Update on Rescue

[Jay_Bunny]

Ok, so our rescued ball python has a RI and has been on meds since last week. The snake is still weezing. Because I have to keep the snake downstairs (away from the main collection) the temperatures keep changing, especially at night when they get down in the mid 80s. I just can't keep his tank warm enough. I'm getting a better bulb and some foil tomorrow to wrap the lid in, so the heat and humidity stay in there. The pictures I took of him when he first came home showed how horrible he looked. He has started to shed the skin (it won't come off because of the low humidity. I mist every few hours) so I took him upstairs and took a shower with him (that was an odd experience) to boost the humidity and get the stuck shed off him. I managed to get half of the shed off but the upper portion of his body he didn't want me to touch. I think the previous owner never kept the humidity up because he shed when we first brought him home (he had just completed a bad shed and I had to get the rest off him) and he immediatly went into another shed right after and it seems like so many bad sheds had started backing up the skin because he looks so much better under this one. The scar doesn't look nearly as bad (still looks bad, just not as bad).

Will it be ok to give him another warm bath tonight to get the remaining shed off or is two baths in one day too much for a snake with RI? Also, should he still be wheezing even though he's getting meds?

[Mindibun]

I can't say anything about the RI, as I have no experience with it. But I would be careful taking him in the bath/shower with you. The water temperature that a normal human likes is far too hot for a snake. It should be just barely warm to the touch. Get a thermometer if you can. Also, I would recommend putting him in a tupperware of sorts with only an inch of water. You can safely leave him in there for quite a while, and it'll help get the upper body shed off.

[Jay_Bunny]

I made sure the water wasn't hot. And the snake wasn't directly in the water either. The humidity building up in the shower (I closed the door) and a few drops of water on his body did the trick. We have no tupperware to put him in. I do have a storage tub or two that I could use though. I'll try that out tonight.

[casperca]

To help with fluctuating temps, you could cover the sides of the tank with 3/4 inch insulation board (comes in pink or blue). It should help boost temps and stabilize things as well.

I would minimize handling as much as you can. You could do the pillow case method (maybe someone could find the sticky for you) to remove some of the shed but I would think handling and running water and such would be quite a load of stress since its immune system is working overtime anyway.

I have limited experience with RI, but the resuce that I took in who was near death, took at least a a week and a half to show significant improvement on Baytril injections. I assume it will vary depending on the sevarity of the infection.

[Jay_Bunny]

Well he's been getting oral medication for the past few days now. I think he only has 2 more doses left and then its done. I was hoping to see some improvement before the meds run out. What happens if the baytril runs out and he's still wheezing?

[dr del]

Hi,

I would go back to the vet if that happens and say it hasn't cleared it - and possibly ask about injections instead or possibly even a different anti-biotic?

Did you manage to get all the skin off his nostrils?

I might be totally wrong about this but I seem to recall reading somewhere there isn't as much value in getting a culture done after you have already used a round of treatment?

Anyone know for sure about that?


dr del