Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Regal Boids
Thats true but sometimes people are in financial crams!
That is an unacceptable excuse. I have many snakes, lizards, rats and cats. If one needs a vet visit, regardless of my financial situation, they go. If you can't afford the needs of an animal, buy a plant.
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jglass38
That is an unacceptable excuse. I have many snakes, lizards, rats and cats. If one needs a vet visit, regardless of my financial situation, they go. If you can't afford the needs of an animal, buy a plant.
I am sorry but I disagree with this statement. Taking care of the day to day needs of an animal is one thing having instant access to what to some is large amounts of cash/credit is completely different. Not everyone can afford a $100 vet bill with no notice. We have to keep in mind that a lot (most I would guess) reptile owners are young and therefore not financially secure.
Telling them to "buy a plant" won't work and it won't stop anyone...so what are the options?
My take is that we as responsible, seasoned reptile owners need to help those that cannot (for whatever reason) help their pet with vet care. :)
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lord jackel
I am sorry but I disagree with this statement. Taking care of the day to day needs of an animal is one thing having instant access to what to some is large amounts of cash/credit is completely different. Not everyone can afford a $100 vet bill with no notice. We have to keep in mind that a lot (most I would guess) reptile owners are young and therefore not financially secure.
Telling them to "buy a plant" won't work and it won't stop anyone...so what are the options?
My take is that we as responsible, seasoned reptile owners need to help those that cannot (for whatever reason) help their pet with vet care. :)
If you can't afford to take care of an animal in the best way possible, then you shouldn't own one. How should we help those that can't afford it?
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jglass38
If you can't afford to take care of an animal in the best way possible, then you shouldn't own one. How should we help those that can't afford it?
Don't get me wrong I agree with you - you should plan for the needs of whatever animal you plan to have.
But here is a story on why I bring this up - A large stray dog jumped my fence and mauled my little dog...the vet bill was over $1000 which I didn't have. Does this mean I should never have bought my dog because I knew from the get go a larger dog could one day hurt my little dog?
People plan for food, bedding, heat, humidity (just look at all the questions we get) but who plans for a $100 vet bill?
What should we do you ask...my recommendation is offer experience to those that need it. What has worked to help with an RI? My guess is that RI are caused by mostly the same bug so what med is prescribed, how administered?, etc.
What started this thread is that in the KS classifieds is a guy selling this drug for $85 that he says "is quickly becoming the main med for getting rid of RI". True/Not True?
But people are going to buy it or another anibiotic regardless of how often we say "take them to a vet" so why not offer some usefull experience...for the snakes benefit.
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jglass38
There is no easy way when dealing with your animal's health. Don't experiment, don't play doctor. Take the animal to a vet, get it cultured and get prescribed the right meds to get it well. .
I'd also like to add that a large group of herp owners self-medicating their animals without first getting a culture done will cause resistance to the Cephalexin drug to increase much faster than necessary. Its called evolution baby! And our microbial friends can do it much faster than we can because of their short generation times!
The unnecessary overuse of antibiotics is a major reason for antibiotic resistance! That's why the newest synthesized generation of antibiotics are closely guarded by health professionals!
Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called Cephalosporins.
If your animals RI is caused by some types of gram-negative bacteria or a virus , then you are wasting this drug and contributing to the unnecessary growth of antibiotic resistance. The history of medicine and health care has shown us even the professionals cant just prescribe without doing a culture first!
Adam's 8ball advice is best.... "Effective treatment begins with a culture of the infected area to help identify the most effective anti-biotic needed."
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mendel's Balls
I'd also like to add that a large group of herp owners self-medicating their animals without first getting a culture done will cause resistance to the Cephalexin drug to increase much faster than necessary. Its called evolution baby! And our microbial friends can do it much faster than we can because of their short generation times!
The unnecessary overuse of antibiotics is a major reason for antibiotic resistance! That's why the newest synthesized generation of antibiotics are closely guarded by health professionals!
Cephalexin is belongs to a class of antibiotics called
Cephalosporins.
If your animals RI is caused by some types of gram-negative bacteria or a virus , then you are wasting this drug and contributing to the unnecessary growth of antibiotic resistance. The history of medicine and health care has shown us even the professionals cant just prescribe without doing a culture first!
Adam's
8ball advice is best.... "Effective treatment begins with a culture of the infected area to help identify the most effective anti-biotic needed."
Exactly and well put. Not all RIs are caused by the same bacteria. A culture is necessary and wildly medicating is not the answer. :rockon:
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
As a doctor I really *really* don't think it is a good idea for people to be doling out cephalosporins on an ad hoc basis to their pets - antibiotic reistance is a major problem and cephalosporins are too important to waste!
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
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Originally Posted by kurgan
As a doctor I really *really* don't think it is a good idea for people to be doling out cephalosporins on an ad hoc basis to their pets - antibiotic reistance is a major problem and cephalosporins are too important to waste!
Playing Devil's Advocate :slamhead:
Aren't most ball pythons in a closed environment (ie. it isn't like the go to school with a bunch of other snakes where they could pass it on:D ) so the likelihood of spreading a cephalosprin resistant bug around is very very small?
Does this mean most people agree that for those that have financial issues and are unable to obtain vet help...it is just too bad and we are willing to let the snake die a slow and painful death.
Yet we are appaled with pet shop/newbie care and bad heating/humidity control and are willing to offer all the help we can to fix the problem so the snake doesn't suffer.
Seems like a double standard and very elitest.
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lord jackel
Playing Devil's Advocate :slamhead:
Aren't most ball pythons in a closed environment (ie. it isn't like the go to school with a bunch of other snakes where they could pass it on:D ) so the likelihood of spreading a cephalosprin resistant bug around is very very small?
Does this mean most people agree that for those that have financial issues and are unable to obtain vet help...it is just too bad and we are willing to let the snake die a slow and painful death.
Yet we are appaled with pet shop/newbie care and bad heating/humidity control and are willing to offer all the help we can to fix the problem so the snake doesn't suffer.
Seems like a double standard and very elitest.
Im not sure what answer you are looking for or what exactly is elitist in your mind. You have been given the reasons why just treating with medication without medical supervision or proper culturing is a bad idea. What help would you like experienced keepers to give people who can't do the right thing for their animals? There is no welfare system for our pets.
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by lord jackel
Playing Devil's Advocate :slamhead:
Aren't most ball pythons in a closed environment (ie. it isn't like the go to school with a bunch of other snakes where they could pass it on:D ) so the likelihood of spreading a cephalosprin resistant bug around is very very small?
Does this mean most people agree that for those that have financial issues and are unable to obtain vet help...it is just too bad and we are willing to let the snake die a slow and painful death.
Yet we are appaled with pet shop/newbie care and bad heating/humidity control and are willing to offer all the help we can to fix the problem so the snake doesn't suffer.
Seems like a double standard and very elitest.
Unless you are working in Andromedra strain style isolation there is simply no such thing as a closed environment for bacteria.
On a personal level I have a lot of sympathy for anyone who is unable to obtain vet help - here in the UK at least there are charities that will help with most emergency care.
At its most basic level though, yes I would rather a BP die of RI than a child dies of resistant meningococcal septicaemia.
I'm not a vet and I am woefully ignorant of much of the detail here - I have no idea what organisms generally cause RI in BPs and therefore if cephalosporins are even effective therapy.
Some antibiotics must simply be held back for the greater good.
