Howard

[BoiseBallz]

I really wish that I could explain it, but I can't, because I don't necessarily agree with what your vet told you. If it were me, I would pop an Angiocath in there, aspirate, send for Gram stain and culture and sensitivities (aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal). I would then flush and aspirate to resolution with saline x 2, then I would flush and aspirate to resolution with either dilute F10sc or dilute Betadine followed by one final saline flush. I would then open at least a small window to allow continued drainage, and apply silver sulfadiazine. Or, after aspirating and sending samples, and depending on the appearance of the tissues and possibly the Gram stain results, unroof the bullae, lavage the underlying tissue with antiseptic, and apply silver sulfadiazine. I would try to more appropriately direct parental antibiotics to the Gram stain and eventually culture and sensitivities. If not already performed, I would dose with an intramuscular injection of vitamin B complex and continue aggressive tube feeding. That's just my opinion, but what I've outlined isn't necessarily cheap, and unfortunately financial considerations do play a role in decision making. Also, there's a fair chance that what I described would require anesthesia (depends on how cooperative the snake is without it), and many vets, justifiably, wouldn't feel comfortable trying. Sometimes we are simply hamstrung by the options that are available to us. You can't force your vet to do something they aren't comfortable with, and it's not reasonable to continue to throw tons of money at a problem.

Regardless of what happens, I applaud you for your caring and all that you've done for the little guy. It's obvious that you are doing everything that you can.

I really hope he recovers. I'm rooting for Howard.