Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Lola's visit went well, but we're no further ahead than when we began really. The Dr wants to check for flukes and other unpleasant squirmy things internally, so we have to wait for her next defecation. Let's cross our fingers that there's nothing to be found.

Her throat swab has thus far cited more bacteria than normal, so a round of antibiotics are probably on the horizon.

Otherwise he says she's in excellent shape. He's also never seen a BRB before, so he was rather excited to work with her.

I'll keep everyone updated as I find things out.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

The vet just let me know that there are Yeast present and budding in her throat swab. Does anyone have any experience with this???
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Sounds like a typical vet visit, since the patient can't tell them what's wrong, they try different stuff. A fecal is a given, gotta rule out the nasties!!

Keep us posted.
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

her nose/face? I mean current ones with her breathing noise problem?
-----
Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
21.29 BRB
19.19 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

She came to me with the breathing noise, so the pics I've already shown here have been while she has it. I also have a shot the Vet took of inside her mouth, as well as the yeast he cultured in the lab I can post.

I'll include her mouth shot:

-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

...
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

Danielle,
....Oral yeast infections in humans are often related to immunosuppressed states, particularly in malnourished people or patients who have undergone chemo or longterm antibiotic treatment. The typical treatment for oral yeast infections in humans is 500,000 units of Nystatin in 5ML solution with instructions to swish around mouth and then swallow. This is often prescribed two or three times per day. I would think the best method to dose the mouth in snakes would be to use a syringe to squirt it inside the mouth and throat. Nystatin used to be used fairly commonly in herpetoculture for snakes with appetite and/or regurge problems that did not respond to Panacur or Flagyl. I think it was suspected that the intestinal lining would be inflamed and that Nystatin would allow it to become less inflamed. It was dosed with a catheter tube down into the snake's stomach at a rate of around 100,000 units per kilogram of body weight. The PIC of your snake's mouth does not look too bad. Oral yeast infections in humans often are seen as white spots that sometimes have reddened edges. Tell your vet not to worry about his credit card bill. I am using his account for good purposes.
Jeff

>>Lola's visit went well, but we're no further ahead than when we began really. The Dr wants to check for flukes and other unpleasant squirmy things internally, so we have to wait for her next defecation. Let's cross our fingers that there's nothing to be found.
>>
>>Her throat swab has thus far cited more bacteria than normal, so a round of antibiotics are probably on the horizon.
>>
>>Otherwise he says she's in excellent shape. He's also never seen a BRB before, so he was rather excited to work with her.
>>
>>
>>I'll keep everyone updated as I find things out.
>>-----
>>Danielle
>>
>>Herps:
>>1.1 BRBs
>>1.0 Amel Motley Corn
>>----------------------
>>Other critters:
>>1.0 Great Dane
>>1.0 Siamese
>>1 Senegal Parrot
>>1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Thanks Jeff. I'm going to bring it up to him... he doesn't seem to quite know where to go with anything, except suggesting I get her scoped.

Until I get a poop sample from her (which could be awhile, considering she's in the blue and didn't eat for me this week)I don't think he's got a plan beyond checking for squirmies and maybe administering Baytril.

I saw the first bit of discharge today, actually, from her nose. If he doesn't get back to me soon, I may have to shirk him for the other herp vet in the area so I can get her on some antibiotics.

I was worried and wasn't even thinking when I posted the pic... the card numbers have been obscured now. I'm hoping everyone here is honest.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Where are you from? I live in N. IL. My vet is a close friend, so I have yet to pay for a snake visit. we jsu invite her and her husband over for a nice dinner (bothe my wife and I like to cook, so this is enjoyable). My vet specialized in exotics in school and has taken a lot of refresher courses since.

With all of this she still does not get to work with reptiles as much as she would like to.
-----
Mike

2.2 BRB
1.2 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King

I'm all the way over in Ontario, Canada. I live in an area that exotics aren't common because they are prohibited to keep within the closest city's limits. I'm on the outskirts.

Sadly, there are only two herp vets close-by. My current vet sees mostly Snakes and Fish, the other sees mostly Lizards and Amphibians. I may go to the second to get another opinion if I don't get any more information soon.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

OK, so apparently the levels of yeast the Vet found in Lola's culture are normal. (It took 4 days to find this out?) He's suggesting bloodwork to do a WBC count, and a dose of Baytril.

He's also fervently suggested I get a lung-scope done on her. Check for respiratory parasites and such. What are your thoughts on this?

I'm waiting on the initial appointment date right now. From there, depending on the information I recieve, I'll try and get a referral to the University of Guleph, where they perform the scopes. Apparently, the wait is into July.

In other news, Lola is VERY blue at the moment. Rather excited to see her post-shed.
-----
Danielle

Herps:
1.1 BRBs
1.0 Amel Motley Corn
----------------------
Other critters:
1.0 Great Dane
1.0 Siamese
1 Senegal Parrot
1 Blue Fronted Amazon

Danielle,
..I was wondering what would be the normal level of yeast within a BRB's mouth. I have never seen anything in writing on the subject. As you probably know all animals carry pathogenic organisms that do not cause problems unless they are present in much larger than the normal numbers. I would pass on the dose of Baytril until there is evidence in the cultures to support using it or the snake's symptoms become more serious. Lung flukes can be present in BRBs and cause problems but when they do they usually cause an infectious overbloom of pathogenic bacteria which should have shown up in the mouth and throat cultures that found the yeast. If it was my snake I would wait and see how it is doing after the shed unless it develops some serious symptoms before then.
Jeff

>>OK, so apparently the levels of yeast the Vet found in Lola's culture are normal. (It took 4 days to find this out?) He's suggesting bloodwork to do a WBC count, and a dose of Baytril.
>>
>>He's also fervently suggested I get a lung-scope done on her. Check for respiratory parasites and such. What are your thoughts on this?
>>
>>I'm waiting on the initial appointment date right now. From there, depending on the information I recieve, I'll try and get a referral to the University of Guleph, where they perform the scopes. Apparently, the wait is into July.
>>
>>In other news, Lola is VERY blue at the moment. Rather excited to see her post-shed.
>>-----
>>Danielle
>>
>>Herps:
>>1.1 BRBs
>>1.0 Amel Motley Corn
>>----------------------
>>Other critters:
>>1.0 Great Dane
>>1.0 Siamese
>>1 Senegal Parrot
>>1 Blue Fronted Amazon