bhp with blocked nose

[jeremy]

I have a bhp which i noticed has a blocked nose and what to me and my vet seemed to be respitory. I did a ten day course of batril (antibiotic) and havent seen any change. The vet has since given me numbers of more specialised vets which i think i will be seeing soon. Since then im led to believe that its not respitory and infact skin that has compacted in the nose (would explain why his eyes are opaque, but no shed). I tried to gently rub with a moist cotton bud with no luck as the stuff seems fairly hard. I also very carefully tried to poke a hole in the blocked area but as the stuff is hard i didn't want to apply much force and risk damaging my snake.My question is has anyone come across this before and how should it be treated?

cheers, jeremy

ps:at this stage i cant supply any photo's

 

[craig.a.c]

I would be taking him to more vets. If it is respitory problem try raising the temps a bit more. How old is the snake?

 

[Guest]

re bhp

Jeremy you need specialist help for sure and even in sydney theres not many,theres tony johnston at penrith and the best in my oppinion is Terry bellamy and she can be sought by contacting Marilyn and James Gill Small bird and animal practitioners Austral ph 9606-9312 or canley heights ph 9604-9792. Keep in mind with both vets that they are busy and appointments are necessary and the sooner you ring and make appointment the better.Until you take your snake there keep it warm and undisturbed if possible. Sorry i cant be of more asistance jeremy,good luck

 

[The Rock]

If the eye or eyes are milky and animal is not on shed, it could be what I call white eye. There are ducts on the roof of the snakes mouth that can get infected and cause the eye prob. Ive seen it in blackheads more than any other snake. The blocked nose hopefully will just be plugs and should pop out after a good warm soak or a high humidity shed cycle. Other wise sounds respitory. You may well have 2 probs. Hopefully not. If ducts are infected clean with diluted betadine on cotton bud twice dayly and prob should go away if in early stages.
Rob

 

[stencorp69]

Hi Jeremy,

I've just had the same problem, one of my Stimi was wheezing and it had compaction in the nose. I thought it might be respitory, but read it Rossi's What's wrong with My snake that the wheezing could be associated with skin shedding. I decided not feakout and as a precaution I bought the heat up and watch, a few days later I noticed that the snake's eyes were milky. Today 2 weeks after I noticed the wheezing the snake shed its skin - It wasn't a one piece shed and it had made a considerable mess of its water bowl, so I'm thinking there is not enough humitdity in the enclosure.

Sten

 

[serpenttongue]

Jeremy, this is very common with BHP and womas. Forget vets !! This problem is one of two things:

1. Firstly, do you use BC cat litter or equivelant? This stuff tends to get dusty very and with BHP's habits of digging beneath their substrate, they usually inhale the dust which inturn clogs their nostrils. At this time they often make sneezing/coughing noises to try and dislodge the dust. They will also dip their noses into their water bowls until the nostrils are underwater and then blow bubbles to clear the nostrils. But best results occur when they shed and the nostrils are completely cleared.

2. While your BHP is in its opaque stage of shedding a build up of fliud has occurred within the nostrils. This can also cause a weezing sound as your snake breathes. Fortunately this will clear before shedding.

Either way your snake should be fine once it sheds. I actually change the substrate for my BHP's after each shed to avoid problem 1.

 

[womas4me]

I have had a similar problem with bhp's on BC. There is a thread on it somewhere. Are you using BC jeremy?

 

[Guest]

re bhp

:lol: Ime not trying to discredit the honourable Dr serpentongue jeremy it may be a blocked lacrymal duct (Dr Rock) or the breathing substrate,ive had that before also.Resiratory problems have many causes and if you take it to a vet specialist the price isnt much compared what the snake cost you in the first place.

 

[jeremy]

Yes i had been using bc with her for the entire time ive had her until i noticed this problem. For obvious reasons i thought that the bc was becomeing pretty dustyand could be related to her breathing so i thought ide better change to newspaper(cant go wrong).

Her eyes were only mildly opaque and ive noticed just a few hours ago that her eyes have become very milky so with some luck she will shed tonight or tomorrow and hopefully the problem will be resolved.

Im still making an appointment with a vet called David Vella at crows nest (recomended by a few people) just incase it doesn't get any better in next day or two.

Thanks for all the input guys it really does helps
cheers,jeremy