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I've periodically posted about my Rose, a hypo sonoran BCI that was shipped to me with a URI and a nasty burn. I've been trying so hard to help her get better. We tried a full course of Amikacin, which didn't do anything. Upon our second vet visit she gain a pound from three to four pounds, in one month!! So obviously dehydration, that was on it's way to getting better, but the URI was still persisting. We decided to try Fortaz. She has a few injections left, but is almost done with it, and still whistling. So we took her in to get some bloodwork and a fecal done. We couldn't get a fecal... yet, but the bloodwork results are in. It came back that her protein and uric acid was high and her white blood cell count was slightly, very slightly, high also. The vet thinks that she's either dehydrated or has kidney failure and suggested we get her good and hydrated. My guess is that she's still dehydrated a bit. Anyway, I hope it's dehydration, because their's not a lot we can do about the alternative. My question: what's the best way to get a snake hydrated. She's had a constant supply of water and obviously is not drinking it, or at least enough of it. And I know they can absorb water through the cloaca, so I've got her in a tub soaking next to me now. I'll put the tub in her cage so she can soak on her own, but I doubt she will. Any advice? Can I force water down her throat with a dropper or syringe?

Kidney damage could be a result of the antibiotics while she was dehydrated. The weight gain you see now may be kidney failure related edematous water retention rather than a therapeutic correction of the dehydration. That might also explain the respiratory symptoms resulting from too much fluid accumulating in the lungs. The vets idea is probably the best way to go but if the kindneys are seriously damaged the problem may not be reversible.

>>I've periodically posted about my Rose, a hypo sonoran BCI that was shipped to me with a URI and a nasty burn. I've been trying so hard to help her get better. We tried a full course of Amikacin, which didn't do anything. Upon our second vet visit she gain a pound from three to four pounds, in one month!! So obviously dehydration, that was on it's way to getting better, but the URI was still persisting. We decided to try Fortaz. She has a few injections left, but is almost done with it, and still whistling. So we took her in to get some bloodwork and a fecal done. We couldn't get a fecal... yet, but the bloodwork results are in. It came back that her protein and uric acid was high and her white blood cell count was slightly, very slightly, high also. The vet thinks that she's either dehydrated or has kidney failure and suggested we get her good and hydrated. My guess is that she's still dehydrated a bit. Anyway, I hope it's dehydration, because their's not a lot we can do about the alternative. My question: what's the best way to get a snake hydrated. She's had a constant supply of water and obviously is not drinking it, or at least enough of it. And I know they can absorb water through the cloaca, so I've got her in a tub soaking next to me now. I'll put the tub in her cage so she can soak on her own, but I doubt she will. Any advice? Can I force water down her throat with a dropper or syringe?

"if the kindneys are seriously damaged the problem may not be reversible"

That's why I'm praying for it to be dehydration
We got an x-ray too and there was no fluid in the lungs (mostly to rule out pneumonia). So hopefully she's not retaining fluid due to kidney failure. I do see urates in her cage periodically (I think normal frequency and size, but you just can't be sure what's healthy for her... since I got her unhealthy). So the only thing I can do is proceed like it's dehydration, because if it's kidney failure, there's not a d@mn thing I can do.

Amikacin should have been avoided by your Vet...

IMO it is toxic to snakes and causes visceral gout.

>>"if the kindneys are seriously damaged the problem may not be reversible"
>>
>>That's why I'm praying for it to be dehydration
>>We got an x-ray too and there was no fluid in the lungs (mostly to rule out pneumonia). So hopefully she's not retaining fluid due to kidney failure. I do see urates in her cage periodically (I think normal frequency and size, but you just can't be sure what's healthy for her... since I got her unhealthy). So the only thing I can do is proceed like it's dehydration, because if it's kidney failure, there's not a d@mn thing I can do.
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

half of people told me to go with amikacin because it was strong enough to knock out a URI, and the other half said it was hard on the kidneys and to go with something weaker. Of course, they only gave me these opinions after the vet had started her on amikacin and there was nothing I could do about it. Either way, there's nothing I can do about it now

At this point I just hope she's not dying!!

>>half of people told me to go with amikacin because it was strong enough to knock out a URI, and the other half said it was hard on the kidneys and to go with something weaker. Of course, they only gave me these opinions after the vet had started her on amikacin and there was nothing I could do about it. Either way, there's nothing I can do about it now
>>
>>At this point I just hope she's not dying!!
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

I used to tube water into them while giving Amikacin.
Jeff

>>half of people told me to go with amikacin because it was strong enough to knock out a URI, and the other half said it was hard on the kidneys and to go with something weaker. Of course, they only gave me these opinions after the vet had started her on amikacin and there was nothing I could do about it. Either way, there's nothing I can do about it now
>>
>>At this point I just hope she's not dying!!