Antibiotics

So yesterday I took my snake to the vet because he was making clicking noises when he breathed from his nose. The vet said he didn't look sick but prescribed me some oral antibiotics just in case to give to him for 21 days. So I did my first dose last night and just an hour ago. Obviously he's not happy about getting the syringe in his mouth and thrashes around as I try to do it. Being an already anxious person, I made sure the syringe was past his glottis. After I was done giving the medicine to him, he seemed to not swallow it completely so it was bubbling a bit around his mouth and I'm concerned that if he's not swallowing it and his mouth is still gooey that some of it did or could get in his glottis. I'm also slightly concerned because when I took the syringe back out there was a tiny bit of blood on it. My vet said that it could just be from gum irritation of the syringe because he does try to thrash around when I have it in there.

What do you all think? I'm just really worried that it could have gotten in his trachea :(

I would find a different vet - antibiotics for snakes are injected not given orally unless they are specifically targeted at an infection in the digestive tract.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I would find a different vet - antibiotics for snakes are injected not given orally unless they are specifically targeted at an infection in the digestive tract.

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There's nothing more to say on this topic.:gj:

Find a new vet

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The vet said he didn't look sick but prescribed me some oral antibiotics just in case to give to him for 21 days.

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You just do not prescribe antibiotics just in case, anti-biotics should only be prescribed if there is a real issue, a disease was diagnoses and a culture was done and the appropriate determine which antibiotic would be appropriate.

Finally oral anti-biotics in snakes are completely useless, when prescribed they should be injectable.

So should I stop giving him the antibiotics? He's still making the puffing/clicking sounds but there's no mucous or open mouth breathing. What would a different vet do?

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Originally Posted by Damariscotta

What would a different vet do?

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Take a swab of your animals mouth and run the culture.

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Originally Posted by Damariscotta

So should I stop giving him the antibiotics? He's still making the puffing/clicking sounds but there's no mucous or open mouth breathing. What would a different vet do?

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Is this a Reptile vet? I'd call and ask to speak directly to that Veterinarian and ask them what their credentials are and why they didnt do a culture. You paid for service so don't be afraid to question them.

The vet said he didn't do a culture because he didn't look sick and was just making the noise. I've got an appt with a different vet tonight. I'm going to demand a culture and injectable medication if he's really sick.

Hopefully the other vet you go to knows more about reptiles, the first one doesn't seem to have much experience with treating them.

How should I go into this new appt? Should I straight up request a culture get done when I walk in? Do all vets have the equipment to take and test a culture?