Did my vet just kill my snake?

[Artic_exotics]

Been having quite the time with one of my snakes and the local vet. (See thread "Who is right here, do you see swelling?" for more on why he went to the vet) So treatment hasnt been working so well, so I take Arctic back. He says well were going to up the dose. Im like okay. So he goes to give the shot there at the vet, and im noticing that he's drawing ALOT into the syringe compared to what im used to based on previous experience. In fact he draws an entire .5cc, he only weighs 147 grams. So im like hey dude i think thats too much! he says "well we are uping the dose". and injects. just like that.



The only thing i can think to say is. "Id really appreciate it if you would tell me exactly how much you just injected, and what strength it was".

He gives me this offended look and says quite snidely "2.5% and .5cc., dont worry, you'll get a bottle with the same information on it".

I grab arctic off the table. put him back into his container, and say "will you please explain to me the math you used to arrive at that dose?".

Visibly irritated but with me clearly obligating him to explain, He shows me a program on his laptop, but when i read to the end it says .05cc, not .5, (he was on .03cc before) so I ask to see the syringe he used (it was already in the sharps container). he grabs a new one, and I show him that the syringe was .5cc not .05cc, and that he computer said .05, so that he just injected 10x the regular dose. He apologizes, and says dont worry he's gonna be fine, then tells me that it takes some 10 more doses at that strength to induce vomiting in dogs... in DOGS... wow thats really useful to my SNAKE.

So we wait for like an hour to see if anything will happen. nothing does. its been about 8 now, so far no adverse signs really. So maybe its okay, but honestly im nervous to go to sleep, im afraid hes going to have a seizure and die in the middle of the night. Worse I dont know what to do for the rest of his treatment either and ive officially ruled my two local vets incompetent.

Anyone been through a baytril OD before? If so, any advice?

[bcr229]

I'm sorry. Honestly it could take a while for any effects to show up as reptiles metabolize drugs pretty slowly.

Baytril is also very hard on the kidneys so there's that consideration also, so make sure to keep your snake well-hydrated.

[Penultimate]

Man I hope he's ok. Please keep us posted. I've never been through that kind of thing with any animal, so I'm not sure there's anything you can do. I would try to keep him comfortable and make sure he has everything he'd normally need (excluding food, he's probably too stressed to eat), at least. Poor little guy. Hope he makes it.

[Albert Clark]

Wow! Well if anything adverse happens to the bp you know who to take it up with! I will go along with bcr229 and what she recommends. Also to increase the fluid uptake to the animals kidneys you may want to consider letting him soak in his tub. The cloaca is like a sponge for water absorbtion in addition to making sure he drinks water as well. Hope he pulls through.

[redshepherd]

Gosh... I'd switch vets... Hope your BP is alright.

[anicatgirl]

Seriously, report him to the better business bureau at least. If ANYTHING adverse happens, he would be giving me the value of the animal, all services you have paid for, and any other costs. Helllll no does a vet pull that kind of BS with YOUR animal.... At least check the dose after you say, hey man, that looks off. Poor baby My hopes and thoughts are with you in this. I don't even know what to say to help. I would say listen to the others. Keep the hydration up. If you need to soak him do so.

[Drake Moonslayer]

I am very sorry to hear of this. I would be in jail if that happend to me. I hope everything works out for the best. Keep us posted.

[Aercadia]

:( I am so sorry to hear about this... even if the snake turns out okay, the stress it is causing YOU is enough reason to switch vets. Sloppy work and a bad attitude don't mix well. I really hope your BP is alright after this. Get a copy of the records from the vet (make sure this eff-up is on them!!), keep a copy for your records, and hopefully you can give them to your NEW vet, rather than having to go after this idiot for negligence and accidental snake-slaughter.

[Artic_exotics]

Thanks for all the good will guys,

Just wanted to say that Arctic has survived!

Needless to say, I will not be returning there. The vets office "decided not to charge" me for his visits. I was like "you dont say" in a highly sarcastic voice. Then i said I would appreciate it if you could put that in writing for me, only to find that they couldnt find the account number for the visit that day. apparently it had conveniently been erased. So i told the local herp society everything that happened, and now its stickied so everyone will see it, so i doubt he gets away with it just scott free like that.

Tried to bring him the next morning to another vet the next town over, who i had to convince the receptionist that he was harmless, but she eventually discussed it with the vet, who agreed to discuss the case with me over the phone. Results of that were happily the same advice that you all gave, which was soaks, watch for neurological symptoms, and more or less pray. She also answered the question over whether or not to continue the baytril treatment. the answer was "well he got the entire 10 day course in one day" so definitely no.

Its been a few days now, and so far i havent seen anything to raise alarm, other than he drinks a fair amount more, but he has defecated once since then (in the bath lol) and it seems normal.

He has stopped the whistling noise, and i noticed last night he slept with his head at the same level as his body. Good signs for sure. We're still using the vetericyn to treat the rub, and im noticing that the darker areas look more pink, and the pink areas are starting to look lighter, as if the white is rebuilding. So fingers crossed that this will be the last of his troubles.

For those who may be wondering, the guy i got him from never did write me back.... no surprise there. And i was only trying to warn him to check his collection for others who may be sick too. oh well. feel for his snakes, but his loss really.

anyway, hopefully ill be able to post some progress pics up here soon.

Thanks to everyone whose heart went out to my little guy while hes been going through this nonsense.

[duckschainsaw]

Glad your guy made it and seems to be doing better! I was worried for him.