What to do with sick BP?

I have a girl that has had an RI since the first week of August. She has never stopped eating weekly has been basically normal except for the fact she has an extra amount of saliva in her mouth with an occasional wheeze/sniffle. The vet diagnosed it as the very begining stages of an RI or just excess amount of saliva. The culture came back negative and she has been through a series of Baytril and Amakacin injections. Like I said, she eats every single week (1 small rat). She seems a little aggitated but I would expect that if she is not feeling 100%. I have done everything that I can, increased humidity, bumped up hot spot, left her alone, cleaned water every 1-2 days, cleaned the tub every 2-3 days, etc but it seems that the RI is still there.........it has gone down since August but still there. I put her in a 32q tub (usual tub is 41q), I put 11" flexwatt heat tape on 75% of the tub at 93*, the remaining 25% of the tub at
81*. She is an 08 normal female, 1300 grams, and growing like a weed.

I am moving in 5 days and I cannot bring her. I do not want to expose any other snakes (breeders, pet stores, or anyone with a pet BP) to her sickness and I do not want some random inexperienced person to take her and not give her the proper care. She does not like to be handled, especially right now. Its not fair to the snake or the new owner. Its been over 2.5 months and the RI is still there. What are my best options?

New vet :\

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Originally Posted by jfreels

New vet :\

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The diagnoses was apparently uncertain which would lead me to believe the vet in question might not be very experienced when it comes to reptiles.

The anti-biotic might not have been the adequate one or the treatment might have been to short either way you need a new vet :gj:

Depending on where you live, it might be fairly easy to find someone experienced who is willing to "rescue" your BP. Maybe even someone on this forum? As long as you are upfront about the health issues, giving her to an experienced owner shouldn't be a huge problem, since they should quarantine her anyway.

If not, then you can try an find a new vet and get her healthy before the move.

My vet is pretty good and I am out of options. Basically, I am not going to get her healthy in 5 days and I do not want to put her down. The only thing I did not do/try is Fortaz that any other vet would have seemed to recommend anyways.

Where can I put her up for adoption? Under the For Sale section?

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Originally Posted by rj1204

Where can I put her up for adoption? Under the For Sale section?

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You can, yes, in the "For Sale" forum...just be sure to be very clear about her medical history...or even just a link to this thread if you don't want to type it all out again. :)

Well, I posted it on the For Sale section. I made sure to put everything in the ad. I have done everything I could for her so I will keep my fingers crossed that someone around here will rescue her this weekend. The last thing I want to do is put her down.

You're putting down an animal because you're moving...?

No, I would put her down because she is sick and I cannot find a home for her. Did you read my post? I do not think I have a choice now. It is disappointing because she is definetely recovering but I am not going to sell her to breeders so she can contaminate entire collections. Nobody has any other advice and I have not received any PM's or emails from anyone who wants her on this forum or the For Sale forum.

Do you have any advice on what I can do with her?

Dallas/Ft. Worth has a large herp society. If you contact them, I'm sure someone can help you out - or at least direct you in the right direction.

I sent the Dallas Herp Society an email. Also, I am hoping a breeder with 1 or 2 QT racks wants her. She will breed when she is healthy and she is such a great eater........has been putting on great weight since I have had her, even with the RI.

Shipping is not a good option considering it is 87* here today and looks like it will be 85-90* most of next week......along with stress and her sickness. Also, I am not Fed Ex certified.

No response from the Dallas Herp Society. I am going to call them later, but if they don't contact me, I don't think I will have a choice but to put her down tomorrow morning. This sucks.

I think that is a mistake. I honestly have my doubts as to whether she's really that sick. Sick snakes usually do NOT eat. Some saliva and even some bubbles are not abnormal in a Bp's mouth. As far as attitude, some BP's are just like that normally. If I lived closer, I'd take her myself, but I am a long way from Dallas.

Surely there must be someone from this forum who would be willing to take her.

This is really sad :( I also agree with Sammy that it doesn't sound like she's that sick if she's eating well. I would be willing to take her too, but NY is even farther away than NC. I hope someone can take her... I'd hate to see a relatively healthy bp be euthanized :(

I would take her in but I am in Atlanta, GA. :(

It is odd, though, that even though the culture came back negative that she was still medicated. Kind of a hit and miss way of doing things (I'm saying this towards the vet, not you, you did just what you were supposed to by taking her to a vet!).

:( Can you ship her?

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Originally Posted by rj1204

Shipping is not a good option considering it is 87* here today and looks like it will be 85-90* most of next week......along with stress and her sickness. Also, I am not Fed Ex certified.

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

:( Can you ship her?

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If you can find someone here who has fedex cert who is willing to give your snake a chance with the RI and the stress of shipping in these temperatures, it's probably good overall for you to spend the extra $ to ship her. I'm sure those vet bills did not come cheap. It would be such a waste overall for you and the snake to have come this far only to end it now.

Good luck.

Obviously I don't want to put her down. She was definetely sick though. She had excess saliva but had the occasional sniffle a couple months back. It is really sad that Dallas-Ft Worth is the 4th biggest metroplex city and their are no good herp vets. I was able to rearrange a few things and I am leaving for one week, then I come home for a week. I am going to feed her Tuesday night and I wont be back until Thursday the following week (9 days).

Do you think she will be ok? If she urinates or defecates, she will have to live in it for the week or time remaining until I return, which the humidity will be very high. I have spent well over $400 on her and I will do what is necessary so she can live and most likely become a great breeder. I am not having any luck with the Dallas Herp Society but hopefully they will call me soon. Thanks for the advice guys.

If you can ship her, I will take her. I can put her in QT and see what's going on with her.

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Originally Posted by coldblooded

I would take her in but I am in Atlanta, GA. :(

It is odd, though, that even though the culture came back negative that she was still medicated. Kind of a hit and miss way of doing things (I'm saying this towards the vet, not you, you did just what you were supposed to by taking her to a vet!).

:( Can you ship her?

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Originally Posted by Sammy412

If you can ship her, I will take her. I can put her in QT and see what's going on with her.

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I believe this thread has ran it’s course, and since it has become more and more of an adoption thread with direct inquiry it is time to lock it up for the time being.

I would like to remind our members that no sale or adoption talk are allowed outside the for sale / adoption area.

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8. Any advertising done outside the designated areas will be deleted without notice. Any advertising done within the areas but outside of these rules will also be deleted, but notice may or may not be sent, depending on the circumstances.

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Please take any inquiry that you might have directly to PM.

Thank you

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Now to the OP on the following

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Originally Posted by rj1204

I was able to rearrange a few things and I am leaving for one week, then I come home for a week. I am going to feed her Tuesday night and I wont be back until Thursday the following week (9 days).

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Do not feed your snake prior to a trip, best is to feed a snake 1 week prior to departure so it has the time to digest.

Last thing you want is to feed the night before a trip while it might not happen a regurgitation is always a possibility, even more so with a sick animal, and should it happen while you are gone you could come back to a less than pleasant situation.