Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jglass38
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.
Honestly, I am not really looking for any particular answer but more the thoughts on the topic that everyone has...and for this I thank everyone that has responded.
My point has always been that there are people selling "cures" for RI and other aliments that are effectively praying on the less fortunate who find themselves trying to do the right thing but unable to afford it. In other pet forums help is offered as it relates to meds. (ie. fish you can buy just about any drug you want/need (including anitbiotics) at any pet store in the country) (ie. rats - mycoplasmosis can be cured with antibiotics bought over the counter) but snakes - take them to the vet or let them die is the answer.
No harm/no foul I was just curious why - not to mention no one has really responded with any type of affirmation that they want this help so appears to be a mute point anyway.:cool:
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
Quote:
Originally Posted by kurgan
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.
This is an interesting point...does anyone know if ball python bateria strains are transmittable to humans? I know samonila but others? If so this could be even a bigger concern for keepers. Your BP RI could end up killing you.
Re: Cephalexin for Respiratory Infections?
There is a middle of the road answer here folks. Have a a pre-existing relationship with your herp vet, which to be honest you should anyways. If you owned a dog you wouldn't wait for it to be hit by a car before wondering if a vet exists to deal with it, so think before and find that herp vet. Invest in one office visit, build a relationship.
If you are in financial straits and your snake needs help, for heaven's sakes forget your pride. Phone the vet, ask for a payment plan, ask if they have any programs for emergency bills or lower income owners (our vet in Michigan did...it came out of a fund mostly willed to them by grateful past customers)....offer to clean cages...whatever it takes. If the vet has at least met you once, seen your committment to your snake(s), they are more willing to defer immediate payment in an emergency situation.
If you are a younger owner and worried about a possible large bill coming up suddenly...how about planning ahead. Pick your herp vet, go in and speak with them about doing work at the clinic to build a credit with them. That could be walking patients, cleaning cages, sweeping and cleaning the office, whatever. Agree in a value for your work and have a credit line built and most importantly...do the job, show up, work hard. Then if something comes up....you are covered (also if they see you are a dedicated and hard worker around the clinic, you may well receive a discount on services). My ex-husband worked for a vet all through high school as a general helper....even 10 years later, she still gave us a discount on her services.
My point here is don't wait for that bad RI to suddenly show up then go looking for a vet or buy some meds off the internet. There are ways to plan ahead and work with your vet so you have the best outcome for your snake.
