Extremely Sick Boa, Last Resort

[CrankyCoyote]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site but I am desperate for some insight into my female salmon boas ailing health.

She's 7 years old and I have had her since she was a wee one, never had a problem eating, always been a healthy weight, just a wonderful snake overall.

About 8 months ago she starting becoming slightly anorexic, she refused to eat for 3 months but with no visual weight loss or sign of RI, then began to eat for a month or two and then back to being anorexic for a month, still no symptoms of RI, we moved houses and she then again didn't eat for 2 1/2 months with no visual weight loss/RI, about a month and a half ago I noticed that almost and I am meaning ALMOST overnight she broke out in septic like lesions covering her body, the skin was splitting down the sides, she was losing muscle mass to the point she barely had any, she was showing clear signs of RI infection so I phoned the herp vet whom is 45 minutes away and drove her straight in, I live on a small island so only 1 or 2 vets are trained in herps, this vet consulted with an actual herp vet who was her colleague and was not on the island at the time and they advised me that she should be on baytril injections for 2 weeks, we did that and saw some major improvement but I still felt my boa was not 100% so I asked them for another 2 weeks of injections, all was going well, she was eating fine and gaining some weight back, looking happier and healthier, went into shed as usual but now is back to acting ****** and hissing at food when offered, 0 interest, I am going to call the vet again tomorrow and request more baytril/another antibiotic but I am running out of options...has anyone ever had this? It's starting to sound like IBD to me at this point. She had her last shed, and needed help with it 2 days ago, when she shed 90% of lesions were healed/scar tissue still there obviously but no open wounds atm (cross fingers).

I have had my herps for years, clean the tanks regularly, have bought from the same rat dealer for years, temps are correct, have no new intakes to the collection. Before I get flamed, I did not take her to the vet at first signs of being off food because I assumed it was stress since she had NO other visual symptoms, and she would eat when she was comfortable again.

Symptoms
-Anorexia
-Red Petechiae on skin (none at moment, cross fingers)
-Skin separating from muscle (I think could be possible vit C deff. from the anorexia)
-Hissing at food

Treatment so far
-DAILY betadine baths
-DAILY pedyalite baths
-1 month Baytril
-2 weeks Metacam for pain
-Baytril topical daily to wounds

Has anyone ever had this happen before? Please help! I am stressed out beyond belief and I just want my scaley friend to feel better.
I will put some pics on tomorrow...

-Fawn

[SnoopySnake]

Doesn't really sound like IBD to me as it doesn't cause skin lesions like that and also causes star gazing and I believe regurging but I'm not sure what it could be. Can you post pics of her? Was any lab work or cultures done for anything?

[CrankyCoyote]

Thank you for responding, I didn't think it was IBD either, but I am at a loss. The vet did not do cultures, I asked for them but she said baytril would do the trick and if not to come back in a month, I was not very impressed but will be asking for cultures again. I will get some pictures tomorrow, she looks heinous and I am heartbroken for her.

[Albert Clark]

Originally Posted by CrankyCoyote

Thank you for responding, I didn't think it was IBD either, but I am at a loss. The vet did not do cultures, I asked for them but she said baytril would do the trick and if not to come back in a month, I was not very impressed but will be asking for cultures again. I will get some pictures tomorrow, she looks heinous and I am heartbroken for her.

They probably prescribed the baytril bc its broad spectrum but doesn't always "do the trick" and they know that. Cultures are typically done and take time so then baytril is prescribed in the iterim awaiting the specific results to be determined. Reptiles usually have to be treated for 2 weeks to 30 days at the minimum with antibiotics.