My experience with Inclusion Body Disease (IBD)

[guypettigrew]

Originally Posted by Kit Desu

Thanks for making this topic. It's been a really big help.
I've known about the Disease but not quite as much as much as I should of. And this topic has helped clear a few things up.
Earlier today, I found our Royal.. Fully twisted, with his head upside down.. He's been in his cave the past few days. But finding him all twisted and upside down this morning was a serious blow to the heart.
Thanks to this topic I could compare to double check, before I rang the vet.
From what the vet says he also thinks it's IBD. Although tests will have to be done once he's put to sleep.
But I'm not having it done, mostly due to the cost.
He'll be going down there in the next 20 minutes. And although it's sad. I agree with not blaming anyone. Not over something that resides like that.

But yeah. I'd really like to thank you for the topic. As it was a big help. Also, I know it sounds a bit cruel but I'll be taking a few pictures of Cookie, and if you'd like you can add the to the first page. More reference pictures are always good. And I'd really like to help anyone else who has to go through something as harsh as this.

How much would it cost to test for IBD after the snakes has been euthanased? And how much will it cost to euthanase your snake, please?

Guy

[Kit Desu]

I never got an actual price.
We just spoke about the tests that can be done to confirm it. The fact it was costly was what popped up in the conversation first.
So I passed on the tests, but the Vet was certain (As he is a Reptilian Vet.) And very confident in supporting the fact it was IBD.
Cookie was tiny, and he was a pet. Not a breeder or future breeder. The fact he was in such a poor state was enough to me.
And costly vet bills during the Christmas season don't help.
I'll mostly be popping down there again tomorrow, so I can always ask if you'd like?

[guypettigrew]

About to PM you.

Guy

[Montage_Morphs]

Well we made it to a new year with none of my snakes showing signs or symptoms of IBD. Lets hope this continues throughout 2010!

How this disease has not spread in such a small collection of only 20 snakes, of which 15 are boids, I just don't know. Luck? Good hygiene procedures? Good quarantine methods? Regular mite treatments of their environment regardless of them not having mites (Eliminating any risk of infected mite eggs hatching and spreading the disease)? Who knows, but I just hope it stays this way...

[Mujician]

MM:- would you recommend treating for (or rather preventing) mites regularly? Even if you dont see them? What is the best thing to use for it, and what method? Many thanks, Ben

[Montage_Morphs]

Absolutely. I treat any new snakes that come in, regardless of whether they are from my best friend or not. You just cannot trust any source not to have mites as they are so common and so easily spreadable due to the long incubation period of the eggs.

I regularly treat all the snakes and enclosures as well. Every 2 months seems to be enough. It also ensures no nasty diseases are being spread from one snake to another.

Mites totally ruin any concept of quarantine, as it's so easy for them to pass from quarantined snakes into a well established collection simply by hitching a ride on your clothes. They also love to march! Put down some sticky tape on your carpets surrounding vivs and I guarantee you will find hundreds of the wee boogers stuck to the tape after 24 hours. They are constantly on the move, looking for a fellow mite to love and a new snake to suck the life out of...

[Mr Tin]

Simpler procedure is to buy ardap, use it on the vivs and any equipment and decor.

Hell i even use it to get rid of spiders.

Kills mites in seconds, mites on the snake in about an hour.

[Montage_Morphs]

Each to his own. I prefer the frontline method.

[SW-morelia]

Originally Posted by Mr Tin

Simpler procedure is to buy ardap, use it on the vivs and any equipment and decor.

Hell i even use it to get rid of spiders.

Kills mites in seconds, mites on the snake in about an hour.

I use PAM in my quarantine tubs, so any new snake gets to spend time in isolation and any mites will be well gone...
If they show signs of having had mites, quarantine is extended......

[arachniface]

Originally Posted by Montage_Morphs

As in the case of the human virus AIDS, IBD is a retro virus and spreads through bodily fluids (ie breeding or through unhygienic contact with faeces or other fluids from infected snakes).

Just a small point, AIDS isn't a virus, HIV is the virus, and you can't catch it from faeces even if snakes can catch IBD from faeces. Off-topic but I feel compelled as there is a lot of misinformation about HIV around and it's a topic very close to my heart.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Poor snake.