Re: Respiratory infection?

Posted by Fred Albury on June 04, 2001 at 18:02:09:

In Reply to: Respiratory infection? posted by Tim Brophy on June 02, 2001 at 20:25:07:

: My smaller female eastern indigo has "frothy saliva" which I can detect between her lips. She has no mucus leaking out of her mouth or nostrils and she is eating fine. She is a three year captive and has never been sick. Day temps around 85; nite temps around 70-75. She is going opaque. Any experience with "frothy saliva"? If she gets worse, I will take her to a vet, but I want to know what a good treatment would be. Ideas? Thanks.

Tim,

I have seen an expereinced the frothy saliva that you mentioned. Drymarchon are VERY phlegmatic snakes, and before, dureing and often after feeding they produce fairly copius amounts of this frothy saliva. not all Indigos do this however. In my expereince , it is not an upper respiratory condition.
One of the first indications of an R.I. that I would lok for in drymarchon would be wheezing or railing sounds, and GUMMY mucous in the mouth. Pop the snakes mouth open and look at the interior. Does it have STRANDS of mucous hanging from roof of mouth to bottem of lower jaw? If so this may be an indication of respiratory disease.
Personally, I would spend the money and take the snake to a truly qualified reptile vet. We can guess all day long, but he(or she) will be able to diagnose and tell you whats wrong and take the steps to treat it. I have often found that when I try to take shortcuts to avoid takeing an animal to the vet, I end up spending more in the long run.

Best of luck,

Fred Albury

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: : My smaller female eastern indigo has "frothy saliva" which I can detect between her lips. She has no mucus leaking out of her mouth or nostrils and she is eating fine. She is a three year captive and has never been sick. Day temps around 85; nite temps around 70-75. She is going opaque. Any experience with "frothy saliva"? If she gets worse, I will take her to a vet, but I want to know what a good treatment would be. Ideas? Thanks. : Tim, : I have seen an expereinced the frothy saliva that you mentioned. Drymarchon are VERY phlegmatic snakes, and before, dureing and often after feeding they produce fairly copius amounts of this frothy saliva. not all Indigos do this however. In my expereince , it is not an upper respiratory condition. : One of the first indications of an R.I. that I would lok for in drymarchon would be wheezing or railing sounds, and GUMMY mucous in the mouth. Pop the snakes mouth open and look at the interior. Does it have STRANDS of mucous hanging from roof of mouth to bottem of lower jaw? If so this may be an indication of respiratory disease. : Personally, I would spend the money and take the snake to a truly qualified reptile vet. We can guess all day long, but he(or she) will be able to diagnose and tell you whats wrong and take the steps to treat it. I have often found that when I try to take shortcuts to avoid takeing an animal to the vet, I end up spending more in the long run. : : Best of luck, : Fred Albury

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