Posted by:
Kelly_Haller
at Sat Dec 20 01:14:21 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Kelly_Haller ]
First off, the number of cc’s is a volume reading and will not tell you anything about dosage unless you know the concentration in mg/ml of your tylosin solution for injection. I posted the following earlier on this forum, but will post again in response to your question.
Tylan, or tylosin, is a macrolide class antibiotic that is mainly effective against only gram positive bacteria. The vast majority of RI’s in snakes are caused by gram negative bacteria. Tylosin has been used successfully to treat chronic RI in reptiles caused by bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma. Some people confuse Mycoplasma with bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium, which causes tuberculosis, but they are completely different. Tylosin will usually work well only if the causative organism of the RI is Mycoplasma, otherwise it will usually be ineffective in resolving most other types of infections in reptiles. Another plus is that Tylosin is relatively non-toxic and has a wide margin of safety, and I have seen dosage recommendations running from 5 to 50 mg/kg body weight at 48 to 72 hours between dosages. In the 1980’s I used it at 25 mg/kg per day on burmese pythons with no toxic effects, however I would definitely not suggest that dosage as it was not used under controlled conditions. I have not seen any formal clinical studies conducted with tylosin use in reptiles, but Ross, and later Jenkins, have looked at it informally. I would recommend that a vet check this or any other boid showing advanced RI symptoms and allow them to determine if tylosin is the appropriate antibiotic of choice and they can set the proper dosage. Again, other classes of antibiotics will be more effective than tylosin unless the RI is caused by Mycoplasma.
Also, do not inject tylosin into a feeder animal. Tylosin is for injection only and should not be given orally. If the heat and humidity treatment has not helped this RI, it is time to see a vet and have them start an antibiotic regimen if they feel it is needed. If your local vet is not familiar with reptiles, they should have the means to contact a vet more experienced with reptiles and consult with them on the diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment if required.
Kelly
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