Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had read somewhere that people are useing this to treat or cure RI and was wondering if it the same stuff for humans and what doseges they are using? Also, how are you giving it to the snake? Thanks in advance for any help!

Amoxicilin is a good drug (both for people and for animals) if it is properly prescribed and administered. Typically, upper and lower resperitorty infections in snakes are treated with enrofloxacin (baytril) or amikacin (or a combintaion of the two) at the discretion of the DVM. Typically a vet will do a culture and sensitivity test to isolate the problematic pathogen, and determine what drug will be most effectove against it. The concern with administering an antibiotoc like amoxicilin blindly is that 1) it may do nothing, and cause more harm than good 2)be effective for a short time, only to have the infection come back, sligtly resistant to said drug, or 3)kill the snake.

Remember, just giving antibiotics isn't always enoughh. Often other supportive therepy (such as fluids) are needed for treatment to be sucesful.

If your ball python is showing early signs of a resperitory infection I would reccomend double checking your husbandry (mainly high and low temps), consider bumping up teh heat in teh enclosure an additional 5 degrees, and temporarily reducing humidity. If you do not see any improvement withon 2 days, or symptoms are progressing, you will probably need to see your vet.