Not good.

[SinCityBPs]

So sorry to hear about your BP's health, and wishing you the best outcome with it.

Did the vet start any type of antibiotic regimen for the RI?

I rescued a normal girl a little over a year ago that was in poor health (Low weight, severe RI, and extremely unhappy/snappy). I immediately took her to the vet, and got started on a pretty heavy Antibiotic regimen (Both weekly shots and a daily oral suspension). I did notice some discoloration in the feces and urates during the first couple weeks. I and the vet attributed this to the antibiotics. The antibiotics can take a toll on the liver. We never took blood, nor would I allow a vet to draw from my balls heart; however, they did have me bring in a stool sample.

I am sure that you know and have been told, but to help wipe this RI out, increase the hot spot to around 95 degrees (If you have a large enclosure, go for 100 degrees with a good temperature gradient); however, make sure you have a cool side temp of no less than 80 degrees. If you are doing antibiotics, it is a good idea to bathe your BP every night for 20 minutes in a warm bath (Not hot, but about the temperature you would bathe a child). This will help with dehydration from the Antibiotics. Lastly, keep the enclosure as clean as possible.

It will take time, as RI's can be very difficult to get rid of; however, keep at it, and stay strong. It took about 5-6 months, but my girl is now RI free, 700+ grams heavier, eating like a cow, happy, and healthy as ever.

I am sure yours will come around too. Best of Luck!

[carlisleishere]

Yes, I forgot to mention that in my posts. She has been given 0.07 ml of ceftazidime via injection every 3 days. I have been soaking her daily , but she is still dehydrated. The water temp has been 80F for soaking, and soaking has lasted 1/2 hour per soak. Temps are slightly increased to 93 hot end and remain at 80 on cool end. Her feces were normal but her shed was in shreds. It all came off, just in shreds despite elevated humidity and soakings.

If you do an image search on kidney stones, that is what the outer coating on the urate looked like.

She has also been quarantined from my other animals when I first noticed symptoms on Nov 1.

[SinCityBPs]

Yes, I forgot to mention that in my posts. She has been given 0.07 ml of ceftazidime via injection every 3 days. I have been soaking her daily , but she is still dehydrated. The water temp has been 80F for soaking, and soaking has lasted 1/2 hour per soak. Temps are slightly increased to 93 hot end and remain at 80 on cool end. Her feces were normal but her shed was in shreds. It all came off, just in shreds despite elevated humidity and soakings.

If you do an image search on kidney stones, that is what the outer coating on the urate looked like.

She has also been quarantined from my other animals when I first noticed symptoms on Nov 1.

Yep... Pretty much exactly what my girl's looked like too for the first few weeks of Antibiotics... I definitely remember the orange crystalline look. It did go back to more normal even while she was still on antibiotics; however, I remember seeing it a few times (especially during the beginning) during her treatment.

Keep an eye on it, you are on the right track and doing the right thing, but I don't think you need to be too worried about it just yet IMO.

Any others with experience on this?

[SinCityBPs]

Yes, I forgot to mention that in my posts. She has been given 0.07 ml of ceftazidime via injection every 3 days. I have been soaking her daily , but she is still dehydrated. The water temp has been 80F for soaking, and soaking has lasted 1/2 hour per soak. Temps are slightly increased to 93 hot end and remain at 80 on cool end. Her feces were normal but her shed was in shreds. It all came off, just in shreds despite elevated humidity and soakings.

If you do an image search on kidney stones, that is what the outer coating on the urate looked like.

She has also been quarantined from my other animals when I first noticed symptoms on Nov 1.

Sorry took me a few to find my vet records... The shot was the same Fortaz (ceftazidime), and it was every 3 days. The daily oral I was provided was Baytril (Enrofloxacin).

Hope this helps.

[carlisleishere]

Thank you for your input. It makes me feel a lot better knowing that someone else has experienced something similar. I'll keep you guys updated on her.

[Skiploder]

This discoloration of the urates is often a result of antibiotic treatment. Baytril is processed through the kidneys and excreted in urine as is ceftazidime.

I would assume that the vet would already know that...................?

[carlisleishere]

This discoloration of the urates is often a result of antibiotic treatment. Baytril is processed through the kidneys and excreted in urine as is ceftazidime.

I would assume that the vet would already know that...................?

I see your point. I was expecting some sort of change in the urates, but the most concerning thing was the texture. The crystals in the urates was what worried the vet the most. It looked like it was painful to pass.

The vet that I'm seeing was recommended to me by the local herp society, and no one has had any complaints about her.

[Skiploder]

I see your point. I was expecting some sort of change in the urates, but the most concerning thing was the texture. The crystals in the urates was what worried the vet the most. It looked like it was painful to pass.

The vet that I'm seeing was recommended to me by the local herp society, and no one has had any complaints about her.

I'd ask the vet if it makes sense that since not only are both antibiotics processed through the kidneys, but one, maybe both can exacerbate dehydration.

I'm not sure how effective soaking a snake is to relieve dehydration and since soaking is a fairly stressful experience I'd want to make sure there was some benefit before I subjected my animal to it. Some reptiles like chelonians can take in water through the cloaca - I am unsure as to whether or not snakes can do the same. In other words there may be little benefit in tems of addressing dehydration.

If the vet is worried about dehydration, maybe he/she should look into giving them directly into the body cavity via injection................

[zeion97]

Yes, I forgot to mention that in my posts. She has been given 0.07 ml of ceftazidime via injection every 3 days. I have been soaking her daily , but she is still dehydrated. The water temp has been 80F for soaking, and soaking has lasted 1/2 hour per soak. Temps are slightly increased to 93 hot end and remain at 80 on cool end. Her feces were normal but her shed was in shreds. It all came off, just in shreds despite elevated humidity and soakings.

If you do an image search on kidney stones, that is what the outer coating on the urate looked like.

She has also been quarantined from my other animals when I first noticed symptoms on Nov 1.

You don't happen to live in southern Illinois do you? Our vet face us the same exact medice for OUR pastel. Lol..odd. we were able to get rid of the mouth rot, but the RI we're not sure, he still has mocus and hides a lot. I really hope your snake is able to overcome this, and doesn't have any other problems. It hurts not being able to do anything And not knowing if your snake could die. I really do wish you the best of luck.

EDIT: whoops... didn't see you location...sorry!