| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Strawb |
Posted - 24/08/2014 : 09:54:50
Hello everyone,
I haven't written in a long long time as I've been very busy and the snakes until now have all been well. My question is about my Boa constrictor. About a month or so ago I noticed that every time I walked in the room she twitched, like I had made her jump. I didn't think much of it as she is a temperamental snake anyway (she hisses every time I go in the room and take her out). She hasn't eaten since May, but I wasn't too worried about this as snakes do fast occasionally. But this morning really worried me. I was going in and out of the room as I was cleaning their water bowls and getting their frozen rats out. She jumped each time I went in the room and hissed, but after about the fourth or fifth time of going in her jump seemed to turn into a fit. She was shuddering and twisting, she didn't hiss but she was pushing her head against the side of the terrarium. She doesn't appear to have any external injuries and she has just sloughed cleanly, but this spasm was definitely not under her control.
I hope someone can advise me ion what to do here as I'm very worried.
All the best,
Strawb |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alves76 |
Posted - 31/08/2014 : 18:42:29
Sorry to hear it was IBD. I was worried that it might have been the case. I hope your other snakes are OK. |
| chrisc |
Posted - 31/08/2014 : 11:09:35
very sorry to hear this.
how exactly did the vet confirm it was IBD?
there is now a blood test avalible to confirm IBD or the old was is to send off tissue samples from the brain ect for lab testing which can unforunately only be done post mortem.
with the viv and heating the boa was in i would reccomend burning in an throwing the heating, stat ect away as IF it was IBD you could risk infecting any other snakes that go in there an for that reason you also cant sell/give the viv/heating to anybody. |
| Strawb |
Posted - 31/08/2014 : 10:00:15
Thanks for the replies everyone. I checked the temperatures and they were fine. I went to the vet and unfortunately it turned out to be the dreaded IBD. I had her put to sleep and she is now buried in our heather bed.
I've thoroughly disinfected her old terrarium and am keeping an eye on my royal.
It was sad to have to have her put down, but I know it was the best solution. It's also very frustrating because it's still not known what causes this disease and how it can be avoided.
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| Lotabob |
Posted - 28/08/2014 : 11:22:57
Anything apparently neurological really needs to be a trip to a specialised reptile vet. I would also set up a very strict quarantine moving the Boa as far away from any other reptiles you may have. IBD was the first thing that I thought reading this post that or long term incorrect temperatures. |
| Fezza |
Posted - 26/08/2014 : 08:20:53
Definitely sounds like a trip to the vets if your not 100% happy.
Do some research on Inclusion body disease. It's a disorder in boas that may be worthwhile mentioning on a vet visit |
| Alves76 |
Posted - 25/08/2014 : 19:59:59
I can't be much help here knowing very little about boas, except to say that even from my limited knowledge, something like what you're describing warrants a trip to the vet.
If you've other snakes I would also consider quarantining your boa until you know for sure what's going on. |
| chrisc |
Posted - 25/08/2014 : 16:25:01
what are the actual hot an cold temps?
i know shes not eaten for a while but has she pooed/passed urates since she stopped eating? |
| Strawb |
Posted - 25/08/2014 : 15:59:35
Thanks for the reply. She didn't seem to have problems staying the right way up. She pulls her head back, but still flicks her tongue out and tries to move around as though nothing is wrong. Her tail hangs limp but her body is convulsing and as I said, she still seems to try to move around as normal.
I haven't used any new cleaning products and she hasn't lost weight. Heating is fine. |
| chrisc |
Posted - 24/08/2014 : 22:13:23
was she corkscrewing at all an struggling to stay the right way up?
what are the hot/cold end temps in the viv?
have you recently used any new cleaning products, air fresheners, deodorant ect in the room?
has she lost much weight?
sounds a bit odd an to be honest your best getting her to a reptile vet to check for any problems.
parasites, infection, overheating, RI's ect can cause odd symptoms with snakes.
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| Strawb |
Posted - 24/08/2014 : 22:00:05
I took her out of her terrarium tonight and she hissed briefly before having another fit which lasted about 3-4 minutes before subsiding a bit. She continued to twitch, but seemed to be strangely relaxed during the whole process. She was looking around with her tongue flicking the whole time she was convulsing. Tonight was feedy night so I offered her a rat. She struck, but missed which is very unlike her, before striking again and coiling round it. I left her, but she didn't eat the rat. I picked her up (she hissed briefly) and still twitching, I put her back in her terrarium.
Judging by the lack of replies, I assume this is puzzling a lot of people and not only me.
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