BHP's

[ironside]

I have 2 BHP'S, 1 m & 1 f.

I've been watching the m who's about 10 months old. When he moves he appears to be contorting & knotting up.

Its like he has a broken back and just seems to drag his body to straighten out. He goes to turn around and then seems to flip over.

He's not as active as the f.

Temp is about 30 deg.

He regurgitated 2 rats awhile ago but has kept down & crapped out his last 2 rats. I thik the first may have been to big.

I'm taking him to the vet in the next 2 days but thought someone may know something. At times his skin looks rather loose.

I did have a DP die of septicemia a few years ago & that was distressing (bought with problems which seller didnt tell us).

So to see this one doig what its doing is making me worried.

[Chris1]

i'm by no means an expert, but have u read this article?

Ophidian Paramyxovirus information

[speedy]

how long ago was the rats regurgitated the afects of feeding snakes to big items can take months and i hope for you sake he doesent drop dead

[junglepython2]

Keep him in strict quarantine to be safe until you can get him to the vet.

[ironside]

Thanks ppl.

It looks like my snake has opmv or ibd. Either way I'm now sad.

Can you tell if a snake has these when you get them or does this kick in months or years later?

When I first got him about 14 months ago he was great with great movement & appetite but I do remember him doing like a diahhorea once. But the above link explains it all.

[josho]

is that what the vet said? who did you get them off? do you have other snakes in your collection

[ironside]

hi josho,

Dont need a vet for this diagnosis. I wont say who I got him off but it is Sydny West early last year.

Can this disease be spread though dead rats? I buy them at this stage but is it possible?

[josho]

not sure about rats but i dont think so anyway could you pm the persons name im buying a few snakes from that way and would if its the same person i wont buy them and risk my collection

[ironside]

sent you a pm Josho

[ad]

josho, treat everyone you buy from the same, the virus doesnt recognize reputations.

Ironside, sorry to hear of your animals being sick, I could only imagine the heartache.
I have never heard of rats carrying the virus and severely doubt it possible.

[ironside]

Is OPVM IBD like epilepsy in that it comes and goes.

Does the affected snake have seizures for a short time and then go normal and then later have seizures?

[junglepython2]

Originally Posted by ironside

hi josho,

Dont need a vet for this diagnosis. I wont say who I got him off but it is Sydny West early last year.

Can this disease be spread though dead rats? I buy them at this stage but is it possible?

Why don't you need a vet to diagnose? I'm sure there are other ailments that would cause similar symptoms. The only definitive way to be sure is through a lab analysis.

[MrBredli]

That doesn't sound very good at all mate. Are they the only two snakes you have? You really should contact everyone you purchased from or sold to in the last 12+ months and let them know what's going on. Also don't let any other keepers near your snakes or they risk passing it onto their collection. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

[spilota_variegata]

Originally Posted by junglepython2

Why don't you need a vet to diagnose? I'm sure there are other ailments that would cause similar symptoms. The only definitive way to be sure is through a lab analysis.

Too true junglepython, there are other ailments that could cause similar symptoms. Nearly 10 years ago I had a couple of my baby carpets die in a similar fashion, regurgitating their food, contorting and unfortunately dying. After much searching and heartache, I traced the cause of death to contaminated food. The pinkies I was feeding them must have been frozen and defrosted (then frozen again). Poor little things. Seeing them die in so much pain was a harrowing experience. Got rid of the bad pinkies and never had another problem.

I hope your visit to the vet works out well.

Good luck..