Yafe - Albino Carpet - FINAL - Progression Thread

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Originally Posted by JRLongton

Wait, he got a clean bill of health? Are you saying that the RI is done and gone?

That would be wonderful!

If that is explained in the video I apologize as I'm at work and can't watch it now.

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Originally Posted by Dianne

Great news! So glad to hear the vet gave him a clean bill of health. :)

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I want to be really clear here.

He is currently symptom free, he ate Saturday, he's held down the meal, and he is looking and acting like a normal snake!

Having said that, the vet is open the possibility (with low probability) that symptoms return, but that it's likely just residual gunk that needs to clear out. She doesn't think even that happens at this point. She thinks we were dealing with a difficult and resistant RI.

She believes the bacteria is dead and that he will be fine now, especially if he keeps eating and has energy and his immune system is/continue to recover.

On the odd chance his symptoms return, and persist, she will re-culture, and we will re-evaluate. She refuses, will not even consider, more antibiotics now, as a preventative measure, as he's had more than enough already.

So, bottom line, he should be fine from here on out and looks and sounds great and is eating. However, there is a little room for things to get worse again.

So, "clean bill of health" may have been an overstatement, but could also be completely accurate. I just don't want to mislead anyone. I am feeling great about him right now and will feel even better if he eats Thursday night (two nights from now).

Having said all that, I do feel it was time to move on to this thread and start his progression thread as he eats, grows, sheds, etc. and (hopefully) continues to live a happy and healthy life with us.

Congrats all around ...

well done

I’m going with the positive thinking mantra....he’s symptom free, so he is healthy. :D

He couldn’t ask for better advocates than you and Katie, so I choose to believe the worst is behind all 3 of you. 💜

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Originally Posted by Phillydubs

Congrats all around ...

well done

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Thanks bro. Your support every step of the way helped a lot! Much love and appreciation brother.

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Originally Posted by Dianne

I’m going with the positive thinking mantra....he’s symptom free, so he is healthy. :D

He couldn’t ask for better advocates than you and Katie, so I choose to believe the worst is behind all 3 of you. 💜

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Dianne,

I agree. Positive thinking is the way to go.

It means a lot that you, and others here, have said what great advocates and what a great job we did for Yafe. I think so too, but I don't think too much about it. He's a cool guy and in his own way, he appreciates it and he's been kind right back at us. He's had so many opportunities to be difficult or nippy or unpleasant, and he hasn't been any of those things. Not that I would have held that against him, but I can tell, he's a kind soul. He deserved the love and care and as I said earlier, we are going to be buddies for a long time.

I am just glad this is over. I've been so focused on it and wrapped up so tight and so anxious about it. It will be nice to take a deep breath and just watch the poor guy eat and grow and enjoy life.

Okay, today Yafe seemed calm and docile and is still flicking his tongue. However, he is popping a little bit and when I took him out for a quick once over, he did a few muscle "squeezes" on my arm when he had, what appeared to be, a particularly uncomfortable, pop/clearing out of gunk.

He is resting comfortably in his tank now and his head is level and not up or elevated. Good signs.

The vet said he can have symptoms for a while after the bacteria is gone and not to worry over minor symptoms unless things really regress and for a while. She doesn't want to introduce anymore antibiotics right now anyway.

I was planning to offer food again tomorrow (5 days from last feed, a 9G hopper - a very small meal for him). However, I've decided food is good and can only give him strength. So I am offering a, still, small meal, tonight, but not as small. I normal meal for him is a 15G or so weaned mouse. I will offer a 12G or so hopper tonight and see if he takes it. I do not plan on feeding every 4 days normally, but these are extenuating circumstances. Food = nourishment and strength and can only help him get better. I also don't want to risk symptoms getting worse before he gets more nutrients and strength and potentially does not eat again.

I'll keep everyone posted. I am very optimistic he will eat tonight.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Okay, today Yafe seemed calm and docile and is still flicking his tongue. However, he is popping a little bit and when I took him out for a quick once over, he did a few muscle "squeezes" on my arm when he had, what appeared to be, a particularly uncomfortable, pop/clearing out of gunk.

He is resting comfortably in his tank now and his head is level and not up or elevated. Good signs.

The vet said he can have symptoms for a while after the bacteria is gone and not to worry over minor symptoms unless things really regress and for a while. She doesn't want to introduce anymore antibiotics right now anyway.

I was planning to offer food again tomorrow (5 days from last feed, a 9G hopper - a very small meal for him). However, I've decided food is good and can only give him strength. So I am offering a, still, small meal, tonight, but not as small. I normal meal for him is a 15G or so weaned mouse. I will offer a 12G or so hopper tonight and see if he takes it. I do not plan on feeding every 4 days normally, but these are extenuating circumstances. Food = nourishment and strength and can only help him get better. I also don't want to risk symptoms getting worse before he gets more nutrients and strength and potentially does not eat again.

I'll keep everyone posted. I am very optimistic he will eat tonight.

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That's what I'd do too...lighter fare & a little closer together...he really does need to build up his strength now. :gj:

Well, today is going from bad to worse regarding Yafe.

Not only was he symptomatic again this afternoon, but he refused his meal tonight as well.

I offered and he seemed super interested, but no strike. I left it for about twenty minutes, but no dice.

I took it out, re-warmed it, and re-offered. Again, clear interest, but no strike. I left it again, for an hour and he sat, 1/2 inch away, eyeing it the whole time, but never took it.

Finally, I removed it. I'll offer again Sunday when everyone else eats (4 days from now).

"Okay Dave, deep breathes. It's one day. He had a decent meal 4 days ago. He's still flicking his tongue and he's resting with his head down. No noticeable mucus, no wheezing, no snot bubbles, etc. STAY CALM and wait this out. Things could get better or worse, but worrying about it isn't helping at all. The vet said give it a couple of weeks and that she doesn't want to do anything before then. The bacteria can be gone, but it can still take time for everything to clear out. DEEP BREATHES. You are doing everything you can for him."

:worry:

I'm so sorry, that is discouraging. But you only fed him 4 days ago, after HOW LONG with no food? So his stomach might need a slower start, now that I think
about it. Still, I didn't want to hear about his symptoms coming back, no matter how minor...:disbelief that truly stinks. :frustrate
(starting this thread may have jinxed it?)

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I'm so sorry, that is discouraging. But you only fed him 4 days ago, after HOW LONG with no food? So his stomach might need a slower start, now that I think
about it. Still, I didn't want to hear about his symptoms coming back, no matter how minor...:disbelief that truly stinks. :frustrate
(starting this thread may have jinxed it?)

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Thanks Bogertophis.

Yeah, not pleased about the symptoms. DEEP BREATHES. I'll offer food Sunday, and in the meantime, keep the temps dialed in (what else is new) and humidity closer to 65-70% (which I've been doing) as opposed to 55-65%, which is normal for him. I am hoping the higher humidity helps clear out what's left. Again, holding on to the positives; tongue flicks, good activity levels, head flat and not elevated, no noticeable mucus, no wheezing, he did eat 4 days ago and for the first time in 8 weeks, etc. Overall, things are looking up.

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Originally Posted by dakski

Thanks Bogertophis.

Yeah, not pleased about the symptoms. DEEP BREATHES. I'll offer food Sunday, and in the meantime, keep the temps dialed in (what else is new) and humidity closer to 65-70% (which I've been doing) as opposed to 55-65%, which is normal for him. I am hoping the higher humidity helps clear out what's left. Again, holding on to the positives; tongue flicks, good activity levels, head flat and not elevated, no noticeable mucus, no wheezing, he did eat 4 days ago and for the first time in 8 weeks, etc. Overall, things are looking up.

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When I’ve had snakes go an extended period without food, I will often offer smaller prey and sometimes allow a little extra time in between...say every 10 days instead of every 7 for hatchlings/neonates. I did this with Merlin (Solomon Island) when I first got him. I had a very difficult time getting him to feed because he was wild caught. He’s the only snake I’ve had to resort to assist feeding in 27 years of keeping snakes. Granted this was more stressful for both of us, but I felt he needed the time in between to digest and recuperate. I’ve also done this with Eli (normal bp) when he has gone on extended fasts, offering mice before moving back up to rats. It’s the same practice with neglected fur babies, small meals to prevent regurgitation and to allow their shrunken stomach to adjust to food again.

I think the RI and treatments have probably taken quite the toll on little Yafe...not to mention you and Katie. Since he just ate after an extended fast for his age/size, he may need a bit more down time. Keep up the great care you are providing, keep the faith, and try again in a few days. I’m rooting for all of you to make it through this healthy, happy, and soon to be stress free. :D