Eye infection?

[bruster]

So I found that my young male has what appears to be infections in both eyes. I just lost my female and I don't want to lose this guy. Right now I feel like the worst snake owner since two of my bloods have problems. I have the antibiotics left from the vet visit with the female but don't think I should use the same with out getting him looked at.

[2kdime]

Yup those look like infected eyes

If the weights are the same on the snakes, the dosages are the same. Now depending on what class of antibiotic you started with may determine if you need another loading dose or not.

Get ahold of your vet and let him know whats up. He will be able to advise on the best course of action to take.

[bruster]

The male is less than a pound

[2kdime]

Then the dosages are going to be different I'm assuming.

The vet might even be able to tell you what concentration your current meds are, and advise you how much to inject into the smaller animal. That way you wont have to buy more.

What were you giving the one that passed and how often?

Try not to beat yourself up, just double check your husbandry and try to learn as much from your mistakes as well as others to try and provent them from happening again.

[bruster]

i was given ceftazadime to be injected ever 72 hours

[kristan]

I had an adult female develop an eye infection a few years ago, which I treated without meds. I massaged the eye daily with a warm compress and the whole infection came off with the next shed. However, her infection was due to a clogged duct which was not allowing her eye to drain properly. Since your critter has it in both eyes it has either spread (I was told her infection could spread to the other eye as well) or is something more systemic. Since you had the problems with your other blood and they could have passed something between them its best to see a vet, BUT keep try to your hopes up for now. My female with the eye infection seemed quite uncomfortable but never missed a meal and is still alive and well. Also, as Trevor said, don't beat yourself up, sometimes these things just happen. If in the future, you find it to be a husbandry error, well..we all make mistakes.




The whole top of her head swelled (outlined in red) which went away immediately after she shed.

[bruster]

Thanks, his last shed was about 2 months ago, I am keeping him in a 16qt tub, daily temps around 83-85 now to help fight infection, advised from a local ball/boa breede, nightly is around 77-79. humidity I have had issues with being to high once I switched to the 16qt, now it's around 57%. The other female I have seems to be doing great always ready to come out of the hide and tube to feed every time I walk by. I started with balls and never had any issues just got out of them after about 6 years and falling in love with the bloods. Gave my larger balls to the LPS, and recently gave a 3 year old ball the the local breeder I met.

[2kdime]

60-75% seems to be ideal for these snakes

When I bump up temps on a sick animal, I usually go to around a constant 86 if I can but have never had one snap out of anything without meds

Just my 2 pennies

[bruster]

I plan on calling the vet tomorrow in my lunch break and ask him about the meds I have, but I may have to make another visit.

[2kdime]

Yeah some vets may make you bring the animal in, but I would think that an eye infection like this you would be using a shotgun antibiotic since Im not sure how you'd culture it.

Ive had the best luck with Baytril in my animals for what its worth, not so much with Ceftazidime