Quote Originally Posted by Cokacola
MPenn, the snakes were taken to the Reptile Vet and failed to make the noise in the consulation room (typical!). The carpet python did make it once and he just about heared it. He said that normally, he would have just recommended that we left it and see if it sorted itself out, but because the snakes are part of a collection, he'd prescribed anti-biotic injections (to be administered every other day).

There was no bacterial culture taken or anything like this.

The problem with giving prolonged antibiotics to snakes is that apparently it causes damage to their kidneys or liver and can shorten their life considerably.

They have had 6 weeks and made no improvement and I'm at a loss for what to do, the Vets fees have already run up into the hundreds.

Here in the UK, I got charged £40 just for the consultation ($80!!).

I am now trying to establish if this possibly isnt the respiratory infection, because I have been reading in certain threads that this whistling noise is well known in carpet pythons.
You forgot to mention the possibility of a build up of drug resistance to the antibiotic.

Without a culture, I would not have been giving them antibiotics. But then again, I am not there to handle or see the snakes.

Did you buy them from a pet store or reputable breeder??? A breeder would have been able to tell you about the whistling bit and or know about any kind of respiratory problems.