We went to a snake vet
Dec. 10th, 2007 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
anhinga_draftsOur snake is not eating since late September, although it seems to be OK otherwise.
So we finally visited a snake veterinarian a few days ago. He said that the snake had a mild respiratory infection and put her on antibiotics. He said it's OK otherwise, in good shape, normal weight (perhaps, even slightly above). He expected the snake to start eating again in another week or so, as her infection goes away.
He advised us to reduce the frequency of feeding somewhat (to once in 7 to 10 days, from once weekly), and to stop using pine bark as substrate, as he saw various problems associated with the use of pine bark as snake bedding in his practice..
So we finally visited a snake veterinarian a few days ago. He said that the snake had a mild respiratory infection and put her on antibiotics. He said it's OK otherwise, in good shape, normal weight (perhaps, even slightly above). He expected the snake to start eating again in another week or so, as her infection goes away.
He advised us to reduce the frequency of feeding somewhat (to once in 7 to 10 days, from once weekly), and to stop using pine bark as substrate, as he saw various problems associated with the use of pine bark as snake bedding in his practice..
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 12:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 01:23 am (UTC)Let's wait till it works. But this doctor seems to be really good (we did quite a non-trivial search to find him).
> How do they diagnose a respiratory infection in snakes
He forced her to "say 'aaa'" and looked :-) She really did not like this (she did not mind the injections at all). He determined that the color was a bit more red than it should have been, and that there was some mucus. So it's very similar to how one diagnoses this in a human :-)
He also heard the short "hissing" sound she was making once in a while and said that it came from the snake version of nasal congestion, associated with a respiratory infection. (It's true that she was not making this sound in the summer, but she was not making this sound, unless also stressed, as far as I know. So I just thought she learned to hiss a bit, when threatened. But he said it also takes some "nasal congestion".)
Also it was useful to bring a stool sample (he gave us "all clear" on that), and a bedding sample (which prompted him to suggest changes). We've also showed him the last skin she shed.
And, of course, there was transportation -- making a suitable carrier out of a suitable box, and wrapping it into something to protect her from cold, while making sure there is air access. She moved normally within that box during the car ride.. All in all, a lot of fun :-)
no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 01:36 am (UTC)Не было у бабы забот...
Anyway, glad the visit is over and successful.
Talk to you later - I am trying to make up for some wasted time and also to get up in time for 5:45am yoga tomorrow. Don't know if both of these things are going to happen.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 01:45 am (UTC)а насчёт успешности -- пусть лопать сначала начнёт..
no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 01:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-11 01:50 am (UTC)