Quote Originally Posted by Skiploder View Post
Did the vet culture the RI? Did he explain his choice of antibiotic?

Did your vet advise fasting the snake while administering the amikacin?

Amikacin is potentially toxic on the renal system so the animal should be well hydrated and fasted to keep the kidneys flushed. It is important that since you are dosing your snake for a month that this information be given to you. It is also important that such information come from the vet prescribing the medication.

I've never had any health issues related to RIs or scale rot due to low humidity. To the contrary, you run a much greater risk for both if you raise the humidity and do not provide enough ventilation. Maybe the vet can explain the mechanism in which humidity in the 40% range leads to URIs and scale rot. I'd be very interested to hear it.
I'll get a call in the next few days after I do the first treatment myself, so I'll ask then. But yeah, I'm familiar with all the care basics and some of the intermediate stuff, so I know not to go for excess humidity. Right now it's around 50%.

He did mention well hydration, but did not mention fasting. I just fed my snake a small rat(about 5-6 inch torso, was a monster) on the 31st, so he should be fine for the duration if I decide that's in his best interest. I'll ask the vet then look into that more. I wouldn't worry about the hydration as an issue, though. He never has wrinkles on his skin (he did for his first shed because I was inexperienced, but since then I've made all the appropriate husbandry changes) and typically sheds in 2-3 sock-like portions. Never had a perfect shed, but quite close. I think it's just him. I also manage to catch him drinking out of his dish several times a week(which I change every few days) and I have caught him bathing before, but not too often. Typically before and after sheds. He passes plenty of liquid urine along with his urates and droppings to show that he's well hydrated.

As far as ventilation goes, I have plenty available while still keeping the ambient heat and humidity in. I've got a 1 inch perimeter along the top of my screen that is exposed to the air, the rest covered by tin foil and my CHE in the middle portion. The screen itself is also not airtight around the edges because it's custom made, so there's some more airflow there. I really wouldn't worry about him having trouble breathing or living in a bacterial colony of immense proportions.

I really appreciate the advice though; you seem quite the knowledgeable person. I'll be sure to ask the vet about the fasting as you recommended.