head up

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

respiratory distress is a good bet. watch for him to be slightly opening his mouth. another possibilty is stargazing.. which if it just started now I doubt it's that.

[Jack Neary]

respiratory distress is a good bet. watch for him to be slightly opening his mouth. another possibilty is stargazing.. which if it just started now I doubt it's that.

Shannon,
Have any of your Garter's ever developed a respitory infection? If so, were you or your herp vet able to treat and cure it?
Thanks!
Jack

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I have never had respiratory distress in a garter become serious yet. I have seen early warning signs and caught them in time to turn it around. The raising head posture is an early warning sign. if i see that i pick up the snake and put the middle of it next to my ear in a quiet place and listen to the breathing. If I hear early signs of distress (popping, wheezing, gurgly noises) I isolate the snake, up the heat (the heat helps their body run at its fullest to fight infection) and keep it scrupulously clean and dry on paper toweling. I don't feed until the snake appears to be okay.