Hello!

I have a ball python that I just rescued from a very run down pet shop that was going out of buisness. She was the "store mascot" and was in a tiny little tank with no heat behind the main counter. They were closing down yesterday and I went in to buy some goat food that they had at 75% off (I had never been in there before). Anyway she looked miserable and since they were closing that day I offered the owner of the shop $50 to let me take her and he agreed.

So I get her home and she is cold to the touch and is wheezy and bubbly. She looks otherwise healthy (no retained sheds, no mites, etc) other then the immediatly noticable RI. I have her in a small enclosure with raised temps and have started treating her by nebulizing her with a combination of eucalyptus oil and vicks. I live out in the BOONIES. I am 2 hours away from the closest reptile vet. However, I did call them and talk to them about her and I was told that I could use Tylan (which I have on hand for my goats and chickens) to see if that helped her.

My question is this: has anyone had success with Tylan? I am just trying to decide if I should try it and see if it helps before putting her through the stress of a 4 hour plus round trip in her condition or if I should just give up the goat so to speak and take her to the reptile vet and see if she needs a different spectrum of antibiotic.

PS- I am a retired vet tech and familier with injection techniques. thank you for all advice