Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I have a question relating to the over dose of metrinidazole. To be short and sweet can consitent use of metronidazole build up in the liver or kidneys? ex: if you are doseing their water bowls to try to stimulate feeding.

I'm not asking this because I wish to practice it. I have reason to belive that sadly this practice is becoming popular.

thanks

Would recommend to NOT add metronidazole to drinking water. Safety margin for this drug not very "wide". You are NOT going to be able to control the exact amount of water that your herp will drink - therefore you will not be able to control the dose of metronidazole that they get.......

Yes, I agree. That wasn't my question though.. I was looking more for the symptoms of metronidazole over doses. I not condoing the practice of over useing it expecally by dosing it in a water bowl, there is just no control with that.

The normal symptoms associated with Metronidazole toxicity are peripheral neuropathy and sensory problems. Metronidazole is a prodrug, meaning that it is activated once it is in the tissues of the body, causing the atoms within it's molecules to ionize (exchange electrons). The main method it works by is interrupting nuclear DNA production in anaerobic cells (anaerobic bacteria, such as Giardia, etc.). One of the other possible side effects, due to the interruption of DNA production is birth defects if given to pregnant or gravid females. It has a relatively short half-life, so neurological symptoms usually disappear a few days after the drug is withdrawn. However, deaths have been reported at higher doses in Drymarchon sp., Lampropeltis sp., and certain Crotalus sp..

Thank you, could Metronidazole build up to toxic levels in the liver or kidneys.. I'm debaitng if this is the cause of the snakes "illness" or if it is a inner ear infection.. And also if I sould refund him for an other. He appears to be better (not eating though), I went to the vet and got baytril which seems to clear it up..

Inner ear infection? Snakes are not known for a predisposition to ear infections (it's that whole lack of ears thing).

Metronidazole is not a cumulative drug. As I said before, it has a relatively short half-life and the bulk of it will be metabolized in a short period and eiminated and the rest will pass through the digestive tract. Overdoses could conceivably cause some kidney or liver damage.

What are the symptoms your snake is exibiting?

Hmmm, may be I miss understood the vet.. He was compairing the symptoms to a inner ear infection..? Well as far as symptoms go here is a list..

1) Slightly swolen lower right jaw

2) Slightly heavy on the mucus side (mouth/little drainage from the nosteral)like a very mild URI

3) "head tilt" when on a solid serface he almost looks like he is rubbing the side that is swolen. the best ex. I can give is a dog with water in it's ear, rubbing it on the carpet.

4) Circling "head waiving" alot like star gazing only he stops when his head is on a solid surface, then acts norm but same as symptom #2

5) not eating, He dose have VERY good weight though

The vet kept useing the word vistribluar disequlibruim (sp?) and desribed it "from the snakes point of view" as sea sickness see symp # 3&4 when he was describing the illness.. We started treatment with tms about 4 days with no change possably a litte worse with #4, then we changed to baytril (all drugs oral) and now the snake is acting fairly normal but still not eating.. I started doing reshearh on the net and I found that the symptoms of met. overdoses are almost identical except for symptom #1&2.
At this point I'm stumped, and starting to get worried about the feeding (lack of).
I recived this snake around late last month.. This is my first Genetic mutation, and I paid alot for it.. I have had time to fall in love with him, but also I cannot take the loss if it is somthing more serious.. I'm debaiting if I should send it back and get comped. for him or if I should hold tight.. This is one of the hardest calls I've had to make with a herp. Normaly I would suck it up and do everything I can to insure good heath at no expence.
I would love to hear your input and if you have any ideas on what may be going on..

n/m

thanx