Orbax (orbifloxacin) for Snakes? - Page 2

MDT · 12-29-16, 03:04 PM

Oh, Albert, one thing is certain...your responses are predictable if nothing else.

Very truly yours,
Dr. MDT

**Aaron_S** · 12-29-16, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albert Clark

There is no such thing as a "middle of the road" approach, or a "synergistic effect", or even a "stronger antibiotic"... if you appropriately select the medication for the identified bacterium or bacteria (if more than one species identified), it will kill the bacteria. Fortaz and Orbax are used for different reasons. There is some overlap of a few bugs, but they are used for fairly different infections. As far as oral vs injectable, some antibiotics (Levaquin- a human cousin of Orbax- for example) is 100% bioavailable whether oral, IV, or injected. So route of administration doesn't matter. Some antibiotics, IV or IM administration is mission critical..but not across the board.

@ MDT: Okay, Here we go. There typically is no " middle of the road " approach as you put it however there certainly is a "synergistic effect" as it relates to antibiotics whether you want to acknowledge it or not. I referenced c & s in my earlier comment. As well as the differences in Fortaz and Orbax. In the cases where a vet is trying to treat multiple organisms he or she can certainly go with a "synergistic" approach to treat effectively with more than one antibiotic. How dare you say there is no difference in absorbiton rates in oral vs. Injectable. That is a basic pharmacotherapeutic concept. But I see where you want this to go and I have said my piece. Have a happy New Year.. Oh, now you want to compare a "human" cousin of a medication to one that is used for animals?????? Really!

I don't think you know the meaning of synergistic. It doesn't mean when using two things at the same time. It would be using two antibiotics at the same time and both work better together than alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

this is what you need... good to know.
Hang in there!

This is true! Hope for the best!

**Andy_G** · 12-29-16, 03:32 PM

Nohing like a retired paramedic telling a currently practicing doctor to stay within his scope of practice...yikes.

Step 1 is and should always be C&S and please insist that this be done, Psychosnake. Best of luck, sounds like you've got the right people in your corner.

Albert Clark · 12-29-16, 03:44 PM

Retired Paramedic in the mecca of emergency medicine and practice. A city renowned for its F.D.N.Y. emergency medical service and hospitals and overall medical care. Not the type location that sees occasional "true emergencies " or just "mountain medicine" but the hallmark. That's for you 3 musketeers.

MDT · 12-29-16, 03:48 PM

Ok...good to know... I was knew that my residency in emergency medicine and board certification, along with 20 years of practice wouldn't cut the mustard with the "true emergencies" you waded through. Glad you're here Albert... I'm gonna put you on my phone a friend list when I have a perplexing case and need a consult on appropriate antibiotic utilization.

**Aaron_S** · 12-29-16, 03:55 PM

Alright I have to nip this in the butt here. The medical conversation was fine as it did have information pertinent to the topic but now we're off topic so all future posts need to be about the RI. No subtle jabs either... consider this the warning before the ban.

**Andy_G** · 12-29-16, 03:57 PM

What Aaron said. Back on topic.

Albert Clark · 12-29-16, 03:58 PM

I'll give you a 3 minute pass on the ban because you may not have seen my post. But this off topic banter is now done.

PsychoSnake · 12-29-16, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Alright I have to nip this in the butt here. The medical conversation was fine as it did have information pertinent to the topic but now we're off topic so all future posts need to be about the RI. No subtle jabs either... consider this the warning before the ban.

Thank you Aaron.

On the brighter side of things Mango (the sick snake) seems perkier after her 3rd dose of Orbax. She struck the mouse and lightly coiled it, an improvement on her lethargy/weakness! I will continue to monitor.

Other things when going to the vet's is he taught me how to check her mouth. Last visit (12/27) her mucous was down but the right vein on the roof of her mouth was still quite swollen. Overall inflammation was down after the Fortaz monotherapy.

I seem to remember him saying to try Orbax but continue Fortaz as a back up in case it's not effective and we don't go back to square one again. Fortaz did get rid of her worst RI symptoms and she is breathing well now. (The visit before the previous visit he had to pick her boogers cause her nostrils were so clogged she could only breathe through her trachea.)

PsychoSnake · 12-30-16, 07:59 PM

Update: Mango is definitely feeling better! Activity is up and she is returning to her normal behaviors! I'm just afraid of what will happen post antibiotics.

**Tsubaki** · 12-31-16, 11:00 AM

Im glad Mango is doing better! I'll wait for updates, hope she'll make a full recovery!

MDT · 12-31-16, 11:19 AM

This is very good news PS.. Congrats!

PsychoSnake · 01-02-17, 03:42 AM

So Mango's been on Orbax for five days and her appetite, activity, strength and curiousity is up. We talk to the vet again tomorrow. She has not completely returned to her previous behavior (escape artist, wanderlust, pushing the envelope), and she owes me poop from two weeks ago. Four rats just do not disappear and they should have come out when she shed last week, but alas no poop. None. Plenty of pee though.

She's definitely better with only very subtle symptoms, but I'm not sure if she's plateauing, she has psychological trauma from the 6 weeks of injections every other day, or if I'm fussing too much about it.

Her mites seem under control for the moment and has gone through two Frontline spray treatments (vet recommended, 1x per week plus immediate bath). Her environment has been bleached twice and Provent-a-Mited twice.

dave himself · 01-02-17, 06:38 AM

Happy days

glad to hear she's doing better

PsychoSnake · 01-06-17, 02:14 PM

Update! Mango is doing well and is still on Fortaz and Orbax (second bottle).

Meanwhile my other retic Trevor has been off of antibiotics for more than a week and the same RI pattern that Mango has is emerging. Today he went to get a culture and sensitivity with anesthesia. (Turns out there was a huge miscommunication about the pricing.) The vet flat out refuses to not do a long tracheal wash without anesthesia due to possible complications.

The sample was sent out to the lab and the vet didn't find any evidence of mites or lung worms.