Spider ball with RI worried about IBD

[babyknees]

I'm new to the forum and sad to have my first post be under such bad circumstances. I have been watching my friend's new pair of ball pythons (female pastel and male spider) while she moves into her new place. Within the first week of taking care of them I noticed the spider "drooling" and so we took him to the vet who diagnosed him with an RI and prescribed Fortaz injections. There are only two injections left but today I noticed that he is holding his head upside down. He's been keeping his head veritcal which the vet acted like was a normal symptom of RI but this is the first time I've seen him lay his head all the way upside down. I've read about IBD and am worried that maybe he has it. He doesn't seem to be struggling to try and right his head or anything. I'm wondering and worrying what this could be: spider wobble, trying to clear his throat of mucous or IBD?

[kellysballs]

I know it's pretty scary to watch a ball contort like that. I bought my first spider in 2007 back when the "spider wobble" was something no one talked about. I had no idea that some spiders moved crazy like that and I was in constant fear that my girl was dying, and my vet of course didn't know either. I did not have to worry about a RI as well though. I would just quarentine the two and keep up with the shots. If the spider dies, have a necropsy done immedeatly since liver biopsy is the only way I know of to get a definate diagnosis of IBD.

[RichsBallPythons]

Spiders wobble and spins come out big time under stress or feeding. Since hes sick and getting injections, this is what triggered his spinning/star gazing. Dont worry about it as its normal with spiders. Just keep Up on the meds and should be all good.

[babyknees]

Thank you so much for the responses! It's put me more at ease.

[WingedWolfPsion]

However, if the Fortaz doesn't work, then you should be concerned about paramyxovirus as well as IBD. Particularly since this is an RI as the primary symptom.

The only course of action is higher heat, strict quarantine and continuation of antibiotics until more clear symptoms are presented. With a spider, it's certainly going to be hard to tell if there are any actual neurological symptoms from an illness.

There are several big bad nasty bugs out there.

Treat him like he's Typhoid Mary in the meantime--NO contact with the rest of your snakes (if you have others), no transfer of any object, wash and disinfect everything with BLEACH (not chlorhex), and be as careful as you possibly can. Do not keep him on the same side of the house, much less the same room.

Hopefully the vet actually did a CULTURE, and didn't just pick an antibiotic at random. It's most common for a vet to take samples and put the animal on antibiotics while waiting for the results, but if that is the case, you should have the results, and know what the bug is, and whether Fortaz is the right antibiotic to treat it.