RI Update

[edf]

thanx glory.  I am to give her  abath to keep her hydrated, and she isnt showing signs of dehydration.  I just hate having a sick snake and just want to make sure I am doing the best I can for her.

She flicks her tonge and thermoregulates, not lethargic at all, so I hope she is starting to feel better. 

thanx for the input

[Donnie_K]

see, this is a problem I see all too much. There's a whole LOT of "Well our vet said"... and it's usually from keepers that have only been doing this a year or two... now the cutting edge vets you mentioned, those are vets I'd listen to. But the reality of it is, I wouldn't trust 99.9% of the "Reptile Vets" out there. As for the baytril thing hindering the immune system, I will do some research for you and see what I can find. But I do know that in humans if you're parents were hypocondriacs and pumped you full of all kinds of pills and cough medicines you are much more likely to get the flu or the common cold, or have allergy problems when you're older because your body is not use to fighting off infections on it's own. As for raising the temps and lowering the humidity masking the problem? Well, In my 23 years of reptile keeping I've had to deal with RI Many times on animals I'd take in and it's always worked except in the most severe of cases where the baytril shots were necessary. But in all my years I've only ever had 2 that required the baytril shots. Every other animal I've treated this way has turned around wonderfully. The clean/sterile snake in a box type enclosures I use may attribute to that as well. There are people on this site as already stated that have watched me take in animals through threads on forums and watch as I document the progress over the months. I've also noticed that most vets at the mildest weeze (even if it's just stuck shed in the nostrils) will prescribe baytril. I also find that most of these same vets don't keep any reptiles at all at home, and if they do... it's usually something like a single ball python. I just want to make it clear I would never tell you to do anything that would only mask a problem, or harm an animal. If your case was severe enough to require baytril, then by all means, give the injections. But if not.... well you honestly may be doing more harm than good.

[Bree]

There's a whole LOT of "Well our vet said"... and it's usually from keepers that have only been doing this a year or two... now the cutting edge vets you mentioned, those are vets I'd listen to. But the reality of it is, I wouldn't trust 99.9% of the "Reptile Vets" out there.

While I'm not the most experienced at this.  I agree totally with Donnie on this.  We took a very ill beardie to an emergency reptile vet early in our days of raising reptiles....lost him and had NO answers whatsoever.  Next day we took all of the beardies in our collection at the time to a 'respected' exotic vet.  She claimed that had she been consulted, we would not have lost our Jake.  All were tested. Nothing was found.   

2 months later. Same symptoms out of the blue without warning again another of our breeder males.  We raced to the vet (her Exotics office is a mile from our house)-  we watched him die.  She treated him with Antibiotics and steroid injections.  She had a flurry of activity around him for....ohh say 5 minutes.  Then left us in a freezing cold exam room with him...while she and her experts ate pizza 2 rooms up the hall.   So much for caring health professionals.  Let me put it this way,  I made sure she understood that as a health professional myself her staff AND she were substandard ...well nuff said. She got my message.  I will NEVER set foot in her clinic again.

We have a great vet now.  He is truly a wonder, however  most of the time I handle things on my own now.  With the advice of experienced breeders and reptile community friends.  When I have a question about something that is going on I take pictures, and send them to 2 trusted breeders who helped me in my early days.  Or I ask questions on places like Darkside. 

As a RN, I can tell you that many vets/doctors don't always know what they are doing.   Medicine is still interpretation alot of the time of a constellation of symptoms.  Its reading what the body is telling us, and reacting to them.  In the veterinary world there is way too little known at this time for there to be many trusted doctors and staff...most of them are Avian specialists.  Now if my snake had wings....

Just my 2 cents, and while I speak my mind....I respect your right to make whatever decision is best for you and yours.  Overall...I wish you health for your lil guy.

Bree

[edf]

Donnie and Bree-
thanx so much for the further input.

See, You are right about one thing- I dont have experience with dealing with RI's, hence why I am unclear of what to do and all, I will admit that.   Tho I have been doing this for more than 2 years, I just happened to stumble across my first experience with an RI- but reguardless, you are right that I am not experienced with dealing with this situationm, and I am just wanting to read good reliable info on it as well to give myself a better understanding of it. See, the info I read online is just like someone stating their opinion as well, so when I question something, don't take offence to it, just curious abotu it and may need a little extra explaining  lol 

As far as the whole 'masking the effects' Once again, it was something I read online, and since I posted it here, I am glad you shared your experience that it doesnt just mask it- it was a concern I had, and prolly will have for a bit until I see for myself its just not masked ( i plan to get another culture done on her when its cleared up)  But once again, its prolly caused by other people drilling me with 'it needs meds or it will die' mixed with vets just putting them on meds.  What I will do is call my vet and ask them to fax over the results of the culture. She did test positive for 3 types of bacteria- of which I dont know anythign about.  I will share them with ya and see what you guys think.

And my researching online, all I come across are posts saying to either lower the humidity to dry them out, or raise the humidity to help break the mucus up- I keep getting different answers, BOTH claiming that they have worked with snakes fora long time and ect ( one claiming that raising the humidity is what a specific big time bp breeder does)... that is what my main problem. No doubts to raise the temps and keep the cage clean, its the humidity that I hear completly different answers to!! I have been keeping her humidity low, but last nite when I was going to give the meds, mucus came out her mouth- tho it could have been b/c she was struggling a bit. She was active tho- she wasn't in her hides, she was part way out. So I gotta take that as a better sign.  Maybe it just talkes longer than I think for RI's to clear up...

But I do understand now more about what yous are talking about with the Baytril and using it too much can be more of a hazard. I had other peole explain the whole medication thing as well.  Makes more sence now that i read youses explaination. Since I am already giving it to her, I am gonna go along with continuing to use it- its almost up anyways.  But if you do come across anything that states info on the baytril issue, I would still like to read up on it. I keep looking on the net for info, but like I said, all I find is contradicting information or nothing clear on the effects of Baytril to their immunity system.

Over all guys, this whole speil was me trying to understand more about it and all, and everyone has helped me out greatly, and I do tremendously appreciate it.  I believe I have great care skills for my snakes, but I will admit I have much more to learn, I dont know it all yet. 

thanx for the tips and advice and clearing things up a bit more for me
Janet

[Bree]

Janet,

I have to agree there is alot of conflicting information out there.  A whole lot.  And for those of us who are new it makes it doubly hard to even know what source to trust. That's why for myself at least I just keep reading, asking, studying, and working at it.   

I'm glad you are questioning...and you will learn from your questions....and hopefully even the rest of us will learn from them too!  So keep it up, and keep working it through.  The more knowledge you arm yourself with the better.

[Southern_Boa_Gurl]

Janet,

How is this girl doin??

Just thought I'd check