Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a female Sulcata with a upper respiratory infection. My vet who normally sees my torts was away so I tried a new vet. I was just looking for some more baytril and the dose to weight ratio. He instead told me Tylan was way better it was a broader spectrum drug bla, bla, bla. Anyway he sold me on it. Now I have treated her for a week and I haven't noticed a big difference in the infection. I am not out of Tylan and was looking for anyone else that has used this drug with any success. You see I am at the cross roads of wether to take it back to the tylan vet or take it to my original vet who uses baytril.

I did a search on the web and I only see that tylan is used for swine, cattle and birds I see nothing that implies reptiles.

Any feed back would be greatly appriciated
Thanks

I am out of Tylan now. In the last post I put I was not out of it. I meant to say I was NOW out of it.
Sorry

Tylan is tylosin. It is an antibiotic that is similar to erythromycin. Plumb veterinary drug handbook does have a dosage for tortoises. Tylan has effectiveness against mycoplasma, which from what I could find is often implicated in chronic upper respiratory infections. I searched a vet web site and found posts for using baytril as well. Baytril is enrofloxacin, which is a flouroquinolone, that also has effectiveness against mycoplasma. It seems like both should help if due to mycoplasma. As a vet I would recommend that you see whoever you are more comfortable with. I think that there our tests that can be run to test for mycoplasma. There are also other tests, cytology, culture, radiographs etc. that may help your vet choose the appropriate antibiotic. It seems like these infections can be chronic, so it may take a longer course of antibiotics. I am NOT an exotic vet, I treat only dogs and cats, so make sure you get info from your vet. You need to talk to your vet, let them know you are open to having additional diagnostics done ( if you are)bear in mind that these tests are not always cheap, but may save you money and grief in the long run. I always tell my clients, if we have chosen a drug that should work and it doesn't , then it is time to look into it further and find out why.
Good Luck.
Also try www.vin.com- this is the vet site I searched, access is limited , but I think you should be able to find some info under the public/pet owner section.

Thanks for all you help!!! I was just worried as I have only used baytril in the past. The new vet seams to be a good sales man (he sold me on the tylan) I will take it back to him as I said there is a little improvement but like you said she might need the drug for a longer period of time because the infection was worse than we expected. I will ask him about more tests at that time.

Just so I can compair the dosage you found compaired to what he prescribed. I was using 50 mg Tylan the tortoise is 16.8 kilos and he prescribed 1.5 cc every 24 hours for 7 days. Is this what your hand book says??

Thanks again you have taken a load off my mind. I feel 100% better just knowing that it has been used on tortoises and he just wasn't experimenting on me.

That seems like an appropriate dosage. But really, call the vet, I am sure if you explain that you have never used this drug and have some questions about it they will gladly talk to you. They need to know that the tort is not better yet, and you are concerned.
IMO the best clients are educated clients, and from experience, I would much rather my clients ask me when there are questions, because I have had clients get REALLY bad medical advice on-line.
Good Luck.

I am going to take her back on Monday. I just wanted a little reasurance that he was doing everything right.
Thanks again!!!