gettin worried. help

[Big Gunns]

Snakes can go months without eating, so don't worry about it. I would not recommend feeding while giving antibiotics. Call your vet and see what he/she says, don't feed your snake just yet.

It's OK kid. It helps give them strength. Do you eat when you're taking antibiotics? Why should a snake be different.

[mpkeelee]

she was hungry so i fed her. took two baby rats down like it was nothing. oh ya n now she just finished bein in blue so it will be added stress. but during blue and the meds she ate just fine and still wanted to coil around my hand and be held. a visit to the vet is definitely called for. i will keep yall updated. thanks for the help. maybe ill get some sleep now

[CritterVet]

Shots are probably better. You need to finish using the Batril, but adding Fortaz to the mix isn't going to hurt anything in BG's opinion.

Like BG said before...a culture is the best thing to do, but it's usually not needed if you use Fortaz and Baytril. BG knows many breeders that use this mix.

I've cultured bacteria from snakes that was resistant to both Fortaz (ceftazidime) and Baytril, probably from breeders shot-gun treating their snakes without doing culture & sensitivity testing.

mpkeelee, a couple things to talk to the vet about:
1. Is the mucus coming from the respiratory tract or the esophagus?
2. Was a culture & sensitivity done to determine the best antibiotics to use?

[mpkeelee]

i dont know if he did a culture or sensitivity test cuz the vet took her out for about 10-15min and when he came she gad already gotten a shot of baytril. im goin back so ill ask him about the test and see what he says about the mucus.

[Big Gunns]

I've cultured bacteria from snakes that was resistant to both Fortaz (ceftazidime) and Baytril, probably from breeders shot-gun treating their snakes without doing culture & sensitivity testing.

mpkeelee, a couple things to talk to the vet about:
1. Is the mucus coming from the respiratory tract or the esophagus?
2. Was a culture & sensitivity done to determine the best antibiotics to use?

BG said a "culture" was the best thing to do, but it's usually not needed. Experience tells BG what works best. A lot of times a good Vet will give you meds to start with and send out a culture to be sure. This way you can get it started on something that will most likely work. Waiting around with an RI can be lethal.

[rabernet]

So, I'm interested. I've always been told that with the slower metabolism of snakes that oral delivery of the antibiotic is less effective than Sub-Q delivery of the anti-biotics.

I think that Dr. Scott Stahl even covers this when he was a guest on Reptile Radio (he's considered THE leading herp vet in the country, if not the world).

CritterVet, since you are a veterinarian, you may also find this episode interesting. My vet was very interested in listening to it and learning about the more cutting edge medicine and treatment of RI's.

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

Probably one of the most informative episodes of Reptile Radio, IMHO.

Here is Dr. Stahl's website: http://www.seavs.com/

[CritterVet]

Yes, I hope to investigate the literature regarding oral delivery of antibiotics to snakes someday when I have the time. It's definitely safer to give Baytril by mouth, but whether or not it's as effective I don't know. I doubt anyone knows, even the venerable Dr. Stahl, as the research simply hasn't been done.

[CritterVet]

Hi Robin,

I did some searching and could not find any data about oral availability of Baytril in snakes. However, I did find that another antibiotic, azithromycin, has been shown to be absorbed through the GI tract in ball pythons and reach effective plasma levels. Also metronidazole, an antibiotic used in anaerobic infections, has been shown to be absorbed through the GI tract in yellow rat snakes. So it's certainly feasible that Baytril would also be absorbed through the GI tract, but no one has done the studies yet.

CritterVet

[mpkeelee]

first off thanks to all of u who have been replying. i have been off for a while cuz my wife got my computer a virus from facebook. my snake is doing much better. found a new vet and she is great. her exam was awesome. i insisted on shots this time. my snake got a shot of amikacin and meloxicam. she had her 2nd shot the other day. from now on she will only be getting the antibiotic (not sure which is which). monday is the third shot and she has been doing much better. not many shots left and i hope this is it for RI's

[CritterVet]

Amikacin is the antibiotic, meloxicam is an anti-inflammatory drug. Glad to hear that she is improving.