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question for dave and frank!!!!

badcompnay Jun 03, 2007 03:25 PM

some brief history before i ask my question......

In early February of this year - Febuary 3rd to be exact. I took my BRB to the vet for a wheeze that she had for a couple of days. he told me it was possibly due to the condition i had the snake in ie; being to wet and cold. the substrate was a lil too wet, some water had collected down at the bottom. so he suggested that i try to raise the temps a lil bit and keep a light on he tank 24/7.

I told him there was no mucus bubbling out of her nose, she was feeding normally and there wasnt any condensation if she would breathe on the glass.

He took a culture from her mouth and called me a few days later and said everything looked ok.

He had prescribed Fortaz (antibiotic) that I administered every 72 hours for 21 days. He gave me 7 shots already filled with 12 units. Honestly I dont like the vet, hes kinda rude and stuck-up. But alot of people say they are good for exotics.

Anwyas the wheeze has since not gone away and is audible when she exhales. I read here on the forums that if the humidity is not right it could cause RI. I'm keeping a close eye on her but she seems to be fine.

She's active at night, she feeds normally on small rats every week.

Should I take her to the vet again? Or should I give the new enviornment a chance, I kno it wont change over night it will take some time. I would just like your input on the matter

Replies (14)

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 03:54 PM

Ok, I know fortaz is a third generation cephalosporin (sp?) that has delivered good results with Ri's that do not respond to other med's, usually almost no necrosis at the injection site like you sometimes see with baytril. If he told you the culture was ok, I have a question? was this before or after the regimen of antibiotics he told you to administer to your snake ?

If he told you to administer before he got the results of the test, this is sort of ass backwards in my opinion, and since the results where ok, there would be nothing to treat.

I am no VET, but I believe that most respiratory infections, unless VERY severe, can be treated without antibiotic therapy... by utilizing ideal environmental conditions for the snake with perhaps a hot area of about 90 degrees for most boids, rainbows I would say 85 would be more appropriate. I would certainly think Jeff Clark has a lot more husbandry experience then me in regards to rainbow boas.

The question I asked about the vet is kind of important to me. If snake is just making raspy noises with no coughing/fluids exuding, I probably would fiddle with the environmental conditions before possibly subjecting the animal to a regimen of antibiotics it may not necessarily need.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 04:09 PM

link
Cephalosporins

-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

badcompnay Jun 03, 2007 05:21 PM

Frank,

The vet took the culture and prescribed me the meds all in the same day.

He then called me a few days later and told me it all seemed to be ok but told me to continue with the meds just in case.

I understand your question; if the culture was fine why keep going? Well I was just doing as I was told from a Pro.

I have completely redone her enclosure as you all know and got high humidity and a hot spot of 85 degrees. I cleaned out her hide box and redid that today as well.

Im going to continue monitoring her and her breathing as the days go on as you all know i will keep you posted on that too

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 05:35 PM

once you have started administering the meds you should not stop till finished. This is because if there are any bacteria ( just in case since u started meds ) you may cause them to become resistent to meds because they where not completely eradicated and mutated to a resistent strain. I would finish the course of antibiotics and workk on the environmental conditions as well.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 05:40 PM

I had assumed you already finished the meds, my last statement, in my original answer, was about going back to the vet again and getting more, which some vets will do till they "solve" the problem, I would think correcting the husbandry issues would suffice.
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

rainbowsrus Jun 03, 2007 06:42 PM

First off I am not a Vet nor have I seen your animal. That said, IMO, work the environment angle. You've already run a course of antibiotics. Jeff has posted before about poor sheds causing raspy noises. With your better controlled temps, I'd hope to see improvement but maybe not before a shed or two.

OF COURSE, watch for any changes and post right away if you notice anything amiss!!

I actually find BRB's to be fairly hardy. I've always had great lkuck with keeping them healthy. Just provide good temps and adequate humidity (less is needed for adults) and they thrive!!
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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

badcompnay Jun 03, 2007 08:16 PM

Frank,

Yes her schedule of meds has already been done. i followed them exactly like the vet told me to do and everything. i will continue to make sure my husbadry techniques are ok.

Dave,

Even with the "poor" environment she had before i only got a broken shed once. and it was in two pieces not scattered around in a bunch of pieces no excuse either way. i will continue to feed her on schedule of course and monitor her sheds with this new enviornment. shes is 2 years old and just abt 4 feet long how much humidity would you say is required for her?

Thanks To The Both Of You!

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 08:30 PM

Are you the type of person that doesn't get along with other's in a "group" scenario ?

or

do you just realy like a great music group?

neither?

care to elaborate?

Bad Company : Full Bio

-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

badcompnay Jun 03, 2007 09:19 PM

i think it seems i get along well with the whole group discussion thing

and yes im a huge fan of bad company and mostly all classic rock!!!! even tho i kno i spelled the name wrong (noticed it to late)
the substrate isnt "dry" but its not wet either, its like "moist"???? but there is condensation where her heat pad is and inside her hide box. im trying to get my pics uploaded but for some reason this laptop doesnt recognize the cam in the USB....weird cuz im running XP...hmmmm...anyways im workin on the pics and ill get them up ASAP

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 09:28 PM

we it did appear you get along with others, I thought it was about the music group, funny I did not even notice you spelled it wrong till you just mentioned it, lol...........
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

rainbowsrus Jun 03, 2007 09:00 PM

I honestly don't measure actual humidity levels. I provide babies with a small tub, water bowl and water droplets are typically condensing on front, AKA high humidity.

The room itself is always humid.

The adult cages get a large surface water bowl and a damp hide. Dry substrate, small vent. I only see condensation when they soil the cage.
-----
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

badcompnay Jun 03, 2007 09:19 PM

plz explain how you only see condensation when they soil the cage...sorry

FRoberts Jun 03, 2007 09:33 PM

when my brazilians pee it makes the paper substrate wet and the small amount of ventilation I allow, causes the condensation to form on the side of enclosure where pee is.

Note:

I use Blanket boxes rubbermaid ( 4' long 2.5' wide (across) and 6" high )
-----
Thanks,

Frank Roberts
Roberts' Realm Of Reptile Research

badcompnay Jun 03, 2007 09:45 PM

roger that...over and out bed time!

night guys!

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