ssssinful-1
12-19-2009, 11:29 PM
I have debated whether or not to post this, but I am hoping others may learn from what I have experienced.
I purchased several months ago- my adult male butter motley. He is gorgeous! I held him in the store for quite a bit- let him slither around me and looked him closely to make sure he seemed in A+ condition. The 411 was that a local breeder traded him in because he didn't need him for any projects. I was told he has been 1 FT adult mouse a week and there have been no issues with feeding. Fantastic! I'll take him. :)
I went home with my purchase and got him squared away in his new terrarium. My set up is fine for corns... UTF, aspen, hides, fresh water, digital thermometer.
After a few days of rest, I tried to feed him. He refused. But I thought, ok give it some more time. His weight was fine and the change of environment may have thown him off. By the end of the first week, I noticed some wheezing and popping. By the end of my second week, I was at my exotics vet to have him looked at because it was sounding like a respiratory infection (RI).
3 weeks of injections... Baytril and Twin Pen every 72 hours. Things were looking up for the lad. Before Thanksgiving he ate a mouse... I was thrilled!
A quick check up at the beginning of December and he checked out just fine... still sneezing occasionally, but was told that like humans when we are recovering from a cold it can take some time to get the residual gunk out.
Yesterday morning, I noticed the popping and wheezing was back. He had labored breathing, was rigid and flighty when he was out of the enclosure. Yesterday evening, I came home from work and he hadn't changed positions from the morning. Body buried in aspen- head held out. This time his mouth was gaped. Not good... not good at all.
This morning I was in the vet's office at 1030. The vet could tell right off that he had respiratory issues again. Popping, wheezing, sneezing... and then some small petechiae that was on the right side of his body (pics posted later). This time she wanted to do a culture and analysis to see what we are up against because the 2 IM/SC antibiotics he was given should have cleared up the nasties. Results next week. We didn't leave without getting a .84 IM injection of Ceftazidime and a 228.00 vet bill. :) Now I am hoping and praying that the RI hasn't gotten so bad that he has gone septic.
I will keep you all posted with any changes... and of course get a photo or two of the petechiae on here. Interestingly enough, it is just two spots... little red warning signs. Petechiae in snakes was something I didn't find much on, but if noticed, it is recommended that you see your vet immediately.
I found some useful 411 from the Merck Vet Manuel concerning RI and other bacterial infections involving reptiles.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171407.htm
The best Christmas present for me would to see Quilla make a full recovery.
Carrie
I purchased several months ago- my adult male butter motley. He is gorgeous! I held him in the store for quite a bit- let him slither around me and looked him closely to make sure he seemed in A+ condition. The 411 was that a local breeder traded him in because he didn't need him for any projects. I was told he has been 1 FT adult mouse a week and there have been no issues with feeding. Fantastic! I'll take him. :)
I went home with my purchase and got him squared away in his new terrarium. My set up is fine for corns... UTF, aspen, hides, fresh water, digital thermometer.
After a few days of rest, I tried to feed him. He refused. But I thought, ok give it some more time. His weight was fine and the change of environment may have thown him off. By the end of the first week, I noticed some wheezing and popping. By the end of my second week, I was at my exotics vet to have him looked at because it was sounding like a respiratory infection (RI).
3 weeks of injections... Baytril and Twin Pen every 72 hours. Things were looking up for the lad. Before Thanksgiving he ate a mouse... I was thrilled!
A quick check up at the beginning of December and he checked out just fine... still sneezing occasionally, but was told that like humans when we are recovering from a cold it can take some time to get the residual gunk out.
Yesterday morning, I noticed the popping and wheezing was back. He had labored breathing, was rigid and flighty when he was out of the enclosure. Yesterday evening, I came home from work and he hadn't changed positions from the morning. Body buried in aspen- head held out. This time his mouth was gaped. Not good... not good at all.
This morning I was in the vet's office at 1030. The vet could tell right off that he had respiratory issues again. Popping, wheezing, sneezing... and then some small petechiae that was on the right side of his body (pics posted later). This time she wanted to do a culture and analysis to see what we are up against because the 2 IM/SC antibiotics he was given should have cleared up the nasties. Results next week. We didn't leave without getting a .84 IM injection of Ceftazidime and a 228.00 vet bill. :) Now I am hoping and praying that the RI hasn't gotten so bad that he has gone septic.
I will keep you all posted with any changes... and of course get a photo or two of the petechiae on here. Interestingly enough, it is just two spots... little red warning signs. Petechiae in snakes was something I didn't find much on, but if noticed, it is recommended that you see your vet immediately.
I found some useful 411 from the Merck Vet Manuel concerning RI and other bacterial infections involving reptiles.
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/171407.htm
The best Christmas present for me would to see Quilla make a full recovery.
Carrie