It has been a couple of months since my last update and a lot has happened.
In April, I noticed a slight weight loss of 20 grams. I didn't think too much of it. I carefully monitor Mandy's eating and weight, and I figured that with spring coming her activity level was increasing. So I increased the size and frequency of her meals to bring her back up to 550 grams. She appeared otherwise healthy with a normal activity level. We celebrated the first anniversary of her adoption on April 24 quietly, but with much love and happiness.
I'm blessed, with only three snakes, to be able to provide them all with regular veterinary care. I'm also blessed to have a snake vet I like and trust. Mandy had first been to the vet (same office but that doc has moved on) a year ago in May to check out her cataracts and general health. She was underweight at 464 grams, but other than the cataracts which just are what they are, she had a good exam and a low parasite load on her fecal. She had a rare number of a "flagellate common to corn snakes". No treatment needed.
So I made an appointment for this year's vet check on May 2. We went and had she had a good physical check up. A day before the check up her belly checkers went from black to gray and indicated she was in early shed. It did not keep the doc from examining her and he does believe that she still has sight in one eye because it reacted to his light. She's blind in the other eye. Not that it makes any difference in some ways, I'm still happy she has some sight.
Blood was drawn and of course we, or should I say she, provided a fecal sample. As an aside, this girl is so regular that I can actually time her feeding and subsequent exercise to get a fecal sample precisely when I need it. It helps to not have to make a separate vet run with it.
A week later we hadn't heard on the blood work or the fecal so the receipt says if you don't hear in a week to call. Later that day the vet called me back with the news. He started with the good news. Her blood work was all normal. The bad news is that she had coccidia and amoebas. After talking with the lab my vet was not concerned about this particular kind of amoeba. The coccidia is a different matter.
Coccidia is an oral-fecal route parasite. I was in shock because I know I keep her enclosure immaculate. She also had no diarrhea, foul smell, or bloody poop. Besides, 9 times out of 10 she poops outside of her enclosure and I clean it up immediately. I don't know if this is just one of those things or some lack on my part, though I've racked my brain to see where I may have failed her. That uncertainty shook me at the time. I've now accepted that it is as it is. We don't know when or where she got it, just that she has it. None of these things have so far shown up in my other snakes.
There was no question of getting her the recommended treatment. I didn't even ask how much it cost. The vet didn't have the medication on hand, but Mandy was deep in blue at this point so it was going to have to wait until she shed in any case. I found out on a Tuesday, she shed on Thursday, and on Friday the vet office called to say that the Ponazuril had come in. It had to be given 3 days in a row and they had to tube her to administer it orally in the office. Since they are closed on Sunday we had to wait until Monday to start.
Fortunately, the weather was perfect for it so I could just take her in her snake bag in a sweater box with air holes. (I keep my infrared temp gun handy to monitor things.) I did feel like we were living at the vet's that week, but Mandy is definitely worth the effort. I was afraid that it would cost $100s but it turned out to be less than $50 for all three treatments. She's so worth it in any case!!!! Those were three days I didn't handle her except to go to the vet. She seemed to tolerate the travel and medication very well.
Last night she had her second meal since completing the course of treatment. In a couple of days, we will be doing a follow up fecal test. She is eating and otherwise behaving normally. She is very strong and muscular, that's for sure, and I will continue to work on her weight and muscle in order to keep her in the best condition possible. She is at least 14, and maybe more, years old at this point.
I will update this thread when I have more info. I'm pretty anxious about what they next fecal may show. My only goal is to give her the best care and best life possible for however long she lives. Of course through this all, I just love her to pieces. She's awesome and still quite a looker!
(and no, she doesn't sit still for pictures!)
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