Snakes keep getting sick..

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Originally Posted by JLC

Just trying to come up with different possibilities.

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That's cool. Every little bit helps! :D :sweeet:

If it were me, I'd focus on the bug. :partyon:

-adam

Well Judy I don't have anything like that anyway.. as we keep birds which are very sensitive to anything in the air. No air fresheners or candles (cat would probably knock it over and burn the house down anyway ha)

I think you're right Adam.. the RI is spreading somehow. Unfortunately the quarantine room is separated from the main herp room only by a hallway.. no doors even.

My issue is.. with everyone dropping like flies, each snake I have to take in to my vet I have to pay a $55 office fee, and then the antibiotics (fortaz is expensive stuff too.. $100 for three weeks for the dumeril) So figure 100 at the minimum for each snake that has to go in.. with 26 snakes that sure does add up.. then if the antibiotic doesn't work, it's back again.

I guess vets need to see each individual snake in order to prescribe antibiotics even if they all likely have the same bug.. correct? I wish I could just buy a bottle of the antibiotic and dose them myself.. but alas no.

So.. the cultures we did were obtained through a lung wash. The other vet I know of was going to swab the gook from around the glottis and culture that.. is the second vet's method inferior or would it work just as well? (hopefully better as the lung washes yielded nothing)

The odd thing to me is that no other snake showed any sickness for months after I had that dumeril.. now just a month or so ago it seems to be spreading like gangbusters.. and I have gotten stricter in my quarantine procedures too. It's just not making sense to me.

I would find a new/better vet ... explain the situation and see if they'll work with you .. a $55 office visit fee "per snake" is just silly ... all they can really do is weigh the animal and make up a file.

A good "reptile vet" would know better.

-adam

Yeah.. he seems very knowledgeable.. but who knows. I can't afford to pay that much.. I need a volume discount or something.. ha.

Adam do vets usually obtain culture 'matter' by swabbing the inside of the mouth?

it also may be worth your while to do a phone consult with dr. scott stahl www.seavs.com he is a super nice guy and is up to date on the latest reptile care/treatments.

he can also consult with your local vet, just trying to help.


vaughn

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Adam do vets usually obtain culture 'matter' by swabbing the inside of the mouth?

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For RI's, I do mine inside the trachea ... it's the "tube" inside the mouth on the front of the lower jaw.

-adam

If you are a regular customer and explain the situation with you vet, most do give group discounts. If all animals are sick with same problem they will sometimes charge one office visit for multiples and will usually work out payment arrangements if you are strapped for cash. Take the time and talk it over with him. Normally they don't offer discounts unless you ask.

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

For RI's, I do mine inside the trachea ... it's the "tube" inside the mouth on the front of the lower jaw.

-adam

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Ok.. I just wonder if the lung wash is worth the $170 or whatever it was.. to obtain the culture matter.

I could ask my current vet for a discount.. but as I think of it, he seems to go the round about more expensive route with things (ie lung wash instead of swabbing the trachea, and wanted to do a stomach tube to worm the snakes when Becky told me how to worm them myself.)

I had taken one snake to this second vet before.. I think I will call that office tomorrow and talk to him, see if he can help me out.

I feel somewhat uncomfortable taking more than one sick snake in at the same time.. I guess I'm afraid that if it isn't the same thing, the they will get each other sicker. Am I being too conservative here?

I think the lung wash was a little over the top. Sounds like a vet that doesn't have a lot of confidence/experience swabbing? Although I don't want to judge without knowing the whole story and seeing the snakes first hand.

I would take them all and ask if you could pay for a single office visit.

Put each one in it's own box and wash your hands very well between each ... sounds like things can't get much worse ... time to be aggressive getting things worked out.

-adam

Shelby,how far are you from Peoria? The reason i am asking this is my vet in Peoria is well knowledgable when it comes to reptiles.They try to work with you as best as they can and they dont go for the expensive treatments.If you want his info pm me and i will give you the info.Good luck,you and yours are in our prayers for health improvement.