I am starting to get really frustrated...

[calbobal]

Firstly, I am not new. I forgot my old log in info and got locked out. Given password does not work. But that's irrelevant.

My ball is about 6 months old and recently was treated for a bacterial RI.
she was recieving daily injections of baytril and tazicef every 3 days. She as taken off of medications a little over a week ago as instructed by vet. she was on meds for about 6 weeks.
A few changes to her enclosure were made. No more coco substrate. Paper towels and rep carpet only. I was also instructed to lower her humidity to 30-40% and increase temps. Her temperatures as of right now are:
94.3-95° on hot side
80.2-81.3° on cool side
middle averages between 82-84°
Her humidity is at 50%

As of recently (the past few days) I have heard the popping sound again. Her mouth is the right color (side note; there is a red line in her mouth...almost lke a vein. Normal?) Light pink. No yellow stuff. No signs of mouth rot. But her saliva looks a little sticky again...
She is eating and drinking fine
No lack of appetite at all. She actually never lost her appetite during her RI either.
so what the hell? Is she going into another one? Another vet visit?. I have viles left over. So I need to put her back on meds? This is giving me a headache.

[calbobal]

Also she weighs about 135 grams. Don't know if this is relevant but thouhht I'd add. No loss of weight. Also wanted to add that her appetite has seemed to actually increase. I upped her on food. Now at large white mice. Fed pre killed. No regurgitation.

[Sauzo]

Sometimes it takes a couple rounds of meds to completely clear up an RI. Also a lot of times if the RI keeps coming back, it is most likely related to husbandry somehow. You can take her back into the vet and have another culture done(im assuming you had a culture done in the first place to determine the exact bacteria it was and to make sure the Baytril was most effective on it). Took my beardie 2 rounds of Baytril to clear her up plus keeping her temps up and giving her heat at night as well. RIs can be a real pain to deal with.

[calbobal]

Sometimes it takes a couple rounds of meds to completely clear up an RI. Also a lot of times if the RI keeps coming back, it is most likely related to husbandry somehow. You can take her back into the vet and have another culture done(im assuming you had a culture done in the first place to determine the exact bacteria it was and to make sure the Baytril was most effective on it). Took my beardie 2 rounds of Baytril to clear her up plus keeping her temps up and giving her heat at night as well. RIs can be a real pain to deal with.

I just honestly don't understand how my husbandry is off. I have probably been overly paranoid about it at this point....but I'm about to switch to a tub system because this glass enclosure may just be the issue anyways. Our bedroom, where she is is always around 72 degrees. I am about to go through a move and I habe to buy a few things for the new house and money is pretty tight. Vets out here are so expensive. 75 for walking in the door. With her meds my one vet visit was around 250. I have viles left. And may just call my vet and continue her on what I have if it's suitable. because another vet vist and buying more meds right now would kill me. I am really trying hard to be a good mom so it makes me feel really bad when it's just not affordable. This is a nightmare though. I feel so bad.

[calbobal]

Also a culture was done.

Any idea about the red line in her mouth?

[dr del]

Vein - perfectly normal.

[bcr229]

Why do you have vials left? Normally the vet only gives enough meds for a full course of treatment.

[Sauzo]

Also what bcr said, you should have finished all antibiotics. The vet gives you a certain amount and that amount should be all used just like when you go to the doctor. Also I hear you, when I had to take my beardie to the vet for RI, it cost me about $270 or a bit more but I had a full blood panel done as well as the culture since she has never seen a vet and I wanted her to get a clean bill of health. Usually if you finish the meds and you animal is still sick, you can call the vet and just get a refill. That's what I did and if the second round didn't clear it up, then I would have had to go back in for a new culture and possibly switch antibiotics. My guess for you is you started the meds and then after a time your snake looked better so you quit giving meds? If that is what happened then it probably never completely was cleared up. Like I said RI can be a real pain.

I probably wouldn't switch to a tub since your ambient temp in your house is 72F. Unless you plan on using a space heater or something to heat the snake room to around 85F ambient. The set up you got temp wise in the tank is good actually. I personally think that not finishing the meds caused the bacteria to not be completely killed. Also you could call the vet and let the vet know how many vials you got left etc and ask for their advice. They might tell you to go back to the same injections for X amount of time longer and give you a refill for X amount to carry you through. Regardless though, keep the temps up so the snakes immune system stays kicked in and it will also help fight the bacteria. Also the heat will speed up the snakes metabolism making the antibiotics work faster too. Its kind of like creating a fever like in humans when you are sick to fight the cold.

[Albert Clark]

Also a culture was done.

Any idea about the red line in her mouth?

First off, why don't you double check and make sure that you really are hearing the popping sound! I was under the notion that Baytril was given for 7 to 10 days as a injection at the regular dose of 5mg/kg for ri. Then if you gave it orally you should double the dose to 10mg/kg also for 7 to 10 days. The other medication I am not sure about that one. Maybe the reason the vet wants you to increase the temps is to allow the bp's own immunity to kick in and clear up the residual infection if there really is any. Yes, if you have meds left over and its determined positively that the ri is still present you should ask the vet if you can restart a new course of the meds. Remember, reptiles have a slow healing response and he probably will benefit from just the higher temps. Be patient and double check but let the vet know! Stay in peace and not pieces. Good luck! Don't get frustrated, get busy.

[Albert Clark]

Also the Baytril is every 24 hrs at the 5 to 10 mg/kg dose depending on the route of administration.