What is wrong with my Burm?

What is wrong with my Burm?

Postby Boidae » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:07 pm

Hi all

I have a 2m Burm that has been eating very healthy since i got it. I only have it for a few months. His previous owner kept it in a small cage with a Boa.

Lately (for about a month now), my Burm hasnt eaten. When i put a mouse or rat in the cage, he immediately goes for it, and opens his mouth, but doesnt seem to be able to strike. He also seems to not have control over his neck. he would roll or tie himself up in a knot and battle to get his body straightened. I now have to kill the mouse, and then get him to open his mouth, and push the mouse down up to a certain point, from where he starts to be able to swallow.

Does anyone have an idea what the cause of this could be and how could i treat this. I am really worried about him. :cry:
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Postby Elleria » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:12 pm

Sounds like IBD u should take him to the vet asap!
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HMmm

Postby Boidae » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:18 pm

Thank you for the response. I also thought rather be safe and take him to a vet. Will do and will let you know
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Postby Bushbaby » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:24 pm

He did not perhaps get injured somewhere?? Is there anything on his cage he could've injured himself on?
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http://www.boaconstrictors.co.za
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Postby Boidae » Fri Nov 16, 2007 1:30 pm

Well it's actually my BF snake. And he has a huge water feature and a piece of bark in the cage. THough both is fastened quite well, it cant be ruled out i guess. Someone told me about a disease (called stargazing i think), which burms get from Boas. But he grew up with a boa and when i got him all was fine. This just started recently, and it does look like an injury as he seems to be battling to strike, but he isnt lethargic or anything else.

guess the best bet would be xrays and then taking it from there.
Just hope he makes it
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Postby Bushbaby » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:09 pm

When are you going to the vet with him? That is the best. I do not believe the whole IBD and Boas bull which goes around. I know it does it exist, but in the past 10 years of keeping Boas, I have yet to come across it.
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http://www.boaconstrictors.co.za
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Postby Boidae » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:20 pm

I have actually battled to get a good vet here in pretoria. Only staying here now for almost a year. Have had and handled snakes since i can remember. I got a number of a vet in Atterbury that is good with snakes apparently. Taking him on monday. Got a bit stressed about the Boa/Burm thing. As i convinced him to get a snake (the burm) and i have two beautiful boas. And my male was in the Burms cage for a week while we were making a bigger cage.

So i feel bad cos im scared my boas made the burm sick :cry:

I hope its not that. Maybe my male boa (2.5 m and weighing 15 kg), was too heavy and injured the boa :roll:

As long as my boas didnt give the burm and diseased. then im sure and hope that they will fix him up.
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Postby dendroaspis » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:46 pm

I am with BB on the IBD thing.

He might, however, have meningitis. I lost a Gaboon male with that. If the vet catches it early, its very treatable, but in the gabby's case it had spread down his spinal column.
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Postby Urizen » Fri Nov 16, 2007 3:42 pm

'Stargazing' is IBD, they loose their oriantation and motor skills go to hell.As far as I know, Boa's are not the patient 0 of IBD. I'd be more worried that the burm gave your boa IBD. But I have been talking to alot of people and it seems IBD is not that common. I think Bushviper said that, you even have to have a conclusive autopsy to prove it.
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Postby Sean » Fri Nov 16, 2007 4:22 pm

"whats wrong with my snake" sed it could be (what I remember)

poisoning
electrocution
IBD (which is "stargazing")


wet the heat pad and touch it.

head in cage and take a long deep breath, any funny/chemical smells?
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Postby Graeme » Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:49 pm

Stargazing is a symptom, not a disease, and can be caused by any number of things.
I have had a lot of success at Onderstepoort with sick animals recently and would highly recommend talking to DR Elliot who was suggested to me by DR Cliff Bull. Whom I believe is highly respected.
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Postby gbrown » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:20 pm

So out of curiosity WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO THE VET WITH HIM???
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Postby Bushviper » Sat Nov 17, 2007 7:42 am

GBrown. The appointment is for Monday.

If the boas are not showing any symptoms I would not assume that they passed on any disease.

If you turn him on his back and he cannot right himself it may be IBD but could also be any other neural disease.

Let us know what the vet says on Monday.
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Postby gbrown » Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:26 am

:( that's sad I hope it turn out ok. holding thumbs.
Inch by inch play by play
till we're finnished
One Inch at a time.
(Al Pacino, Any Given Sunday)
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Postby Iggy » Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:25 pm

I was told there have been no confirmed cases of IBD in SA yet? Such a horrible disease...has it been here a long time or is it a recent arrival?
Meanwhile Boidae, hope you get an answer on Monday and that all can be righted..
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