RI Treatment Working or...not?

[calliebobally]

My snake has been on meds for an RI for over a week now. Baytril everyday and Tazicef every 3 days. She also receives drops in her nostrils everyday and I steam her out in the bathroom after doing them. She has seemed to be better all week. Yesterday, my husband and I had to go to the DMV and came home to find that her day/heating lamp blew. I am not sure as to how long it had been out but we immediately went to the store and got a new bulb. I wonder if this has anything to do with the setback I just experienced. I was in the bathroom with her steaming her out and all of the sudden a mess of bubbles came up. I mean, a lot. I don't know if she was just clearing it out with the steam but it hasn't happened before. I am concerned that possibly it got too cold in her enclosure yesterday when the lamp blew out and maybe it set her back. I have a follow up at my vet 2/2. I am currently in a very tight financial situation and it would really kill me to make another emergency visit. I don't really know what to do anymore. I am very frustrated and upset and I just don't know why this is happening. Her meds are to be given for another 2-4 weeks so maybe I'm worrying to early...but then again.....

[DVirginiana]

Have you called the vet? They can tell you if that's something you should expect to see, or if it's a sign of a problem. Most vets will tell you that sort of thing over the phone without having to make a visit.

[calliebobally]

Immediately after posting this I went to check on her again and noticed something I hadn't before that certainly isn't helping her situation. Her driftwood piece in her enclosure had mold on the bottom of it! When I took her to the vet originally, I was told to remove the cocont substrate I was using because it promoted bacteria. I did. I use just reptile carpet and paper towels now. I am so mad I never noticed that before. It was on the bottom of it that always was on the ground of her enclosure. I just threw it away.

[calliebobally]

Have you called the vet? They can tell you if that's something you should expect to see, or if it's a sign of a problem. Most vets will tell you that sort of thing over the phone without having to make a visit.

I have tried to get through to my vet but all lines are busy. It's a 24 hour emergency vet so they could be really busy right now. Hopefully my doctor is there. She sometimes doesn't work overnight and she is the only expert on reptiles.

[calliebobally]

Got thru. My doctor isn't there. So.... I suppose I can call other vets but they don't really know Sidda's exact case and haven't looked at her like my doctor has but I will give it a try.

[calliebobally]

Just looked up other hero vets in my area and all of them are closed.

[tbowman]

I would consider the possibility that the high humidity environment of the steamy bathroom is loosening up mucous in the respiratory tract from the infection. I've had a vet recommend holding a snake with the lungs positioned higher than the head of the snake to aid in drainage of mucous.

[DVirginiana]

Don't panic; unless the snake is laboring to breathe and gaping she shouldn't drop dead on you. You should be perfectly fine if you wait till tomorrow to call.

[calliebobally]

Don't panic; unless the snake is laboring to breathe and gaping she shouldn't drop dead on you. You should be perfectly fine if you wait till tomorrow to call.

That's what's worrying me though. She was gaping a little bit when it was coming up in the bathroom and she appears to be keeping her head elevated in her enclosure as I'm looking at her right now. She isn't gaping anymore though. I try notbtonpanic but I am a worry wart. Trust me, I drive my husband crazy lol

[calliebobally]

I would consider the possibility that the high humidity environment of the steamy bathroom is loosening up mucous in the respiratory tract from the infection. I've had a vet recommend holding a snake with the lungs positioned higher than the head of the snake to aid in drainage of mucous.

I'm hoping that was it. Just loosening it up. I do the same thing! I always make her dip her head lower while I steam her out. My vet told me the same thing.