RI Treatment

[rj1204]

One of my normal girls has had an RI for just over a week now. Last Thursday, the vet gave saw her, gave her a Baytril injection and sent me home with 6 more Baytril shots to administer daily. I put her in QT and set her entire tub to 92* (per the advice from many experienced breeders). I change her bedding every 3 days and her water everyday. Yesterday was day 7 and she still has a lot of liquid/saliva (bubbles too) in her mouth. Should I give the temps and Baytril a chance to fight the RI or should I bring her back in to the vet? I understand an RI is not an infection that gets better in a day or two and can take over a month to lose the symptoms. I am thinking I should wait until the middle of next week and let the high temps, along with the Baytril in her blood fight out the RI. What do you recommend?

[mpkeelee]

well RI's can be tricky. baytril is very strong so be careful injecting, i hear it can cause necrosis. also be aware of dehydration, if its too bad it can shut down her kidneys and she can die. good job changing the water, thats one of the biggest places for the bacteria to hang out and go back into ur snake. u should prolly go back to ur vet and get another exam and more than likely some more injections. my normal had a bad RI last year and it took 3 times the normal amount of amikacin injections for her to get better.

EDIT-its better to go back to the vet sooner than later, if that bacteria starts to come back u will be back to square one

[Exotic Ectotherms]

I would give the vet a call. They'll tell you whether or not it is necessary to bring her in. Most vets are pretty cool about giving advice over the phone rather than having you go in and drop another bunch of cash.

[ed4281]

Keep her temps up and go back to the vet. Baytril is a broad spectrum antibiotic however it does'nt always get everything you may need a different RX, try calling first though the vet may just give you a new RX

[ptate]

Be sure to keep her on newspaper for substrate during treatment so that she doesn't accidentally ingest wood shavings.

[rj1204]

I could not get off work so it looks like I will have to wait until Tues to take her in. I took her out this morning and her mouth seemed a bit dryer, so maybe she is getting better. Hopefully she pulls through this and hopefully she doesn't have more saliva so I don't have to take her to the vet again. I will take her again in a couple weeks no matter what regardless.

She is on newspaper substrate and I usually put a slightly damp paper towel in to keep the humidity up, along with her water bowl. I am going to feed her for the first time in two weeks (she usually eats every week) tonight........she is a ferocious eater usually. Thanks for the advice.

Is there a website or threat/sticky on RI's anywhere? Something detailed with advice on treatments, how long to QT/treat for, etc?

[Sammy412]

The humidity is the problem.......put a SMALL amount of water for the snake to drink.....the high temps are to dry up the mucous, as the snake can't cough it up. If the humidity is too high, the secretions increase and the snake will drown in it's own fluid. I have cured many babies with just high temps/low humidity, as babies cannot handle antibiotics. Good Luck!

[rj1204]

It really didn't seem to matter so I actually stopped putting the very slightly damp paper towel in with her (usually crumpled up). The heat throughout dries it up quickly anyways. Her water bowl is a plastic 8oz bowl in a large pvc connector. So basically, I would say the humidity stays pretty low anyways.

I fed her yesterday and for the first time, since she is such a great eater, I let the rat soak in water without a bag........so she would get extra hydration in her with a water soaked rat. I know it probably didn't make a difference, but she struck it and ate it with no problem. Since she ate yesterday (Fri), I am going to wait until Sun night or Mon morning to change her tub and handle her. HOPEFULLY her mouth is dryer. Is that the best sign I can look for to see that her RI is getting better?

[mpkeelee]

to see the RI disappearing just look for the signs that were there in the beginning. stargazing, bubbles, excess mucus. hold ur snake up to ur ear and listen from head to stomache, u shouldnt hear any popping or bubbling. it should sound clear. how did u first spot the RI??

[rabernet]

The humidity is the problem.......put a SMALL amount of water for the snake to drink.....the high temps are to dry up the mucous, as the snake can't cough it up. If the humidity is too high, the secretions increase and the snake will drown in it's own fluid. I have cured many babies with just high temps/low humidity, as babies cannot handle antibiotics. Good Luck!

Actually, the newer thinking and recommendations from the top herp vets is that higher humidity is better, because it helps to break up the mucus.

It's more unusual for babies to get RI's than adults, they're pretty hardy.