Good news, bad news, bothersome news. - Where Responsible Reptile Keepers Connect!

razeraze · #1 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:23 PM

Well we finished with the vet today :confused1:

First the bad news:
The vet thinks she may have caught the bronchitis from me, apparently there are quite a few that are zoonotic :cursing: I am so stupid! I always washed my hands and never coughed when we took her out for cage cleanings, but I may still have given it to her. They are doing a blood sample and saliva culture as well. Her eyes are about to shed, but he did see the one that has been dented for a while. He believes she may have scratched it and it is just taking a long time to heal.

Now the bothersome news:
She was put on a nebulizer treatment with the antibiotic Amikacin. The bothersome part is we are supposed to administer it twice a day, but because my fiance and I believe strongly that 2 people need to be present when working with her, we may only be able to do it once a day. I let the vet know this and he was glad to see how safe we are, and said to do what we can. I am hoping once a day will still work and hopefully not stretch her sickness out longer. Here is a picture of treatment:

Now the good news:
Precious was a sweet heart. Even when the doc grabbed her to check her eyes, she never bit anyone. She did musk a bit and while the vet was taken blood he said her musk glands are larger than most. He kept getting them with the needle instead of blood. Eventually over 8 inches up past the cloaca he got to some blood. These large glands may be why she is always scenting her cage and she has earned the nickname stink snake. The other good news is we will not have to give her any shots, which is great because with 4 of us holding her down she through everyone all over the room. Which leads to the even better news, the little Precious is 10 feet 53.2lbs. And finally some more good news, the parts to her new waterfall design have showed up. These will be individually placed in the faux rock waterfall. Here is a picture of them stacked up.

Thanks for reading all of this.

danktat · #2 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:45 PM

Well at least it sounds like a recovery is possible

Let's get that animal healty and get more pix up.

razeraze · #3 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:49 PM

Thanks buddy. Getting her healthy is the first plan, the next is spoiling her with a huge cage. One of the vet aids said "wow she is huge", the vet turned to her and said "this is a baby", made me feel all tingly inside.:drool:

Johnny Utah · #4 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 09:52 PM

I hope she recovers quickly. I can't wait to see the new cage.

razeraze · #5 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 10:15 PM

Thank you, I will keep everyone updated on her and the new cage.

ssjsmits · #6 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 10:53 PM

She'll be up and biting you again in no time.

.
Great idea for the waterfall.

razeraze · #7 (**permalink**) 03-21-2008, 11:24 PM

Thanks buddy, I hope she gets back to her feisty self. I am glad she is 53lbs :scared:. I can't wait to finish the waterfall and cage, it should be some of the best work Rachel has done.

froglegs · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 06:19 AM

All the best wishes for a speedy recovery! Rach is so talented and I cant wait to see the cage!

owen · #9 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 06:25 AM

i know you will get her good and healthy very soon. Shes such a beautiful snake...im looking forward to cage progress pics aswell...is Charger getting her old cage?

razeraze · #10 (**permalink**) 03-22-2008, 06:59 PM

Thank you everyone. She seems to be responding to the treatment rather well, but it has only been 2 doses.

Owen Precious is in Charger's old cage:

Now that they both out grew that 400+ gallon cage, we will probably sell the cage to the gentleman who gave us Juggernaut. He wants to put a tree monitor in it.