Sick Retic...

**Demjor19** · 09-24-2012, 04:56 PM

To make a long story short...A few days ago, I was feeding our Reticulated Python and noticed she had some nasty sores on her lower jaw. Once she was done eating I gently grabbed her and inspected her mouth. It appeared to me that she had a good case of mouth rot. I immediately made an appointment w/ my herp vet and he saw her this past Friday. He agreed it looked to be a bacterial infection, but not mouth rot. He prescribed 6 injections of Amakacin w/ 3 day intervals. Let me tell you...Giving a 6+ foot constrictor injections is no fun! I just really hope we get this infection nipped in the butt. We still have no idea where it came from.

I'll update you as time passes....

**Aeonflame** · 09-24-2012, 05:13 PM

Sorry to hear about that man. I hope she gets better soon.

**Rue** · 09-24-2012, 06:06 PM

Good luck with that!

Just hearing 'mouth rot' is a bad thing...I hope you get it all cleared up...

**Goes to 11!** · 09-24-2012, 07:03 PM

Yeah, That sounds like no fun at all. Hope she pulls through just fine.

**Demjor19** · 09-25-2012, 01:27 PM

Thanks guys.

My wife and I gave her the first shot last night. Once i got the syringe into the snake, she began to struggle and my wife could not hold her still. I got the meds in, be she bent the needle in the process. Her next shot is Wednesday...I'm going to have one of my guy friends hold her from now on. This snake is just too strong for her to hold still. It was all I could do to hold her while the vet showed me how to administer her first shot.

I feel bad. This is a very intelligent snake and she now seems to know what is coming as soon as I open her cage. Four more times....

**ScottishFish** · 09-25-2012, 02:08 PM

Ouch, sorry to hear that, hope it gets sorted

**toddnbecka** · 09-27-2012, 06:19 AM

There was a big reticulated python at FSU (many years ago now) that would strike at anyone wearing a white lab coat if they came near the enclosure after it had been treated for mouth rot the same way.

**Demjor19** · 09-28-2012, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by toddnbecka

There was a big reticulated python at FSU (many years ago now) that would strike at anyone wearing a white lab coat if they came near the enclosure after it had been treated for mouth rot the same way.

Yes, Retics are very intelligent (as far as snakes go) and will remember who did what to them. I'm scared after 6 times of pulling her out, holding her down, and sticking a needle in her, she is going to get defensive towards me. I've been trying to handle her in between treatments. Last night was shot number 3. She bent that needle too, but got the meds just fine. She does appear to be improving.

**Crispy** · 09-28-2012, 05:31 PM

geez, quite the ordeal for your snake. I know you take very good care of them. anyone willing to help by administering shots is very dedicated. hope she pulls through for ya bud!

on a scale of 1-10, how expensive are these shots? just curious.

**Demjor19** · 09-28-2012, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Crispy

geez, quite the ordeal for your snake. I know you take very good care of them. anyone willing to help by administering shots is very dedicated. hope she pulls through for ya bud!

on a scale of 1-10, how expensive are these shots? just curious.

Thanks. I certainly try to take the best care of all of our animals I can.

These shots are actually quite inexpensive...maybe my vet really 'treated me right'? Owning the zoo that we have...I know my vet pretty well. The shots total out to about $10 each. Not too bad IMO.