RI update/creeping paranoia

[Annarose15]

Ok, that all took much longer to read than I expected, but here's a few thoughts.

1) Snakes can't cough mucous out of their lungs, so soaking is just for hydration.

2) When people talk about raising temps a few degrees, it's ambient, not the hot spot, so the air they are breathing is actually warmer.

3) Do not accept oral antibiotics - injectable only. The slow rate of snakes' metabolism does not allow them to absorb and utilize oral abx nearly as effectively.

4) If you're uncertain about injecting him/her yourself, have the vet either demonstrate the first shot for you, or even better, supervise you doing it yourself the first time.

5) Definitely sounds like your spider just drained a recent drink of water onto you.

6) Consider your sick snake to be in QT - separate tools, feeders, bowls, sponges, washing thoroughly and changing shirts between handling it and your other BPS, etc. If at all possible, do NOT handle your healthy animals on the same day you are working with the sick one.

7) With your multiple vet visits, did you ever get a culture done to know what you are actually fighting in the RI? What were the other four visits for?