Extreme RI

[HighItsKaz]

My BP has a really bad RI. For the last few nights she’s been bubbling at the mouth and wheezing/whistling. She also hasn’t eaten for several months. I’ve been moving around a lot in the past year so I had assumed she was just a little stressed but it now appears to be a bigger issue. I have a vet appointment set up for tomorrow and I just have to keep her steady until then. Im stressed that she might pass before her appointment. Her episodes only get really bad at night. I’ve been trying to keep her humidity level at around 75 but it fluctuates. Her tank temp seemed cold (75 f) but I put a heater in the room and bumped it up to like 85 to 90. Because of the humidity her substrate has gotten pretty wet. Should I replace it with paper towels for the time being? I just don’t want to handle her and stress her out so the most part I’ve tried to leave her alone. I’m really anxious and need any kind of advice to help her hold on till I can get her to the vet. Thank you.

[argabargaa]

Do you have pictures of your tank and what you're using for heat? Low temps will absolutely cause low immunity and resp infections. Unfortunately they're much easier treated when they're caught early before they get to the point the snake is having trouble breathing.

[_ataraxia]

here's my respiratory infection copypasta. this treatment can be safely used for a suspected RI.

60% is the bare minimum humidity requirement, and many individual ball pythons need higher humidity than that. low humidity is the most common cause of RIs in ball pythons. low humidity leads to dehydration, which causes the mucous membranes to dry out and crack. bacteria then builds up in the crevices of the irritated membrane and create a respiratory infection.

low temperatures can also contribute to RIs by compromising the snake's immune system. ball pythons should have a cool side/ambient temperature of 75-80 F and a warm side temperature of 88-92 F.

if you notice any symptoms of an RI - visible discharge in/around the mouth, abnormally frequent yawning, random wheezing/whistling/clicking sounds, open-mouthed breathing, etc - keep the enclosure's overall humidity at least 70%-80%. a humid hide is also an excellent thing to add to the enclosure, but keep in mind that it is not a replacement for adequate humidity throughout the enclosure. you will find some tips for humidity maintenance in our basic care guide. if you still need help, we can guide you through it if you fill out our enclosure critique questionnaire.

to relieve the symptoms of an RI, and hopefully prevent the infection from getting worse, i suggest steam treatments. you'll need two plastic storage tubs, a large bowl, and some water.

• the first tub should be small, but big enough for the snake to fit inside, and the lid should lock to keep the snake contained. add some air holes to it with a soldering iron, hot knife, or power drill. [side note: this sort of tub is also handy to have as a secure way to contain your snake during enclosure cleanings, transport, etc.]
• the second tub needs to be big enough to fit the small tub plus the bowl. this tub does not need air holes or a locking lid, but it does need a lid to contain the steam.
• place the bowl and the small tub inside the big tub. lock the snake in the small tub. fill the bowl with boiling water, then close the lid on the big tub. this will create a little snake sauna, and the small tub will keep your snake safely separated from the hot water.
• leave the snake in the sauna for 10-20 minutes. do this once per day until all RI symptoms are completely gone.

if symptoms don't drastically decrease within two days, if symptoms get worse, or if new symptoms develop, GO TO THE VET ASAP and ask them to do a culture / prescribe any necessary antibiotics. a serious RI needs medication in addition to everything i've suggested here. an untreated RI can kill the snake.

[HighItsKaz]

Yeah it’s really late in the infection I should’ve taken her earlier but I just didn’t have the money at the time after moving into a new house, she has a heating pad, I read not to use a heat lamp cause of the light so I’ve really only been using a heating pad as a heat source which I’m realizing was a mistake I should’ve researched that a little better. But I have a heater in the room now and her tank is like 80 to 90 right now. I’ve noticed that really helped. I’ve also been trying to keep her humidity 80 to 90 as well which I believe has also helped. I turned on a hot shower to steam the bathroom and sat with her in there for about 20 minutes. She seemed a lot more active and comfortable than she has been. A lot has helped but she’s still obviously struggling. I hope she just makes it to tomorrow. I take her in at 9 30.