So 3 Injections Later and It's Only Gotten Worse

[Tiny Boidae]

I'd gotten mixed up I think. I never saw the veterinarian, it was a hectic day for them because of a storm system that kept roads closed and such, but a vet technician came and walked me through the treatment plan and kept referring to it as Baytril. I called them to discuss his lack of improvement and we're going back in Friday, although they clarified that the medicine he was on is Fortaz... I did check the bottle of it and it had said Fortaz on it if that makes a lick of difference. How much more of a temp boost would you recommend though?


Edit:
Didn't see your post Aaron. I don't know what kind of culture they did to be blunt. The vet wasn't going to be able to get in until after my appointment because a lot of the back roads were closed off due to a storm system. I was just assured they did one when I asked about it. They offered to reschedule when I showed up, or leaving the snake overnight and I'll pick him up in the morning. I opted for the 2nd option and regret it to be honest.

What would be my treatment options if it is viral though?

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by Tiny Boidae

I'd gotten mixed up I think. I never saw the veterinarian, it was a hectic day for them because of a storm system that kept roads closed and such, but a vet technician came and walked me through the treatment plan and kept referring to it as Baytril. I called them to discuss his lack of improvement and we're going back in Friday, although they clarified that the medicine he was on is Fortaz... I did check the bottle of it and it had said Fortaz on it if that makes a lick of difference. How much more of a temp boost would you recommend though?

Fortaz and Baytril are both broad spectrum. They are still shooting from the hip and hoping what bacteria it is will be killed by these. This is how we end up with resitant strains of bacteria.

Insist on a culture being done. It's usually fairly cheap. It'll cost more in the long run to keep pumping antibiotics that aren't doing anything as these antibiotics can supress the symptoms but not the whole infection. Snakes get better for a time but then have a reoccurance.

If they don't do the tracheal culture then consider finding a new vet. Regardless of how busy it is they NEED to do this.


Edit: You edited your post with a question. Viral is usually not the case but treatment may not be possible if it is since as to my knowledge, a virus can't be killed.

[MDT]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

If they don't do the tracheal culture then consider finding a new vet. Regardless of how busy it is they NEED to do this.


Edit: You edited your post with a question. Viral is usually not the case but treatment may not be possible if it is since as to my knowledge, a virus can't be killed.

Aaron is correct. The proper diagnostic testing must be done (kinda like doing an X-ray on your leg when you have belly pain), and the organism must be identified (Culture AND sensitivity). If you had Strep pharyngitis and tried to treat it with Zithromax, you may or may not be successful, depending on what part of the country you live in. In OK (where I practice), Strep is about 50% resistant to Z-max, so it's a crap-shoot whether it will work or not.

Then the whole issue of viral vs bacterial comes into play. If your snake doesn't even have a bacteria to treat, but rather a virus (think "bronchitis"), you are SOL. It has to run the course...there is no medication other than supportive treatment (husbandry) to help get over it. I think Minkness' suggestion of bumping temps is really good, especially for an ectothermic animal...their immune system partially relies on the surrounding temps.

I hope things turn around for your snake, I really do...but this is about par-for-the-course when unqualified "practitioners" (human or vet...in your case the vet tech) try to play doctor and then can't figure out why things aren't "working"...