Something is wrong with Torruk, help please?? - Page 4

Will0W783 · 04-09-12, 09:57 AM

I've never heard of tribissin. I never use Baytril- I hate the drug. I prefer Amikacin or Tylosin, but I always try upping temps and humidity for a few days first.

Your vet should have been able to examine the bacteria under the microscope for a quick impression. My vet does this- he will take a smear of mouth mucus, examine it under the scope to determine gram positive or gram negative, then establish a plan based on the species, type of bacteria, and overall physical health of the snake. He also explains everything he does and lets me observe the smears under the scope as well. I now can treat almost all cases of RI by myself with a microscope, variety of on-hand meds, and good husbandry.

Snakefood · 04-09-12, 10:22 AM

I think maybe that's what this vet may have done, she handed the spatula like thing that she stuck in his mouth off to the tech quite gingerly, but she didn't let me see it. It also took quite a bit of time for them to come back with the TX plan.

I upped the UTH to 96 as soon as I saw symptoms and changed the substrate from repti-bark to newspaper. After the vet visit, I upped the ambient temps in the viv using a 50W infra-red bulb (I'll change to CHE when I get paid) and installed a humid-hide, as well as misting a few times/day to keep the humidity up.

As stated before, this was not my vet, simply the only reptile vet I could get to who would see Torruk over the easter weekend. This is also my very first round of an illness in my collection other than a single regurge. So this is ALL new to me!!

The breeder says he could have gotten an RI because of the dust in the repti-bark
The vet says he probably got it when our over-night temps dropped and since I was only using an UTH that the ambient temps dropped too low, compromising his immune system and allowed this to take hold. Either way, I guess it's my fault

He takes his injections very well, and during the vet appt, she would say, this is usually when they get pissed off and start biting, but not Torruk, calm and curious throughout the whole experience.

Lankyrob · 04-09-12, 11:06 AM

I would be VERY surprised if Reptibark was to blame, i have had no issues with it in two years of constant use in 7 vivs.

karmageddon · 04-09-12, 11:07 AM

Thanks for sharing that video, Mattchibi, it was really informative.

I hope Torruk gets better soon!

Snakefood · 04-09-12, 11:16 AM

Do you rinse yours?? I didn't rinse mine and when I cleaned it out of his viv, there was alot of dusty powder at the bottom??

The vet is probably more accurate about the cause of the RI and she says not to allow the ambient temps in the viv to drop below 80f while he's sick and not below 74f when he's back to healthy. She said temps lower than that lowers thier immune system making them suceptable to these things. Which is why we bump temps up when their sick, to kick-start thier immune systems.

04-09-12, 11:41 AM

make sure ur feeding him the right food :smile:

Snakefood · 04-09-12, 12:04 PM

he's refusing meals right now

Snakefood · 04-10-12, 08:25 AM

So he has finally left his humid hide. Is this a good or bad thing???

Snakefood · 04-16-12, 10:02 AM

UPDATE!!!!

Torruk is making noticable improvements each time we take him out for another shot. the inprovements are small, but every otherday seem just that little bit better.

Before the vet visit he had lots of clear mucous, had really noisy (juicy and thick sounding) breathing, and did not move around his viv much at all. We could hear a coughing or sneezing all night long.

fast forward one vet visit and 5 ab shots later.........

There are minor amounts of the mucous, but has reduced drastically, the juicy/thick sounds in his breathing are gone, but there is still s slight wheeze, there are NO sounds at night, except the sounds of him coming out of his hides and hanging out in the main part of his cage. I haven't seen him mouth breath in a couple of days.

I really do think he's getting better!!

Kingsnakechris · 04-16-12, 10:18 AM

Glad to hear!!! Have you thought about using Aspen? I use/used it for my kings and used it for my BP's. Never had an issue. It's pretty easy to spot clean as well. Just a suggestion :-)

mykee · 04-16-12, 10:22 AM

Awesome. At this point I woudl recommend that if you do not have enough meds, I woudl go back and get some to last you three injections after all symptoms end. If you don't kill it all, it'll come back with a vengeance and second RI's usually kill.

Snakefood · 04-16-12, 10:36 AM

Kingsnakchris: right now he is on newspaper, but yes, I am thinking aspen for when he's all better.

Mykee: I have enough injections to last me until the 25th, and our re-ckeck is on the 27th, so if he were to need more meds, then we would be at the vet the day he would get another injection, without missing a beat.

Lankyrob · 04-16-12, 12:25 PM

Wouldnt recommend aspen with a Royal, keeping the humidity up without moulding can be an issue.

bigsnakegirl785 · 04-16-12, 12:45 PM

Glad to hear he's doing better, hope he gets through this!

Snakefood · 04-26-12, 11:27 AM

OK, so we had his first check-up after 3 weeks of AB's.

Vet says there is significant improvment in the amount of mucous in his lungs as well as improvment on how deep the mucous went. There still is mucous, especially when he's stressed. but when he's calm, his breathing is normal and he doesn't mouth breath at all anymore (that I can see) However, I have been given 3 more weeks of AB's and another re-check on May 15th

Now the down side:

because he hasn't eaten in over a month now, he has lost what I consider "significant weight" the vet wanted me to offer him something to eat to see will he take it, and he did NOT take the small prey item offered. SO I AM worried a bit about his lack of appetite (I KNOW he's sick) but he has lost 30g in 2 1/2 weeks. Maybe I am worried over nothing, but that seems like huge weight loss for that period of time. Went from 740g on April 7 to 710g on April 24

Anybody have input on this???