Reptile & Amphibian Forums

np

...Tetracycline was used fairly commonly back in the old days of herpetoculture. I used it a couple of times and it did not seem to work very well. Amikacin and Baytril both have much better results treating RI.
Jeff

I definately like Amikacin. Just got rid of an RI in my breeding female....she got the injection 2 hrs ago, and she's copulating as we speak!

n/p

It's great that certain medications work for RI's bit where can someone get them without a vet? Is there some website someone can fill me in on or do you just have to know the right person sought of thing?

These medications are prescription for a reason. They all can kill your snake! Ideally to avoid problematic resistant pathogens a culture and sensitivety would be done before choosing an antibiotic. Also additional medications may or may not be necessary. All reasons to take your pet to the veterinarian when sick.

I would never take the advice of someone who breeds animals when they are sick

Also determine what areas of your husbandry can be improved as RI's don't begin for no reason.

Oxytetracycline would probably work for some R.I. cases but other antibiotics would be more effective or have a broader spectrum of activity; (ie: Cipro, amikacin, ceftazidime). Most Pseudomonas species have been shown to be resistant to oxytetracycline and they are one of the leading causes of infections in snakes. Additionally, oxytetracycline has been shown to cause liver toxicity and embryotoxicity in other animals and so caution should be used when treating compromised or gravid snakes.

Kelly