Help Needed for My Sick Puget!

[Jack Neary]

Guys,
Just noticed one of my female Puget's looked a little thin. Upon a closer inspection, I noticed she is swollen approx. 3 inches behind her head in her forward body.
Additionally, she also looks like she is also swollen behind her clocia, with her tail being very thin, almost rat like... I can also feel her spine as she is too thin...
I do not brumate my Garter's and can't believe I missed this condition, which certainly did not evolve overnite... (I believe she was staying buried under her bedding for most of the winter)
Any ideas as to what is causing her swelling in her upper body and... behind her clocia, near the start of her tail.
Will try and find the camera to post pictures ASAP...
Thanks for any help!
Jack

[guidofatherof5]

The front swollen area sound close to the heart location. I would be least worried about the tail since it's below her cloaca. A Vet. visit might be called for.
Is she eating? Pooping? Last shed?
A photo would be great but you might move on that Vet. visit if that's possible.
Keep us informed.

[drache]

I've had a couple of my weaker garters die of upper respiratory infection in the past few months, and they were quite swollen in the lung area. The swelling developed over night, but they'd been not eating as they should, and getting thin before that

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

it sounds a lot like a respiratory or digestive tract problem. Check her breathing. I know certain parasites, some particularly nasty ones, can cause the upper-mid boddy puffyness. I lost a schuett albino to the exact symptoms you are describing... his upper body was puffy and swollen, he was eating for a while, but not putting on weight, but then he stopped eating altogether. He was too thin, with a pronounced backbone and a tail that was thin and floppy. When i held him he felt "loose" like his body would kind of jsut flop around in my hands... he didn't feel strong. His head took on a gaunt appearance as if he were starved... but he wasn't! My first thought when I noticed the swelling was respiratory, but then close observation of him showed he had no problems with his breathing... no extra saliva coming from his mouth... no bubbles, wheezing or gaping... and the fact that he had been eating but still losing weight pointed to parasite. But I lost him so quickly, I never got try and correct the issue.... good luck!!!

[Jack Neary]

Shannon,
What causes respitory infections in Garters? How can I prevent them?
Thanks!
Jack

[Stefan-A]

Shannon,
What causes respitory infections in Garters? How can I prevent them?
Thanks!
Jack

Draft, poor ventilation, too high humidity, too low humidity, microbes, dust, weakened immune systems etc.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Shannon,
What causes respitory infections in Garters? How can I prevent them?
Thanks!
Jack

the best way to prevent reporatory infections is to keep your snakes clean, warm, dry, well ventilated, well fed and away from new arrivals!

[mustang]

watch this it will help

watch it all the way through it covers lots of common snake probs and tell how to avoid em(including respitory)
sorry its so late

[ConcinusMan]

What the heck Robert? the thread is a year old. The snake probably died long ago if it ever was really sick.

[mustang]

What the heck Robert? the thread is a year old. The snake probably died long ago if it ever was really sick.

look at the date of shannons post