| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 29/04/2011 : 11:20:28
Tig travled all the way to Morpeth on Wednesday to see his new vet. One look after reading my notes and he said it was clear to him that Tig has chronic pnumonia. He had a listen to his breathing and said it was very noisy (I know) and labored.
He did comment on how well Tig seemed otherwise, how happy he seemed. How well I was keeping him and how well I knew about Royals, and he did make a point to tell me that I was doing everything right for Tig. He also said that Tig's condition is 'just one of those things', and I think he was trying to reasure me that I wasn't the world's crappiest mummy...
Tiger Eye is now going to have to be on and off treatment for the rest of his life, including injections (I forget the name now) every three days and to have a nebulizer with F10 placed in his viv for half an hour twice a day whenever he flairs up. This is 'cause although his pnumonia can be treated it will never fully go away and he will always have to live with it : (
He's going back to see his new vet on Tuesday evening (my mam has kindly offered to take him for me (she loves him and would steal him away if I gave her half a chance) while I'm in bed). He's going to have another injection and another check up and it'll be desided if an x-ray would be of any benifit. And if he ever get's very bad he's going to have to stay there while they give him a more agressive treatment... I'm just hoping his home injections and nebulizer steams will be enough to keep on top of this sodding thing.
I'd never even heard of snakes getting R.Is before Tig got ill, so for him to have chronic pnumonia is a new one for me. Does anyone have, or know anyone who has had any experience of this? Is it just a one of those things like his vet said, or was he just trying to make me feel better? Is there something I might have done (or not done) to make Tig this way? I would like to know 'cause although I know it can't be changed now I'd know for any future Royals. I'm hoping someone can enlighten me on all this : ( |
| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 15/05/2011 : 08:52:39
Yeah I am. Although seeing how his lung goes right in against his spine like it does, looking like someone has compleatly removed it still freaks me out and upsets me to see it like that. But I've been reasured that it's fine and nothing to worry about. Since snakes don't have a diaphram (sp?) then it's just him using his muscles more that a snake usually would to breath. It's just looks shocking to a human 'cause it looks so un-natural.
I'll try and get a photo of him breathing out so's to show people what I mean. I don't think people will have seen it before, so it might be good to show what it looks like? |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 14/05/2011 : 14:17:48
Thats great to hear. Glad he is doing well and you seem much happier too now that you know what your dealing with. |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 14/05/2011 : 09:39:37
Better, thank you : )
He's still noisy, but I'm not as worried as I was before. He's having his nebulizer on twice a day for half an hour which really seems to be helping him breath better. When he breaths in I can see he's able to take in much more air, so I'm really pleased about that.
He shed five days ago (I think five days) so he's all lovely and shinny again, and at this rate he'll be up another size in rats 0_0 I swear when Tig starts a growth sprut he really goes for it!
All in all he seems happier and can clearly breath better now : ) |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 14/05/2011 : 00:26:43
How is Tig doing? |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 05/05/2011 : 10:43:00
Hmm, seems interesting. I'll have a proper read about it a bit later, thanks : )
Thanks BATS, I hope he's going to keep on going this way.
Firstly, Tig is in blue...again! He must be going through another big growth spurt. I'm chuffed : )
He tried his nebuliser last night and this morning. He doesn't seem bothered by it at all, but the machine is really noisy. And it's supposed to be a quiet one! But, it doesn't matter 'cause I can get on doing other things somwhere else while he's in his tub (a different one, with only one hole for air and one for a length of hose pipe used to connect the nebuliser mouth peice). He's using it twice a day for half an hour, and I have to say, although I'm not sure if I'm just imagining it, he is quieter 0_0
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| tAnYa |
Posted - 04/05/2011 : 18:23:55
About a week ago, I found this product on line on John Berry's site, it's called Reptaid. Just go and read about it, I think it may be well worth to have if it is working and especially if it's boosting the immune system! It's a bit on the expensive side but if it works, well worth it. I have ordered some for my royals. |
| n/a |
Posted - 04/05/2011 : 10:33:39
That's good to hear - sounds like he's turned the corner. Best wishes for his continued improvement. |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 04/05/2011 : 10:28:50
Well, all seems to be going very well for Tig. His new vet say's his breathing sounds much better inside, although he's just as noisy outside. The vet said this could mean there is still a bit of something in there, but most likly it's lung scaring. In that case he'll be noisy all his life, but the good news is that it won't effect him, just worry me!
He has another injection to have on Friday, after the one the vet gave him yesterday. And his nebuliser came yesterday too! That was quick. I haven't got a clue what the instructions say (never have been any good at instructions) so my mam is coming over today to help me set it up proper (there good these nursey peoples you know, they know stuff). She used a million and one in the past, so is no stranger.
The bad news is that Tig's condition is contagious to other Pythons and to Boas as well, so I've been strongly advised not to get either while I have Tig. The risk is too high even if I was to keep them in seperate rooms. But it's not contagious to other reptiles so I can still get my Dragon : )
So all seems to be going smoothly so far. He might always have this, and he might always be a noisy breather, but my baby boy is getting better and that's the main thing : ) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 02/05/2011 : 10:37:53
Yeah, I think I know the chain you mean, would never use them. The stuff I've heard and read about them, and how they treat the animals, is shocking 0_0
And I'm not reading any more articles! ; )
Anywho, thank you : ) He was out on his branch again last night too, just chillin' out up there, watching the world go by. His breathing is still just as bad, but I know it's going to take a while before I notic any changes there. But I'm just happy that Tig is feeling better. I've noticed that he seems more relaxed in general, and likes to climb over me instead of go back in his viv. I really wasn't expecting any sort of improvement so quick!
His nebulizer should come on Wednesday 'cause I've splashed out on first class delivery for it (it wasn't that much). He doesn't seem to mind the smell of the F10, and it does smell. ...Well it smells of the vets 'cause it's what they use to wash the tables down with! But he doesn't seem to care, so that's good too.
He'll be going to the vets again tomorrow, so I'm just waiting to see what they say. I'll keep all updated : ) |
| n/a |
Posted - 01/05/2011 : 11:46:41
Hi, that sounds good. A long way to go yet, I know, but a good start. Your Mam sounds like a great person - wish I'd had a mother like that lol.
Yeah, those articles are a bit much. I actually didn't read the first one, as it required me to register, and when I pressed the back button, it threw me off the net. But if it was similar to the second - well, they have to cover all aspects of the illness, and cover themselves and it ends up sounding all very heavy. It's rather like a certain veterinary franchise in this country vs the traditional vet. I ended up going to the franchise vet when I moved here as it was the only vet within walking distance; then another vet moved into the area and I changed to them. If you took an animal with even a simple problem to the franchise; they'd terrify you with overkill and try to sell you all sorts of treatment that the animal might not actually need. (I can vouch for this; having a little experience with cats, I knew for a fact that I was being treated to the hard sell on at least one occasion, to cut a long story short.)
The trad vet would talk to the animal, talk to you, not at you, and say, well, ho hum, umm, well, she looks fine, just keep an eye on it but I don't think there's anything to worry about, and, yes, she might need a dental in a year or so but I think we can safely leave her for now ...
Oops, sorry for the rant re vets, but hope you see what I mean, and hope I haven't transgressed any etiquette by criticising that particular chain of vets, naming no names.
All the best with Tig. |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 01/05/2011 : 10:35:49
OK, so my mam has said to ignore those links. She's saying that they're probably just copying off eachother, which I suppose could well be true. I like to freak myself out though, so sorry about that : /
On a plus side though, Tig is feeling much better at the minuet. He had his first home injection yesterday, which he was very good for. Not sure if it'll be so easy when he's adult size! And I gave him some of his F10 in his steam last night while I wait for his new nebulizer to come. And last night he was chillaxing out over his tree branch : ) He knew I was there and the telly was on and he didn't care. I was so pleased he was out, 'cause it's been so long since I've seen him do anything other than move from one hide to the next. I know he's feeling better already, I can just tell : ) |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 30/04/2011 : 12:41:01
And another usful link:
http://www.angelfire.com/al/repticare2/page18.html |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 30/04/2011 : 11:44:32
I've just came across this while trying to learn more about my Tig's condition. I thought it might be usful to others to read and learn about too, so here's the link:
http://www.petplace.com/reptiles/pneumonia-in-snakes/page1.aspx
I was already aware that there is a chance of death, but I'm afraid this article seems to be suporting that idea futher. It really worries me that there seems to be no cure and that Tig might just get more and more ill till he can't go on any more.
I might print this article out and send it to his new vet. Maybe he can shed some light on what it is I'm actually looking at here with Tig's health and lifespan... |
| BlueDragon |
Posted - 30/04/2011 : 10:20:55
Thank you both.
Yeah, suppose I have to look on the bright side, that now I know what it is and how to deal with it best. I feel bad for not taking him to Morpeth sooner, but his vet pointed out that it wouldn't have made any difference anyway. If he was going to flair up, he was going to flair up, and get worse before he got better.
Thanks BATS. I know, I shouldn't blame myself so much. But as you say it's near impossable. My mam's snakes, when she was a kid, were kept in fish tanks and fed on cooked chicken, and beef as a treat. Back then there was no such thing as frozen food, and my mam din't want to give live food 'cause she thought it was too cruel for both sides (even then she knew of what could happen). Her snakes were all fine though and lived for a long time. She reminds me of that all the time, that you care for you pets as best you can, but sometimes these things just happen. Like people, some pets are just a bit dodgy health wise. Doesn't mean I'm a crap mummy to them. She tells me off for thinking that. "Oh shut up and stop being so silly, your pets all have the life of Riley!" That's her favourite line : )
He is a proper mummy's boy, bless him : ) But he was in a right strop after he saw his vet, 'cause he got his first injection then. All the way home he looked like he'd tied himself into one of those impossable knots, and then hid from me all that night too. He wasn't happy. And today is his first home injection, so that should be fun! Fortunatly my mam is a nurse, and trained to be a vet before that, so she has loads of experience with needles 'n' all that. Me, on the other hand, I'm terified of them! It should be quite amusing to watch X ) But seriously, I hope he gets used to them and they don't bother him too much. I'd hate to think they upset him. His vet said that it's not the pain that upsets them, it's the feeling they get of it going through their muscles. I have no idea how he knows that, but if it's the truth then Tig will probably get used to that feeling in the end. I hope.
He was very noisy on the way back and has been up till now. Being away from his heat in the viv for a long time makes his breathing worse. But he seems much quieter this morning, and I put the temp up to 93 (from 92) when we got back for him. So I think that's helping him. Vet said to keep the temp up for him, so that's what I'm doing.
I'm going to get a nebulizer for him when I find the best one. But with all these holidays it's not going to get here for a while. Does anyone know of a good nebulizer to use on snakes? I can't spend a fourtune, but I could go up to a hundred quid. |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 29/04/2011 : 19:46:22
Oh thats rubbish news but at the same time its good news in a way, you now know what you are dealing with and you've had it confirmed by the vet that you've been doing all you could. Better the devil you know I suppose, fingers crossed a targetted attack on the problem will bring better news for you in the coming weeks and months. |
| n/a |
Posted - 29/04/2011 : 12:02:31
Hi, Blue - I'm so very sorry to hear about Tig.
I'm afraid I know nothing about chronic pneumonia in snakes, but it's clear to me that Tig's very fortunate in having you (and your Mam.)
I've been keeping all kinds of animals for 50 years now, and in my experience it's a fact that some animals just are prone to poor health, no matter how perfectly kept and cared for. This has happened to me and friends who kept/bred animals. The runt of the litter, the 'poor doer', who needed special care ...
I know you had the wrong advice re the faun when you first started keeping Tig, but so did I have the wrong advice when I first started with snakes, so have thousands of people - until they discovered forums like this . How many snakes first started life in fauns and never had the glimmer of a RI? And then there are the snakes who are rescued from appalling living conditions but who bounce back to perfect health. I know it's hopeless to say 'don't feel guilty' - we all do (says she who was creeping about frantically checking temps at 3am this morning lol) but I really think that you and Tig have had very bad luck.
I do hope his condition stabilises under the new regime. He sounds like a big softy who won't mind all the extra attention. Poor lad, though.
All the very very best, keep us posted. |
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