Drago

[sa55y_77]

Well today I went and got my two snakes from my brother. and Drago my redtail boa was acting strange. Twisting and turning his head. I just figured that he was freaking out by being held. but when we got home I put him in his fresh cage so that he could start relaxing and he is laying in the cornor all coiled up with his head upside down. and I went to just now go check on him and he is laying there looking at the top of the enclosure. He isn't doing it everytime I go look in on him but not sure what is going on. I guess I will just keep looking in on him.and keep an EYE on him.

Stacey

[Lorelei]

I'd get him to the vet- could be neurological

[The Snake Guru]

Make sure he's away from the rest of your collection......sounds like your describing the outwardly signs of snake with IBD. Unfortunately there is no cure.....but you should get him to the vet to make it is or isn't.

Bum deal.
~B~

[sa55y_77]

Ok so I was able to get the camera from the teen age daughter and get this video and some pics of Drago. I was also looking online that this IBD effects only boids....Is that true? or does it effect all of the snake species?
<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i138.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture011.flv">
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture001.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture002-1.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture003-1.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture004-1.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture008.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture009.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q271/sa55y_77/Picture010.jpg

I hope some of this helps. more than an explination...

Stacey

[Lorelei]

Oh, that doesn't look good - definitely keep him as far away from your collection as possible and make sure you sanitize EVERYTHING before going anywhere near any other snakes in your collection.

I believe it only affects boids - someone else chime in here.

Here's an artical http://www.pkreptiles.com/informationterms/articles/ibd.asp

[The Snake Guru]

I am sorry to report, that there is a 99.9% chance your boa is afflicted with IBD. At this point the only humane thing to do (apon having the condition verified by a vet) is the animal must be put down. As I said before there is no cure for IBD and it will eventually lead to its death. It does only affect boids....but that pretty much covers anything Boa and Python related.

Also the person from wence he came from should be contacted and informed of the condition in order that it can be controled as best as possible. This is a very serious and contagious issue.

Again I am very sorry for your loss, I wish there was better news that I could give you.
~B~

[sa55y_77]

So I guess that CHuck should keep a watch out on his female for this to possibly happen to??? I just brought him home from trying to breed him with Chuck's.

Stacey

[The Snake Guru]

If it has any one on one contact with any boa or python there is the chance that those snakes are now infected as well. The problem with IBD is in some snakes it takes longer to manifest itself. Which is one reason a vet visit to confirm that this snake is infected with IBD is so important.

~B~

[danthony428]

that sucks, im so sorry, i hope its not ibd, thats a beautiful boa

[APBTOwner]

It looks like IBD to me also. I sure do hope its not.

I'm very sorry.

It depressed me just watching the video.

[Joel]

I think you have probably heard enough bad news, but I can't stress enough that you need to keep that snake, and any snake that has come into contact with that snake, away from all of the other snakes in your collection! You also need to tell anyone in any place that snake has been to quarantine any animal your snake has come into contact with for a minimum of 6 months. As others have stated in this thread, the disease can take quite a bit of time to manifest, but it is always fatal and it is very contagious. This is something that can and has wiped out entire collections and needs to be taken very seriously!

[sa55y_77]

Yeah I already been crying i am now just waiting for the vet office to open so I can call and see if there is one here that sees reptiles.

I will keep you guys posted. and Chuck already moved his female away from the rest of his collection.

Stacey:sad:

[Joel]

I feel terrible for you. I hope this doesn't do any damage to the other animals you have.:(

[Basil]

I'm very sorry, Stacey. :(

[sa55y_77]

Ok so I went to the vet this morning. He told me that he (drago) has an equilibriam (sp) problem. maybe due to being with Cookie, Chuck's boa, trying to breed them and Cookie was always on top of drago so he thinks that it could be from a lack of Oxygen. so not sure what to do now but I have him away from my other babies esp Blush who might be gravid. so I hope this doesn't spread through my group of kids.

Stacey

[Lorelei]

Did he do a blood test to test for IBD???

[sa55y_77]

No which is why I have left him away from my group of balls. I talked with Chuck and Decided that I needed to go to a different vet. But I just can't afford it right now. It cast 100 dollar for the vet to look at him and give him 3 shots a steriod, an antibiotic, and a vitamin c shot. still not sure what the vitamin c was for but ok I guess. the vet I took him to when I called and asked if they would do the blood test said yes and then when I got there the vet said no he didn't do blood test on snakes so I am going to call this other vet and actually talk to the vet and see if they do the blood test. there just aren't that many vets here that see reptiles. I wish all of the speacialized in them.

Stacey

[ffollett]

I wish all of the speacialized in them.

Isn't that the truth. There is a huge veterinary hospital in Orlando. I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head but they have big signs out in front of it basically saying how many vets they have and they have all these specialists, etc. When I called them they didn't have anyone who does reptiles.

[danthony428]

ya i havent found any real good ones around here, houston sucks for reptile vets

[Medusa]

ya i havent found any real good ones around here, houston sucks for reptile vets

This is the name and info of a local one I've heard is good:

Larry N. White, DVM
Briarcrest Veterinary Clinic
1492 Wilcrest Drive
Houston, TX 77042
Tel: (713) 789-8320

[Jess]

I am very sorry for you as well. Wish there was something that could be done!
Jess