Question about RI

[KJE]

I have a 1 year old BP that I've had for about 6 weeks now. I noticed some popping when he breathed on 8-20-07. I took him to the vet on the same day.

The vet said it was the very beginning stages of a RI and he was shocked the I caught it so quickly. The infection wasn't in his lungs yet. It was just in his head and wasn't that bad at all. Just a little bit of mucus in the mouth and a couple of very small red spots in the mouth. The vet gave him an injection of AB's and sent me home with 4 more to give over the next 2 weeks.

The snake has had 3 injections so far. I had him out today and noticed when he yawned that there wasn't any bubbles or mucus built up in his mouth like before. However, while I was holding him he was kind of blowing his nose every now and then. When he did this there was a small bubble that came out of one nostril.

So, my question is this...could he be blowing out what is left of the infection? Kind of like the when we have a sinus infection and have been on AB's for a few days, then start blowing our nose because the infection is breaking up?

Since he only has 2 more injections left do you think that will be enough to get him healthy again? The next 2 injections will be given on Wed. & Sat.

[shhhli]

i would assume he'll probably be getting better from the shots, personally i've never delt with a snake with a RI, but i would double check your husbandry to make sure he does not get one again- if you've had him for 6 weeks and he got it around the 20th of this month, check and make sure your temps & humidity are in check. other than that, congrats on catching the ri so early on!

[West Coast Jungle]

The antibiotics still continue to work 5-7 days after the last shot. Did they do a culture? Some bacteria are immune to certain AB's and not others so I usually have a culture done which is, the take a sample from the snake, grow the bacteria in a lab and then test which antibiotic kills that specific bacteria/infection. Keep a close eye on him for at least 2 weeks after finishing medication to make sure it has been completely eliminated. If you have other snakes do not mix up hides, water bowls tubs or anything and clean all his stuff with a bleach solution (rinse thoroughly afterwards)to kill any lingering bacteria and aviod re-infection. Once you start AB's culture's may not be helpful because it is hard to get live bacteria. You got it early so that is very helpful. Now you have to re-visit your husbandry and try to figure out what may have caused it. Also bump you temps to 94 degrees. This helps the snakes immune system. Best of luck!

[KJE]

Thanks! I didn't realize the AB's would still be working for a little while after the final shot.

The thing that surprised me was that he got the RI in the first place. Our temps and humidity are checked several times a day and have been great! I am a stay-at-home mom, that's why we can check the temps/humidity so often. The vet said that sometimes a mouse/rat can have bacteria and the snake could have picked it up from them.

[shhhli]

The vet said that sometimes a mouse/rat can have bacteria and the snake could have picked it up from them.

Interesting. i did not know that. i'm jealous you get to spend so much time with your snakey though! :B
i'm here at work thinking and going a little crazy because i want to go fuss all over my new snakes