Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. I got my blood python from the vet. He prescribes Flotril, 5mg / day for 15 days. I can see some marks around the shot spot, the vet says this medication alters skin color. He says, unfortunatly, it is not reversible.

Anyone shared the same experience?

Cheers

Leonardo.

Known as Baytril or Flotril (depending on Country), enrofloxacin is in a class of safer antibiotics called fluoroquinolones which have a common side effect of causing tissue damage and discoloration at the injection site. The result is scar tissue and is permanent. It is typically used for respiratory, skin, and muscle tissue infections. Another fluoroquinolone antibiotic known as ciprofloxacin, or Cipro, is not as well known by most vets because it is a human drug. It comes in pill form, and if the snake is feeding, it is a great choice for the above infections, and also enteric (intestinal) infections. The appropriate size dose can just be inserted into the smallest size prey item the snake will eat. It has a little wider spectrum of bacterial activity and you avoid the tissue damage caused by enrofloxacin. Any vet can write a prescription for it and help size the dose for you. It is dosed at 10 mg/kg every 48 hours. As always, have a vet check the snake for a proper diagnosis. Hope this helped.

Kelly

CAN be given orally, I still always wonder why so many vets prescribe injections that cause those discolorations when you can give it by mouth! You get the same results with no ugly spots.
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FireDrake Exotics
www.FireAndLilac.com

First off, many snakes with bacterial infections are not feeding and it is much easier for the vet or snake owner to inject a snake than to stomach tube it. It is simply a matter of convenience. Secondly, and probably not a strong concern, Baytril injectable is absorbed more efficiently and gives about 50% higher serum concentrations than an equivalent dose given in tablet form. Smaller doses at multiple injection sites may help with the tissue damage, but I don't know that for a fact. It has been awhile, but I have always used Cipro because it is a little more effective over a wider range of bacteria species than Baytril, and is one of the best for R.I. or enteric problems. The only drawback is that Cipro only comes in tablet form and unless the snake is feeding, you are back to tubing.

Kelly