Boa with RI

I went to feed my boa tonight and for the first time in about 2 years, she refused food. Now, it looked like she is going into shed but that's never stopped her before. When I offered her the rat, she became really pissy, opened her mouth and gave a long hiss. I've never seen her this aggressive. Her cage looked a little damp and there was a very large turd in the back of her tub, but other than that, it wasn't dirty and it wasn't dripping wet.

But it's the hiss that bothered me. When she went to inhale again she sounded very congested. I removed her from her cage (and she put up quite a fight), cleaned it and put her back on paper towels. Temps are around 89-90.

I will be calling tomorrow (too late now) to set up a vet appointment for Wednesday (it's the next day I have off) but if I find a vet that's open until 6 or so, I could try and get her in sooner. I have used Cardinal Animal Hospital in the past for my reptiles, but my last visit with her was kind of a bad experience (ferret with adrenal disease). I'm in Chesterfield, Va if anyone has any suggestions for a vet. And preferably one that won't charge me an arm and a leg for injections because Cardinal did oral medication with the last snake with RI (my one and only until my boa) and even with a small snake like a ball python, it was horrible trying to give him his meds. I can't imagine giving this boa oral medication. She's about 5ft (maybe a little longer) and at last weigh in was close to 6lbs.

Hey there,
I'm sorry to hear that. I'll see what the Vets say here in Norfolk to the pricing. I know it's propably a hell of a run for you but when the price is right, it might be worth it.

I have 2 Vets very close to me that are experienced with reptiles and i'll see what they say.
If it's worth letting you know about it i'll post it here..

I have boas as well and feel with ya...

She has a vet appointment at Lake side Animal Hospital today at 5 p.m.

DONT GO THERE.... that is the same place that mis sexed my bp.. i wouldnt recommend then.. not REALLY knowledgeable on reptiles..

Just because they missexed your snake doesn't mean they are not knowledgable about reptiles. There are breeders that can make that mistake too. When I first got my corn snake she probed right at the line between male and female (as far as number of scales) we were only 100% sure she.was female when she laid eggs.

right.. that is easily understandable.. i just would rather have people that REALLY know what they are doing.. thats why i had don resex mine(lol) and i ask ppl on here for advise and info.. generally most ppl on here know more than i do about herps... its just discouraging when paid professionals arent experts like the degree states... IMO.. im looking for a new vet place myself for that reason

I think it has a lot to do with reptiles being brought to vets far less often and how broad of a spectrum there are, vs cats or dogs. Some vets might just not get enough hands on time with all species or it could even be that someone else's snake makes them nervous. I still get a little nervous around other people's snakes just like some dogs, and I've owned both as pets. Of course, you have some people that don't care and are willing to take one for the team lol.

When I took my first snake to the vet, he seemed to know a lot about snakes and RI's and even showed me how to probe them. He went to show me how to pop and in the process, peeled off the shed that was due to come off in another day. You would have thought be broke the thing! I felt bad because I could tell he was freaked out, but it was no big deal.

How old was the BP that you were trying to have sexed, ichopz, and did it end up being male? I think I read someone that males, at an older age, develop stronger muscles down there and are better at keeping the hemipenes in. I would have to say they are the hardest to pop and probe counts can be inaccurate. Popping an older male requires a bit of force that took me just up until recently to develop. Pushing that hard could make a customer nervous and would definitely be playing in the back of my head.

Also, sorry to hear about your boa! Good luck.

Here's the list I was looking for this morning but could not find:

http://www.vaherps.com/t853-find-an-herp-vet

my bp ended being a female after all. Don got me right at the last richmond show.. when i was getting it sexed at the vet it was about a year old.. weighed about 1kg... so that might have had something to do with it..

The vet put her on baytil (ill have to get the dosage. I have.it written down somewhere) she's giving injections every 2 days with a total of 7 injections. We have moved her to QT and raised the temp by 2°. She's on paper towels.