Not responding to treatment!

[BaierBalls]

I noticed my 1200 gram female mojave making almost a moaning sound a few weeks ago, and could feel rattling in her lungs when holding her. I assumed it was a URI and took her to the vet, who gave me a two week supply of Baytril, in pre measured syringes. Well after two weeks of treatment she sounded better, but was still doing a good bit of wheezing and moaning. I was able to get another weeks worth of baytril, and after all that she is still not well. I can still feel the rattling in her upper half and hear some wheezing and moaning.

Does anyone have any ideas on what else could be going on or why she would not be responding to antibiotics before we head back to the vet?

[llovelace]

Yes you vet should have done a c&s, obviously the baytril is NOT working, take your animal back to him asap! She needs diff abt's

[mykee]

Was a culture done or was Baytril just prescribed willy nilly?

[adamjeffery]

you need to go back to the vet a request a culture and sensitivity test .too many vets nowadays just prescribe baytril as a broad spectrum antibiotic. the truth is baytril doesn't do much for uri. you will most likely need amakacin (not sure on spelling) it can be dangerous to the liver and kidneys so make sure your snake is well hydrated and give the shot as close to the neck as possible. lower on the body isnt good fro giving snakes shots. always do it in the upper 1/3 if possible.
adam jeffery

[Skiploder]

This comes up over and over again, and somewhere somehow someone should make a sticky regarding how to manage your vet when you take a snake in for an URI.

When the vet diagnoses an URI, he should also culture the bacteria responsible. There are too many antibiotic resistant strains floating about to NOT culture.

Secondly, Baytril has been so widely abused for treating every little infection in veterinary medicine, that there is a fairly high incidence of baytril - resistant strains of bacteria floating about.

In the future, request that the vet culture the infection. If the animal is in critical condition, ask that it be put on another broad-spectrum antibiotic in lieu of Baytril.

[Freakie_frog]

There are some husbandry things you can do to help the vets treatments. Things like raising the temps a little, higher humidity, OCD cleaning the cage, example if you clean once a week clean everything 3 times a week.

I agree after 4 weeks of Baytril with no response it's time to do some tests and get some other treatments going.

[BaierBalls]

There was no culture done. This was the first time Ive ever had to take a snake to the vet for a URI. We will be going back (to a different vet) to hopefully get this taken care of. Thanks for everyones advice!

[llovelace]

Sometimes, you have to sort of guide your vet, knowledge is power in these type instances.
I wouldn't go to a different vet.

I'd go back to the same vet, tell him/her that a culture should have been done the first time, and to do one nolw and until the results come in to switch antibiotics. I would also point out to the vet, that had the c&s been done in the first place there would not not have been the need for the subsequent visit.

[Clear]

Its not uncommon for one antibiotic to not work for an URI. I recently had a lesser get an URI. We did 3 weeks of baytril with no luck. We ended up switching to fortaz and within 2 weeks she had mass improvements. I also did a nebulizer daily with chest rub and eucalyptus oil.

Most vets do not know how to treat URI so a bit of knowledge on your end will help in the future.

On a side note has anyone had to use an antibiotic other than baytril or fortaz for an URI?

[llovelace]

On a side note has anyone had to use an antibiotic other than baytril or fortaz for an URI?

NAXCEL (ceftiofur sodium)