Really sick snake. I need help.

[ryanisgothic]

Over the past week I have been talking to my cousin about his snake. He hasent fed it in awhile so i told his brother to bring it over today. He brought it and im sickened by its condition. Its EXTREMELY small, it has alot of clear fluid coming from its mouth, it has layers and layers of stuck shed. I dont know what to do. Ive decidied to take it from my cousin and try as hard as i can to nurse it back to health. I figure the fluid is from RI, and i dont have the money to take it to a vet. im going to the pet store right now to buy some food to see if it will eat. Help me out guys and gals, i need it. Ill get pictures asap

[llovelace]

Advanced RI cases need to be seen by a vet ASAP! the snake will need antibiotics.

[Qetu]

raise the ambient temps a bit for the ri...(thats what ive heard)

[joshn6805]

Take it to the vet ASAP.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Contact a local reptile rescue, and bring the snake to them immediately, if you cannot come up with enough money to see a vet. Based on your description, without veterinary attention, the snake will soon die.
The longer you wait, the less chance it has of pulling through.

Raising temperatures and home remedies will not be enough to cure a snake with a serious respiratory infection.

[Kaorte]

An RI will only get worse until you get antibiotics. I think you can go to your vet and just buy the antibiotics and do it all yourself, that would be less expensive. I think it would be under $50.

Correct me if I am wrong but Baytrill is the proper medication for an RI.

As for the stuck shed, get a pillowcase damp with some warm water and put the snake in it for 15-20 minutes. Make sure you stay with the snake the whole time and make sure its okay. Then try to use the pillowcase to roll off as much shed as you can. Be gentle though!

I would put the snake on paper towels just so he has a nice clean environment and so messes are cleaned up quickly to prevent his condition from getting worse.

[rabernet]

An RI will only get worse until you get antibiotics. I think you can go to your vet and just buy the antibiotics and do it all yourself, that would be less expensive. I think it would be under $50.

Correct me if I am wrong but Baytrill is the proper medication for an RI.

As for the stuck shed, get a pillowcase damp with some warm water and put the snake in it for 15-20 minutes. Make sure you stay with the snake the whole time and make sure its okay. Then try to use the pillowcase to roll off as much shed as you can. Be gentle though!

I would put the snake on paper towels just so he has a nice clean environment and so messes are cleaned up quickly to prevent his condition from getting worse.

Baytril is sometimes the proper medication for a RI, and sometimes Amikacin is the proper medication - tests need to be run to find out what the bacteria that THIS snake is carrying will respond to best.

I would not recommend self-medicating without the guidance of an experienced vet (ie, no short cuts)

Dr. Scott Stahl talks at length on Reptile Radio that Baytril is NOT the "cure all" for treating RI's, and if it was, he wouldn't have had to go to vet school for 8 years to learn how to properly treat reptiles. It's a huge pet peeve of his.

If you cannot afford to provide proper medical attention to this animal, I would recommend finding a rescue local to you that CAN.

Here is the episode on Reptile Radio that I recommend people take time to listen to with a lot of great information:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/reptile...ile-Veterinary

[ryanisgothic]

Thanks alot, im going to start looking for a reptile rescue that can help it, there isnt stuff leaking out of its mouth, its more or less throwing it up.

[2kdime]

If it's throwing stuff up....

I'd say its on its way down.

[ryanisgothic]

Yeah, i dont think there is any hope. Its non stop bubbling and popping noise.