Lab results for RI

I got most of the lab results back today for the new Borneo girl. I am still waiting on the results from one more culture. This is what come back so far. She has a heavy growth of Pseudomonas and Enterobacter. Also a moderate growth of Proteus. Luckily all this is sensitive to the Amikacin that the Vet. Choose to start her on. When she finishes the antibiotics she will go back for re-testing. This poor girl is very sick and only showed mild symptoms. :(

Sorry to hear that. Hope she gets well soon.

Pseudomonas in my experience seems to be a naturally occurring bacteria in these snakes, I'd never heard of the Proteus before, but seems to be a bacteria commonly associated with UTI's.

BUT, when stressed or kept in inadequate conditions, shipped improperly, etc etc the bacteria breaks loose and fuels the infections, but doesn't seem to be the one that really causes it as there is most times another bacteria that comes back on the report.

Now, I've had to deal with an RI in a Blood that came in sick, it popped positive for Pseudomonas obviously and the Entrobacter, that snake is no longer with us. She went on Amikacin, Baytril, and a combo of Amikacin and Fortaz until I had to put her down.

I say this as someone with a little experience with RI's in Bloods, hit it full steam! I would HIGHLY suggest you ask your vet about getting a nebulizer to help get another drug down into the lungs of the animal as well as using the Amikacin you were prescribed.

As long as the other bacteria are susceptible to the Amakacin, stick with it. Make sure you hydrate the animal everyday in a tub with water for like 30 minutes to an hour.

Bad thing about RI's in these animals is that they either seem to clear up real quick, or they don't at all.

Raise the humidity and heat him up to like 83 ambients and an 86 or 88 degree hot spot.

Feel free to call me if I can be of any more help or PM me obviously.

816-739-3537

HTH