The wheezing is back...

[EasternGirl]

Cee Cee was acting kind of odd last night, hiding a lot. I went to check on her this morning and she didn't want to come out of her cave, she was acting spooked. When I finally coaxed her out, I noticed she was swallowing repeatedly and now she is wheezing really bad again. I'm not sure what is going on...she was doing fine since she finished her antibiotics...she got better on them. She has been absolutely fine until she started acting a bit odd yesterday. She didn't want to come out of her cave all day. The wheezing is pretty loud...but she did move around a bit and take a drink. I took her out and I didn't hear crackling in her chest like before with the RI. I'm pretty concerned though. Thoughts please?

[BUSHSNAKE]

if she has bubbles in her throat the RI came back...so open here mouth and check

[EasternGirl]

Okay...I will do that in a little while. I keep picking her up to listen to her...I don't want to stress her too much more right now. I talked to Chris for a while this morning and we came up with a theory that maybe the substrate I recently put in her enclosure is too dusty for her...it's like carefresh, but it does seem dustier...and she has been burrowing a lot. I just switched it out and put aspen in her tank. I increased the heat and humidity...she sounds better right now...still clicking, but I don't hear the wheezing like before. I'll check her again in a bit and see if I can get her to open her mouth without biting the crap out of me...

[BUSHSNAKE]

i used carefresh for a long time and stopped useing it cuz its so freeking dusty but it never caused RI...take your licence or debit card or something..slip it between her lips and have a look for bubbles if her throat looks normal then....

[EasternGirl]

I will. Well, I'm not saying it would cause an RI...but the vet did say that her respiratory problems are chronic and could come and go...I'm just thinking if it was really dusty and she already has breathing issues, it may have made it worse.

[chris-uk]

Glad to hear that she's breathing a bit better now Marnie. Fingers-crossed that the substrate change will help. Imagine... an asthmatic snake.

[kibakiba]

What I do when I get dusty substrate is put a mask over my face and put it in a tub and shake it until most of the dust is on the floor.

[EasternGirl]

Well she seems a bit better in the aspen...and it's a heck of a lot cheaper. I'm going to try to feed her in a little while..see if I can get a look in her mouth and see if she is hungry.

[chris-uk]

Let us know if she eats. Isn't it a pretty good rule of thumb that a feeding snake isn't desperately ill?

[EasternGirl]

That is what I'm thinking...if she eats she must be feeling somewhat okay...and she also probably would not be eating if she were having a terrible time breathing.

[guidofatherof5]

Please keep us posted.
She is in my prayers.

[EasternGirl]

Thanks Steve. It looks like her eyes are turning blue. Looks like she is going into shed mode again. I'm hoping that the wheezing has something to do with that...she has wheezed some before a shed in the past. She ate tonight...but I could hear a lot of crackling sounds and clicks when she was eating. I didn't see any bubbles in her throat. I'll see how she does tonight and make a decision as to whether or not to call the vet in the morning.

[chris-uk]

All in all most of the signs are positive, it's just the wheezing that is a concern. I hope she's sounding better in the morning.

[EasternGirl]

She sounds okay right now..just a little clicking. She's definitely going into shed mode...she is totally bitchy right now...she struck at me hard tonight when I tried to get near her to see how she was doing...all she wants to do is hide in her slim jim can or her cave.

[chris-uk]

After you're late night DVDs.... don't forget to update us when you wake up!

[EasternGirl]

She seems to be okay...she's in full shed mode now...eyes are cloudy over...she has the crabby look on her face and a smushed head that says "Don't mess with me!". I was so worried about her and I know she is happier when she is with Seeley, so I put him in with her last night. They are curled up together in the cave. She did poke her head out to see me and, at my own risk, I put my head into the tank to listen for wheezing...I didn't hear any. Maybe this all had to do with the impending shed...I hope so. I'll keep checking on her and updating you guys...thanks for the help with this.

[katach]

I think the "i just ran into a wall" pre-shed look is cute! Willow, Toothless, and Fish Bait look like that right now.

[EasternGirl]

I just got home...I was out for a while..and checked on her...she is still in her cave, although her head is out. I can hear a little wheezing...but it is very faint...could be blocked nares. I will have to reassess after she sheds...unless she should suddenly become obviously worse. I have the heat cranked up and I am trying to keep the humidity up as much as I can get it to go.

[guidofatherof5]

Sounds like you're doing all you can at this point in time.

[EasternGirl]

Thanks Steve. I do worry so about the well-being and health of all of my snakes. Cee Cee and I have a special bond, though. Something I can't explain...but that you and other members understand completely.