Sick snake - Experienced advise wanted

[Lizardlicks]

He is an exotics vet, and one of the most recommended in the area, but like I said, not specifically reptile exotic. He sees everything from chinchillas, to parrots, to tigers (we have a big cat sanctuary a couple hours outside of town). One thing I do like about him is he's willing to learn, and he likes it when I bring in new information sources and come in armed with foreknowledge lol. I think he's used to clueless owners that jump into things they haven't done their homework on and he ends up having to pick up after them when things go wrong, so he likes me and my "I researched this and found this and I want to ask you specific questions about this, this, and this".

[Kcl]

That's definitely a big enough drop that with that and your description of her body condition that it sounds like nutrient supplementation is probably in order. Glad you're stopping by to talk to your vet about it so soon! Poor little girl is very lucky.

Plus side if your vet does decide to go the tube feeding route, snakes' glottis is super obvious and separate so basically no chance of putting it down the wrong hole. It might even be easier than baby raccoons & opossums which are super easy to tube (bunnies on the other hand are terrible and I don't do them). Probably easy enough to learn in one session without much problem.

[Lizardlicks]

Talked to the vet and we put together a game plan. He's got a trick for getting snakes to start eating on their own that he's had success with in about 50-60% of cases: does of a specific type of oral antibiotic (I forget the name, will have to check the paper work) + some fluids, wait two days, offer a very warm prey item. Going to try offering her a rat fuzzy tomorrow, and if she doesn't take, then she's going back in Monday and getting tube fed some carivore care. If she does go the tube feeding route, we're going to add orbax on top of the fortaz. Going to make sure she's got the electrolytes + probiotics as well since that's probably going to wipe her gut flora, but that plus the f10 will hopefully wipe it out for good.

Keep your fingers crossed and wish Snickers luck, guys.

[bcr229]

He's got a trick for getting snakes to start eating on their own that he's had success with in about 50-60% of cases: does of a specific type of oral antibiotic (I forget the name, will have to check the paper work) + some fluids, wait two days, offer a very warm prey item.

I would guess flagyl (metronidazol), which has a side effect of increasing appetite. It used to be routine to dose WC imports with both panacur and flagyl to clear out any internal nasties and jump-start the critter's appetite after the stress of being shipped in from overseas.

[Lizardlicks]

Yup, metronidazol, that was it.

[FlynnTheBP]

Good luck with her! It seems like you are doing everything you can to take care of your pet.

[Kcl]

^{Sounds good! Hope she does well!}

[Lizardlicks]

Encouraging sign! She was actually poking around her tub tonight instead of hugging the hot side under her hide like she has been.

[Lizardlicks]

Since the little stink is still not taking food on her own and I'm having to tube feed her, we decided to try the Orbax. It seem to be working quite well, actually! She's been getting 2ml orally once a day for a little less than a week now, and the redness around her glottis is much reduced as is her mucus. Still also getting the injected antibiotic for this week, but last of it will be used up on Thursday, so then we'll she if she keeps responding to just the Orbax. my hope is yes so i don't have to keep her on two meds at once. Also got her a hatchling tub for now to see if it encourages her eating on her own, though I kind of doubt that she will until this is good and truly out of her system AND I can stop hassling her to medicate her.

[Lizardlicks]

Orbax seems to have done the trick, she's now mucus free! Stuck a pinky rat in with her to see if she'd be interested, and I think I just heard the tell tale death squeak. Will check in a few minutes once she's had time to get it all the way down so I don't disturb her into changing her mind.