sick/ thin blood python

I received a blood python three days ago when I got it it seemed ok, other than being thin, well the body seems to be a decent size but its spine is very pronounced. anyway when I got home and got it into its enclosure the first thing it did was started drinking, then it started drooling so I took a closer look and it looks like a RI. I went ahead and gave it an injection of ceptaz and today it seems much better no drooling, no excess mucus, and only the faintest whoosh while breathing,
so I guess my question is, should I go ahead and feed her or should I wait until after I finish the injections? thanks also the quarenteen tank I got her in the temps and 91 hot end and 78 cool end. is that too hot or would it be ok. thanks in advance

Pictures would really help.

Bloods, usually always should have the spine pronounced, not insanely but you definitely notice it. Its their... Look. So to speak.

http://pics.livejournal.com/mooingtricycle/pic/0012kx34
Sitting Flat, Waiting for Food.

http://pics.livejournal.com/mooingtricycle/pic/000xb73e
His First mouse with me ever, Constricting. You see the spine quite clearly here. Hes young still, and will grow larger and fatter.

Check out this page, and you will see more.
http://www.intriguingreptiles.com/Bl...odPythons.html

These are just sumatrans that im linking to. But, i think youll get the idea.

ok thats pretty much what she looks like. I'm used to seeing ball pythons. so maybe shes not too thin. thanks now just to get rid of this RI.

Get your hotspot down to no higher than 87 or 88. I keep all mine at 86.

How old is the snake? Excessive drinking can lead to drooling. Make sure its not that and that it is indeed an RI. Random injections of meds aren't advised without culture work. Just looking out for te best health of the animal

Pictures would be nice like said above.

im not sure how old she is . she is around 2- 2.5 feet. so Im guessing around 2 years. and she does have some frothy/ bubbly spit in her mouth. and you can hear a whoosh when she exhales. with the occasional pop noise. ill try and get some pics up soon.

here are the pics and the thing is I have no money to take her to the vet, neither did the original owner. and until I get some tax money in I need to do something for her so im giving her a low dose of ceptaz. I'm fairly positive that she has a RI. and so far she does seem to be doing better.
I got a lower wattage heat emitter and just put it on her cage I'll keep up with the temps and see how it does. anyway here are the pics
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/...542d9b8ef0.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/...5b636f3293.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/...fab555fea4.jpg

I only ask because smaller snakes shouldnt be subjected to certain medications. But go with AMIKACIN for the RI. A culture should be done but is a little pricey.

Bloods seem to do best with that drug for RI's.

Loading dose on day 1 IM
Then every 72h IM for 2 weeks. So a total of 6 shots if I did my math right. Its most likely agressive Pseudomonas.

HTH

ive been to both herp vets that are within 100 miles of me and one seemed to know next to nothing and was so amazed at how much I knew. the other knew quite a bit but just took my advice and gave me what I wanted. also tried to get me to pay for x-rays and everything else that I didn't need.

I may try to get some amakicin but I thought that was a bit stronger and a little more dangerous?

Yes, more powerful antibiotic.

And you should soak everyday for 30 minutes to an hour while on the meds.

But its better to do it right the first time. That wau your not wasting time with a non-effective medication.

Again, not saying the med your using won't work. But the Amikacin would be your best bet in my experience and knowledge.

The X-rays are used to determine how deep the infection is inside the lungs. Whether it be an URI or has crept deeper into pneumonia.

First question,

Do you know how to diagnose a snake with an RI? My first concern was that you said you saw the snake take a drink of water... and it drooled.

So you decided the snake has an RI and start medicating it?

Sorry dude, the snake drooled after drinking water, which is not uncommon...

Your vet should still now how to do a culture, even if they are not up to date with the anatomy of this species and how it should look rightfully.

Bloods will have a pronounced spine like others have said, if you can't see the spine easily, the animal is likely too fat. Bloods are more upright oval shaped, whereas balls are more rounded triangle shaped. If that makes sense. :P Your's does not look emaciated at all.

Stop giving the animal meds until you get a culture from a vet. It is easy to overdo meds, especially if the animal is not sick, you'd just end up burning up their liver and potentially creating bacterial resistance.

Weight Wise, that animal is in very good condition.

Like the others have said, Get a vet to do a culture. THIS WAY you know what you are up against, and the vet will know what meds to use to treat the Infection.

ok just an update.
I have been giving her the injections of cephtaz and she now seems to be doing great. no more mucus or weezing. she is eating great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. but I think she is going to be fine.