Respiratory Infection

[Alanah]

Hey everyone! I had some questions about my male children’s python who’s suffered/suffers from a respiratory infection. I’m still unsure how he came about it as his enclosure was always super clean and free of water spills but that’s not why I’m here. I took him to the vet who have him a months worth of injections. He’s definitely gotten better but the vet described respiratory infections as waxing and waning, flaring up every now and then (I’m not sure how true this is). He usually gets pretty wheezy when he’s in blue and just about to shed but other than that he seems ok. I’m not sure whether I should take him back to the vet or if this is somewhat normal and it never really goes away? He still eats perfectly fine and does what a snake should do, he’s also separated from my other snakes so they aren’t at risk (I’m pretty sure it’s contagious right?). My problem here other than his health (which is clearly top priority) is that he was bought to be a breeder for my females next season and I don’t want to pair them together if they are at risk of becoming sick as well. I was hoping someone could clear up whether it even is contagious and if breeding him when he is seemingly fine is an issue. I’m hoping by the time breeding season comes around next year that he is fine, but in the off chance he isn’t then I’ll definitely be looking for a replacement male and keep my original male as just a pet.
Thankyou, I appreciate any help!

 

[Herpetology]

RI is most often caused by bad provided temps... they need access to 32c+ during the day
you shouldn't need injections at all... just a bump in temps will cure 9.9/10 times

it'll be only contagious if its caused by a virus

I'd recommend a new vet, preferably a reptile specialist vet... respiratory infection in reptiles isn't "waxing and waning, flaring up every now and then" it's caused by poor husbandry and fixed by proper husbandry.

do you have pictures of the setup and monitored temps? that'll help us find the cause of the issue whether it's poor enclosure design (glass) or inadequate heating power.

 

[Alanah]

I know it’s usually caused by poor husbandry but I found that odd as I was keeping 3 snakes all in the same tub setup (each in their own tub, on paper towel) in the same rack, all on same temps and only one fell ill. I can assure the temps are fine and I’m not just trying to be ignorant. I had been keeping him for a year the same way before anything happened. He is better for the most part but gets ‘sick’ just before a shed which I don’t understand. Other than that he acts completely fine and eats well. It’s been around 6 months I’d say since he was first sick, and I had bumped temps up when I first noticed something was up. I too have little faith in the vets, when I called they told me he was a specialist and upon arrival I found out he just had a ‘particular interest’. He was more concerned about the fact I didn’t provide a UVB light for my nocturnal snake, who gets plenty of time out in the sun. Also sorry for no proof of setup and temperatures but I’m currently in Europe and I have someone pet sitting. I’m honestly not even 100% sure if the problem was a respiratory infection, that’s just what the vet told me.

 

[Herpetology]

I’m honestly not even 100% sure if the problem was a respiratory infection, that’s just what the vet told me.

What were the symptoms?

Honestly what you said about the vet is a big red flag and I faced something similar too…

I had a snake that clearly had an egg stuck in her and looked for the closest “reptile vet” which turned out to also just like snakes… not really a specialist.

She said “get it out into the sun for more UV”?!

Went straight to a well known reptile vet an hour away and she instantly knew the seriousness and got the egg out within an hour and said had I of left the egg in there it would have stuck like concrete to her walls and would require surgery.

 

[dragonlover1]

What were the symptoms?

Honestly what you said about the vet is a big red flag and I faced something similar too…

I had a snake that clearly had an egg stuck in her and looked for the closest “reptile vet” which turned out to also just like snakes… not really a specialist.

She said “get it out into the sun for more UV”?!

Went straight to a well known reptile vet an hour away and she instantly knew the seriousness and got the egg out within an hour and said had I of left the egg in there it would have stuck like concrete to her walls and would require surgery.

Haha sorry to put sh1t on dog and cat vets, I know you guys do a great job. But reptile vets are so much better at looking after our scaly friends. Cold blooded critters are so very different to warm blooded ones.