treatments can do it also. Best bet is to find a good reptile vet as stated above. But keep this in mind as well, they're not perfect. http://www.redtailboa.net/forums/oth...diagnosis.html

VexalUntil · #7 04-03-2012, 05:21 PM

The bloodwork cost $100 per sample to be tested for IBD. Like any IBD test it's still not definitive, but this new blood screening seems to be the most reliable.

Here's some more information and the Dr. Elliot Jacobson's contact info:http://labs.vetmed.ufl.edu/sample-re...ions/boid-ibd/

91kenny1 · #8 04-04-2012, 03:14 AM

Took him to the vet. Real knowledgeable guy with snakes. He was 98% that oreo has IBD. There were no eye reactions, he has lost a lot of weight from not eating. He could have done a liver test to be more sure (looking for inclusions) and blood test- but that is not conclusive 100%. I did have two other red tails for a short period but he never came in contact with them. I did move some logs between the two cages....I hope that wasnt how he contracted it. The vet said he could have had it all along and it just laid dormant until now. We sat there talking for a while and moving around and he laid on the table unphased. The dr. said its like the lights are on but nobody is home. He was 17 years old and 8 ft. long. At one time he weighed 20+ pounds. We agreed to put him down. I didnt want to put him through force feedings and the vet said it usually rots in their stomach anyway. He also said I would probably be making this decision in the not far future, What a sad day....

hasekdrwosbs39 · #9 04-04-2012, 03:18 AM

Sorry to hear that I just lost my albino not to long ago to IBD.

RobbertBurge · #10 04-04-2012, 03:19 AM

Iam so sorry for you!!! A very sad day when you have to make those kind of decisions.

Dayswalters · #11 04-04-2012, 03:28 AM

I'm sorry to hear that...I know it must have been a difficult decision

91kenny1 · #12 04-04-2012, 03:39 AM

Thanks for the replies. It was difficult for sure.

HERPHAPPY · #13 04-04-2012, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91kenny1

Took him to the vet. Real knowledgeable guy with snakes. He was 98% that oreo has IBD. There were no eye reactions, he has lost a lot of weight from not eating. He could have done a liver test to be more sure (looking for inclusions) and blood test- but that is not conclusive 100%. I did have two other red tails for a short period but he never came in contact with them. I did move some logs between the two cages....I hope that wasnt how he contracted it. The vet said he could have had it all along and it just laid dormant until now. We sat there talking for a while and moving around and he laid on the table unphased. The dr. said its like the lights are on but nobody is home. He was 17 years old and 8 ft. long. At one time he weighed 20+ pounds. We agreed to put him down. I didnt want to put him through force feedings and the vet said it usually rots in their stomach anyway. He also said I would probably be making this decision in the not far future, What a sad day....

So very sorry for your loss...it sounds like you made the best decision you could and did the best for him at this point. Still very hard though...

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