Python with mites

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:08:03 GMT

Hi Rob, If finances are restrictive, I would use oral baytril at 5-10mg/ kg eod (1 x 150mg tablet in a small rat). And daily bathing in dilute iodine to cleanse the surface. I would give the abs for about 3 weeks. Do you do large animals, there is a weekly injection if you do that I find useful and economical for large snakes. All the best

Re: Python with mites

Rob Davis — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:28:45 GMT

Hi Mark

Thanks for that. I've just seen the python again, and she has developed a couple of new blisters. I have suggested daily injections of marbocyl or fortum every three days as suggested, but he is struggling financially and would prefer to give marbocyl orally at home (he has now decided that he can do this). Can you give marbocyl injection orally, or will he need to crush and disolve tablets?

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:21:04 GMT

If it were me I would have it on fortum injections (ceftazidime) at 20mg/kg every 3 days. get a 1g vial, inject 3mls saline and that makes a 260mg/ml solution that will last 3 days in the fridge. you can draw up the doses for this snake and freeze them and they will last longer. I would give a course of 5 injections

marbocyl is 10mg/kg s/c, im, sid. probably for 10days depending on the response.

28C at cool end, 32C at hot spot, 21C at night.

pm me for more info on the fortum if you wish

best of luck

Re: Python with mites

Rob Davis — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:05:43 GMT

Thanks Mark.

How long would you continue marbocyl and what dose? The owner can't give it orally so it will mean coming in for injections.

Apparently it is a carpet python....what temp should the viv be? If it's really unwell, then I will probably suggest referring it rather than getting into bloods etc myself.

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:42:47 GMT

I agree poor husbandry has resulted in the blister disease in this snake. It may be that the snake has been rubbing itself as a result of mite irritation (they often spend more time in the water with these infestations) and abraded the skin barrier.

I see no reason why not to give the second injection I would also continus abs and flamazine. Meloxicam injections (0.2mg/kg s/c daily)for a few days wouldnt hurt either.

Check the temps in the viv also (do you know the species yet?)

You might consider also offering bloods

Goodluck

Re: Python with mites

Mark Hedberg — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:20:06 GMT

Well, you sought the advice of a qualified specialist, so you should be on firm ground - I mean, it's not as if Mark Rowland is a 'rodentologist'! :)

Re: Python with mites

Rob Davis — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:23:01 GMT

Thanks to the above info, my first meeing with the python went fine - ivermectin injected as instructed.

However, said snake saw one of my colleagues on bank holiday monday with "Water blisters". He treated with topical flamizine and hibiscrub and injected marbocyl. I repeated the marbocyl injection as instructed and the snake was due to come back for it's second ivomec injection on Monday. I have just had a message from our receptionist that the owner has now spoken to a herpetologist (not sure who or what qualifications...) and doesn't want the ivermectin to be repeated but does want more antibiotics. I have no idea what the herpetologist has told him, but thought I 'd better seek advice so I can sound more knowledgable on Monday (especially if I disagree with the herpetologist's advice...). He has already put the snake on newspaper (I believe these infections tend to be caused by wet, dirty environment).

Re: Python with mites

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:46:18 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]2ml ivermectin[/quote]

Which preparation?

[/quote]

I use 1% cattle injection. Mark raised a point: don't use in Indigo snakes, chelonians, crocodilians or skinks

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:49:07 GMT

Doesn't matter really but when the needle goes in it is possible to appreciate a sub cut space in most snakes. Lots of captive snakes are at least mildly overweight so have some fat sub cut. Not enough for lots of fluids but ok for an ivomec injection. Hope this helps

Re: Python with mites

Lorna McHardy — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 15:42:34 GMT

[quote user="Rob Davis"]

Many thanks for the rapid replies (as always!). This is probably a stupid question, but where do I inject it? Is it just a matter of grabbing a bit of snake and injecting between the scales (presumably swabbing with pevidine first), or are there any places I should be aiming for or avoiding?

[/quote]

I also have a possibly stupid question... how do you know it's going s/c rather than i/m (it's not as though you can grab a bit of skin and pull it up), and does it matter?

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:35:26 GMT

In the past I have used the pig injectable 1% ivermectin. I assume you know which reptiles (other than tortoises and turtles) to avoid with this product and put it on the label. Another reason I prefer xeno now.

Re: Python with mites

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:22:55 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]2ml ivermectin[/quote]

Which preparation?

Re: Python with mites

Rob Davis — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:06:25 GMT

Thanks, Mark - excellent description, I think I can manage that!

I didn't think you would have one-starred it. It annoys me when things get one-starred with no explanation - I don't think adds to discussion.

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:03:39 GMT

I go either side of the spine at about the middle of the snake under a scale aiming forward at 45 degrees. Swab site first. I didn't one star the post. I used to do what was said but try to keep away from home mixed remedies now. That said I still mix it for large snake collections as Xeno is expensive. I just don't like the idea of used coke bottles etc these days but that's just me :-)

Re: Python with mites

Rob Davis — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:57:11 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Much safer than injectable ivermectin or Fipronil: mix 2ml ivermectin with 4ml propylene glycol in 1L water in a spray bottle, spray on every 7 days for 3-4 weeks and use the same to clean the vivarium.[/quote]

Why has this been one-starred? Is this not a good idea? If not why not? Please don't one star advice like this without any explanation - it's not very helpful to the OP!

Re: Python with mites

Rob Davis — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:55:57 GMT

Re: Python with mites

Martin Atkinson — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:09:04 GMT

Much safer than injectable ivermectin or Fipronil: mix 2ml ivermectin with 4ml propylene glycol in 1L water in a spray bottle, spray on every 7 days for 3-4 weeks and use the same to clean the vivarium.

Re: Python with mites

Dagmar Steele — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:50:41 GMT

Mark, I posted before I saw your post :-) otherwise I would have been confused as I'd doubted my knowledge but not yours!!!

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:09:54 GMT

Yes, absolutely, 0.2mg/kg

typo, sorry trying to multitask as usual, thank-you Dagmar

Re: Python with mites

Dagmar Steele — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:02:32 GMT

Ivermectin 0,2mg/kg im. Repeat after two weeks. Topical fipronil may have toxic effects due to the alcoholic component. And yes, they do bite ;-)

Re: Python with mites

Mark Rowland — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 08:59:36 GMT

Hi you can inject ivermectin at .2mg/kg s/c or use topical xeno spray.

Environmental cleaning is important as these mites have life stages off the host.

So remove all viv furniture (esp wooden logs etc.) and treat the environment with a product like xeno weekly for several weeks.

Plastic bowl for water, paper substrate.

It may take 6 weeks to clear them.

Goodluck.

[quote user="Rob Davis"]s it likely to try to swallow me whole during the procedure[/quote]

Depends on the species, some pythons can be quite grumpy.