Question about antibiotics and feeding

[Jmarshall]

So Damian is said to have a very mild RI and was prescribed antibiotics. He got his first shot the vet two days ago and he already seems to be doing much better. He hasnt eaten in probably close to three weeks so I thought i would try feeding him a small prey item due to him feeling better. (He had previously shown no interest in food what so ever). I heated the rat pup up and offered. He instantly showed interest and struck after a few jiggles of the mouse.. He is due for another injection tomorrow. My question is.. will giving him the injection risk a regurge? I would imagine getting shots are relatively stressful for them.. Should I give the shot later in the evening/night to allow for more time for digestion? It was a very small rat pup.. As always, thank you for all of your help in advance.

[Bogertophis]

It's often best to wait on feeding when a snake is given repeated medications (& also some meds cause a lack of appetite or even nausea) but since you
already fed him, it's a done deal...cross your fingers. He NEEDS the antibiotic ON schedule- if he stays warm & quiet between now & when you have to give
his injection tomorrow, hopefully the rodent will be well on it's digested way & not make a "return appearance".
That's a good sign that he wanted food now, I can understand your concern & eagerness to feed; lets hope he recovers quickly & fully.

[Jmarshall]

It's often best to wait on feeding when a snake is given repeated medications (& also some meds cause a lack of appetite or even nausea) but since you
already fed him, it's a done deal...cross your fingers. He NEEDS the antibiotic ON schedule- if he stays warm & quiet between now & when you have to give
his injection tomorrow, hopefully the rodent will be well on it's digested way & not make a "return appearance".
That's a good sign that he wanted food now, I can understand your concern & eagerness to feed; lets hope he recovers quickly & fully.

I have read about the importance of finishing all 10 doses of the medication or risk the RI returning and can create resistant strains.. I have a question you may or may not be able to answer regarding that.. Does a resistant infection mean his current infection will stop responding to his meds.. or moving forward he is more likely to develop strains that don't respond?

*I have every intention of giving him his meds on time and completely*

[Bogertophis]

An infection can become resistant if/when the antibiotic prescribed isn't given correctly or for the entire time, allowing some of the infection to survive that now
resists that antibiotic...making it harder to fight & a greater risk to others that catch it as well.

If your snake HAS a resistant infection now this drug won't be effective. If you fail to give the entire course of therapy, as some people do when the symptoms
seem to be gone, so they stop, it could then flare up again as a resistant infection, harder to treat, maybe even impossible to cure.

That's why our own doctors aren't supposed to over-prescribe antibiotics (just because a patient demands it either for themselves or for their children)
when it's not truly needed....we end up with super-bugs that don't respond to available antibiotics, and FYI, most drug companies don't want to do the research
into new antibiotics because it's just not the most lucrative way to spend their efforts. (they'd much rather develop drugs like those for high-cholesterol, that
people have to take daily & for years...they make a lot more money that way)