Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I BELIEVE THAT MY NEW FEMALE BALL PYTHON COULD HAVE R. I. SHE HASN'T EATEN IN OVER TWO WEEKS AND HAS BEEN VERY LATHARGIC AND SPENDS THE MAJORITY OF HER TIME WITH HER HEAD IN THE AIR WITH HER MOUTH OPEN. IF SOMEONE COULD GIVE ME SOME INFO. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THANK T.C.

When I told my Vet that the Snake I was bringing in next week had come to me with a RI (wheezing and popping) and I wanted to know what to do to keep him stable till we could get in, he asked me to describe more of what I was seeing, when I told him that this guy was mouth breathing he told me to bring him in NOW, and he would wait for me (this was 2 hours to his closing, and I was not home yet, and he is an hour away)
I am currently giving Baytril Injections daily, and seeing the vet again tomorrow night for a follow up visit, its not going to be good, because his breathing is not improved (that I can tell anyway) and he just WILL NOT eat for me.
I have one hide humid most of the time, and 2 in the warm end are high 80s and low 90s (depending on when I check)
the cool end is about 80 - 82 F
and he keeps going in the water dish and putting his head under the water and blowing bubbles
Hope any of this is healpful
I am not the BP expert, my Daughter is

BTW does anyone know of a really good anatomy page, that I can see internal Musculature, organs and Bones. Giving injections is hard enough on Humans, but on an animal I have only been explained the anatomy once. . . .

thanks
ecb
-----
Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*

I appreciate all of your help I just hope that we have caught this early enough to stop it before anything happens. i do not know of any anatomy figures to give you but I know that batriyl should be given in the muscle. again thanks T.C.

In addition to the comments in the above post, I'd recommend somewhat warmer temps...85F at cool end...95F warm end...

Baytril is inexpensive but gives equivacal results...ceftazidime (w/o or better w/ amikacin) gives much better results but is expensive...hydration is important with all of these antibiotics...Baytril must be given intramuscularly to avoid cutaneous abscesses...

Try to avoid delaying treatment to lessen the chance of septicemia (widespread infection)...

Good luck!

Scott J. Michaels DVM
Serpent City

I want to thank you very much from your reply. we currently have twelve snakes in the same rack system but none have come in contact with her we just moved her to a new rack all by herself. please hit me back and let me no if you think that our other snakes could be in danger. Again thanks for all of your help.
T.C.

do you use Amikacin alone??
You mentioned its use in conjunction with ceftazidime.

I have had very good results with Amikacin, and prefer it over baytril.

shots every 3 days -vs- daily.

Thanks
TomChambers

what size doses do you use?

as scott said

I tell my vet the snakes weight, and he gives me pre filled hypos at 2.5Mg/Kg based on a 50Mg/Ml solution.

TomChambers

...but the combo is fantastic...both are bacteriocidal and work by different mechanisms...a 1-2 punch...if this combo doesn't work not much else will...

ceftazidime: 50-100 mg/# every 1-2 days
amikacin: 2.5 mg/kg every 3 days
separate syringes
ceftazidime is prepared from freeze-dried powder...syringes are
drawn up then frozen...thawed before use

Scott J. Michaels DVM RPh
Serpent City

I have read about potential side effects with kidney problems using Amikacin and other aminoglycoside drugs.

Have you ever seen any instance of this, of feel this is a relevent concern??

Thanks again
TomChambers

...it's most definitely a real concern in herps that excrete uric acid as the protein end-product...uric acid has relatively low solubility and the crystals are pointy and sharp...being that AG's are potent it is easy to overdose them...therefore the critical attention to hydration...

It's relatively easy to monitor serum (blood)uric acid levels and hydration status so nephrotoxicity from antibiotic treatment is pretty rare nowadays at least among qualified herp vets.

I've personally never seen a case of antibiotic-induced nephrotoxicity but it was certianly more common in the early years of their use...

sjm

I said no message....................

Now leave me alone!!!!!!

If you read this please disregard my previous hostility.........

I just took my meds so all will be............

Thanks
TomChambers