Mojave beats URI!!! (with a little help)

[BaierBalls]

(sorry for the long post, just wanted to share this story)

So about three months ago, out of nowhere, I noticed my 1200 gram female Mojave gurgling and wheezing. It was a shock to me because she has been perfectly healthy her entire life (raised her from a hatchling), and I have had no health problems with any other snake in my collection. Not to mention the day before I noticed anything she ate a good sized rat.

So anyways, off to the vet (for the first time). The vet perscribed us Baytril to be injected every other day for two weeks. After the two weeks was up, she had not improved. We then tried one more week of Baytril. Still nothing.

So back to the vet (a different one). This time we were perscribed Amikacin, to be injected every 3rd day for two weeks. Two more weeks went by, injections ran out, and still no improvement.

At this point I was becoming very upset. I had raised this girl from a hatchling to get her to this size. This was one of my females I had been looking most forward to breeding since I've had her, only to see her finally getting to breeding size and coming down with this sickness that she was not recovering from.

We decided to go back to the vet one more time. At this point we decided to try another antibiotic called Claforan which is a 3rd generation cephelosporin(sp?). This injection was to be givin EVERY DAY for 2 weeks. And the injections were HUGE. A lot of medicine to try and get into a very strong, irritated snake every day. Along with the injections, she was nebulized everyday for a week with Amikacin.

After the first week of injections, and nebulizations, and warm water soaks, I could barley notice any improvement. I was about ready to give up, but still had a weeks worth of injections.

After giving her her 3rd to last shot and putting her away, I could still hear her wheezing, but it did sound a little bit better.

The next day when I got her out to give her her 2nd to last shot, I could not feel or hear anything in her lungs. I was very happy but also didn't want to get ahead of myself. The next day I pulled her out for her last shot and still heard nothing. I was getting happier and happier but was still skeptical.

Well a weeks gone by since her last injection and she still sounds clear. Whats really got me excited is she ate for the first time since she first got sick, and she ate 2 rats at that. She had refused food every week throughout her treatment.

I am still checking her everyday for any sign of wheezing but she is breathing and acting completely normal and happy. The fact that she finally ate again is what really makes me believe she's better. I will not be 100% relaxed about it until a few weeks go by and she continues eating but I think were in the clear! Just goes to show you that persistence pays off!

[llovelace]

Congrats on her getting better, what is her hot spot set at?

[BaierBalls]

Her hot spot is at about 95 right now.

[llovelace]

ok good, I hope the RI is gone for good, and it's great she has gotten her appetite back

[L.West]

Wow, what a horrible experience to go through. I had goose bumps just reading it because that is my worst fear with my babies - having them get sick and have the treatment not work - omg I would just freak out.

Sounds like you did everything right and it all worked out.

I'm sooo happy that your baby is good to go.