RI Help

[LYONExotics]

I've had two bp's that I've been treating for RI's. One had an RI from the time I opened her shipping box, the other got it while in my care, and I think it was due to her humidity running a little high before we got it stabilized. We really don't have an exotic vet in town, but one that sees reptiles and he did cultures and put them on Ceftazidime injections every 3 days and daily baytril orally. They seem to be improving, but not completely...shouldn't they be better by now? Now one of them has an almost bloated look from her mid-section down and you can literally feel the air moving around in her, I'm a little scared I'm doing more damage than good at this point, but the vet seems confident in the treatment. Would love some advice!

[Bogertophis]

...They seem to be improving, but not completely...shouldn't they be better by now? ....

No idea how long they've been sick from this post, so that's impossible to say. When did you get the first snake? And the second?

Has the first one been kept in strict quarantine from the other? If not, the second one may have caught what the first one brought.

I don't think humidity by itself can actually cause an RI*- only facilitate whatever pathogens are lurking, & their immune resistance is reduced from the stress of shipping & being in a scary new home- I'm not saying "your" home is scary, just that ALL new places are scary for snakes, so they can get sick easier.

I'm not familiar with giving antibiotics orally to snakes- they're usually not thought to be effective that way, & therefore are usually injected. Antibiotics are also not harmless- they do have side effects- they're a bit rough on a snake's body (stomach, liver, kidney) & especially 2 at the same time. BTW, while I'm thinking about it- after antibiotic treatments are completed, consider adding reptile probiotics to their prey for a while, to help their stomach. (either Nutribac or Bene-Bac)

Are you giving the injections or is the vet? If it's you, have you asked the vet about the snake being bloated- or puffy with air? You need to ask a.s.a.p.-I'd be very concerned about that.

If you need another vet- one more experienced with herps- may I suggest this site: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661

In my experience, vets (& other doctors) usually project confidence in their treatment- we'd run the other way if they didn't, so right or wrong, they're usually "confident". I wish it meant that they're always right- but you'll have to be the judge.

There's not much help we can be online, unfortunately- we cannot take the place of real veterinary care. I hope they both recover & soon. Did your vet say what the culture showed? What are they being treated for? What are their expectations?

[LYONExotics]

Thanks for the advice and info. They've had it well over a month at this point, sorry I forgot to add that in the first post. I did mention the bloating to the vet and he suggested soaking which we've been doing, luckily it seems to be going down. The vet did do cultures and he gave me the report which was full of big words that I don't necessarily understand lol, but he did say it was bacterial for both of them. They are improving but it sure seems like it's been a long road. Do you have a recommendation for the probiotic for once they are finished with the antibiotic? Thanks again for the advice.

[Bogertophis]

... Do you have a recommendation for the probiotic for once they are finished with the antibiotic? Thanks again for the advice.

...BTW, while I'm thinking about it- after antibiotic treatments are completed, consider adding reptile probiotics to their prey for a while, to help their stomach. (either Nutribac or Bene-Bac) ...