Pied male can't hold down food

[thewolfden]

I would be cautious of something like Cryptosporidium. I had a male corn snake that started regurging constantly and he had been perfectly healthy before that. When he passed I had the vet to a necropsy on him and she found that this is what he had. It is highly contagious so if you have other snakes keep him away from them. Also you will want to use a bleach solution on any container that he has been in before putting any other reptiles in it. Unfortunately as far as i know there is no definitive test for it.

[Skiploder]

A couple of things:

Crypto can remain asymptomatic for years. The animal can also suffer from the disease sub-clinically for a long time before noticeable symptoms develop.

Crypto also has some tell tales signs when it reaches the point that the animal cannot hold down a meal. Irritation to the gastric mucosa and swelling which affects the gastric lumen causes the stomach to swell. A proper exotic would be able to note this or even feel it by palpating the middle of the animal. Depending on whether the snake is currently shedding oocysts, crypto can take a couple of cloacal washes to detect.

He could also be suffering from a "lifestyle" disease such as hepatic lipidosis, or even something systemic such as cancer.

I do not understand why the vet would treat him for a bacterial infection. I would have recommended metronidazole or flagyl if I had to blindly deal with a potential protozoal parasite. No I'm not a vet, but I just don't understand the logic of giving baytril or gentamicin for a snake that is not able to keep for down.

I would not offer him another prey item until this is properly diagnosed. The more he eats the more he is going to irritate his digestive system. The root cause needs to be determined before you resume feeding him.

[Billy305]

A couple of things:

Crypto can remain asymptomatic for years. The animal can also suffer from the disease sub-clinically for a long time before noticeable symptoms develop.

Crypto also has some tell tales signs when it reaches the point that the animal cannot hold down a meal. Irritation to the gastric mucosa and swelling which affects the gastric lumen causes the stomach to swell. A proper exotic would be able to note this or even feel it by palpating the middle of the animal. Depending on whether the snake is currently shedding oocysts, crypto can take a couple of cloacal washes to detect.

He could also be suffering from a "lifestyle" disease such as hepatic lipidosis, or even something systemic such as cancer.

I do not understand why the vet would treat him for a bacterial infection. I would have recommended metronidazole or flagyl if I had to blindly deal with a potential protozoal parasite. No I'm not a vet, but I just don't understand the logic of giving baytril or gentamicin for a snake that is not able to keep for down.

I would not offer him another prey item until this is properly diagnosed. The more he eats the more he is going to irritate his digestive system. The root cause needs to be determined before you resume feeding him.

Thanks for the reply. The vet did feel the entirety of the snakes abdomen and said nothing was abnormal. I separated him from the rest once I got home from the vet that day.

I am not a vet either so I do not know what course of treatment would be appropriate. I'm not sure of any other exotic vets in my area. The snake is currently In shed and about 2-3 years old

[Billy305]

Update:

I finished the meds and waited a week to feed as the doctor suggested. I also moved him to a tub out in living room with a heat pad. We started back feeding very small and once a week, and slowly working back up in prey size. He is currently about on appropriate for him size prey with no vomit/regurge. He is putting on a little weight too

[anicatgirl]

Yaaaaaaay

[bcr229]

Sweet! Just to be sure though I would double-check the temperatures in his regular tub or enclosure to make sure they're correct.

[Albert Clark]

Update:

I finished the meds and waited a week to feed as the doctor suggested. I also moved him to a tub out in living room with a heat pad. We started back feeding very small and once a week, and slowly working back up in prey size. He is currently about on appropriate for him size prey with no vomit/regurge. He is putting on a little weight too

Congrats on a job well done. Glad to see he is putting on weight. How about some updated pics of the rodent killer? Lol.

[Billy305]

Still a little skinny and only time will really tell but he's looking better

[Miranda2]

Wow he is gorgeous. Hope everything goes well for him.