Vet visits over, time for another culture?

So my adopted guy Bahamut just got his last shot for his RI on Tuesday, I wanted to do another culture test so the vet said they would at the end of next week. I also plan on doing it at the three and six month mark of me having him in quarantine. My question is, is the end of next week too soon to get another culture swab?

Do you lack confidence in your vet?

No, it is the first time using this vet, but the snake had some serious issues. I mean, he had Ecoli and two other things I never even heard of so I'm just hoping it was taken care of.

I definitely understand your concern.

But now you're talking a different matter from your original post which was slim.

So, has the Ecoli been issue been resolved as well as the other issues? And does it take time to bounce back from these issues?(fully recover)

You are paying money to your vet. Don't leave that office until you have your questions answered.

As far as the RI culture next week being too soon? Considering what your snake has been through, his immune system has probably taken a beating. Your vet is being cautious and wants to be sure that it's gone as well as everything else and that nothing NEW has attacked him.

That's what I want to know, if these issues are gone or not. The only way I even knew he had an RI was a very very small amount of wheezing I could only hear if his head was right near my ear. No other symptoms. Now that the shots are done, he is not wheezing, much more active, and seems to be alright. Besides doing another culture, how can I tell if those issues are fixed? I just figured get the swab done again to be safe, but I wasn't sure if the amount of time between final treatment and another swab was too soon and I didn't ask the vet that when I was there. Trying to get ahold of them just to ask a question is a pain, so I figured I'd ask on here.

Did they not schedule you for a checkup to make sure your snake is healed?

No they just said end of next week. That's why I was wondering if it was too soon or not

Oh, so they scheduled an appointment but you're not sure its been long enough for another culture?
I am not a vet, personally I would have them do the culture at the appointment. Worst case scenario they give you more meds. If it's an exotics vet and they deal with reptiles frequently I would definitely trust them.

If you were giving meds say every 72 hours or something then by the time the appointment comes around theoretically they should be "out of his system" by the appointment. Again, not a vet but that makes sense to me why you give doses every so often.

How's Bahamut doing?

Well, he hasn't shown a response to home treatments either. His only symptom is that he wheezes when he is really stressed. It's more like he is trying forcefully to get something that's clogged in his nose out. That's the only sound I can compare it to. I'm not even sure at this point if it is still an RI or if it is still lingering e coli or what. He's gonna be going back for another culture. Thankfully the vet said they would do another round of shots (I'm assuming for free or a reduced cost by the way she said it). I'm gonna ask her maybe to only give him cephtazadime or tylan since she had him on both the cephtazadime and baytril for the first round of shots.

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Originally Posted by SKO

Well, he hasn't shown a response to home treatments either. His only symptom is that he wheezes when he is really stressed. It's more like he is trying forcefully to get something that's clogged in his nose out. That's the only sound I can compare it to. I'm not even sure at this point if it is still an RI or if it is still lingering e coli or what. He's gonna be going back for another culture. Thankfully the vet said they would do another round of shots (I'm assuming for free or a reduced cost by the way she said it). I'm gonna ask her maybe to only give him cephtazadime or tylan since she had him on both the cephtazadime and baytril for the first round of shots.

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Glad you're keeping up with it. Just want to say, when my BP is stressed, or goes swimming, he wheezes too. From what I'm told, it's normal.

Huh.... He only does it when I open the tub after I fog him (f10sc and repti fogger). Just because of what's going on, I don't handle him at all besides to do that. When I open the tub to put him back in his tank he wheezes really hard a few times like he's trying to blow his nose. Maybe that's just because of the fog?

Actually, I lied. When I fed him last Saturday, he was making the same noise when the rat was moving around. He struck it and ate it fine though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SKO

Well, he hasn't shown a response to home treatments either. His only symptom is that he wheezes when he is really stressed. It's more like he is trying forcefully to get something that's clogged in his nose out. That's the only sound I can compare it to. I'm not even sure at this point if it is still an RI or if it is still lingering e coli or what. He's gonna be going back for another culture. Thankfully the vet said they would do another round of shots (I'm assuming for free or a reduced cost by the way she said it). I'm gonna ask her maybe to only give him cephtazadime or tylan since she had him on both the cephtazadime and baytril for the first round of shots.

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Remember that bps heal slowly with their slow metabolism. Give him time so his immune system can catch up. Did the vet recommend to you to boost his enclosure temps a bit? Ask about the acidophilus for the post antibiotic regimen. Good luck.:gj:

I've had his temps higher than normal since I've had him. Ive never heard of the acidophilus but I'll definitely ask.