Once again contemplating the toughest question...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I know what I would do and how I'd rationalize it, but my method isn't for everyone.

What's the prognosis? Will the snake pull through if you keep doing what you're doing? I mean realistically, forget about miracles, hope or luck. If it's just postponing death by a few days or weeks, I would euthanize it. If it is supposed to just be a phase in its recovery, I'd continue the treatment.

Agreed....

I know what I would do as well... good luck

[tress29]

If he continues to vomit up his food...I would consider euthanizing him because that has to be uncomfortable for him.

On a cornsnake forum I'm on, a gal had a corn that was regurgitating his food. She put a powder om his food, Benebac? It is supposed to help them replace beneficial bacteria they lose when they regurge. She didn't consider him "over it" until he had been eating w/o regurge for a year. Hopefully Silv,s problem won't be so severe.

[infernalis]

May I ask what the vets have done? any oral antibiotics?? Baytril?? metecam for pain??

I'm sorry but most vets are dog doctors who are clueless with herps.

[Ryachanira]

Silv has been to three different vets in his life with us... the first one claimed to be a small animal vet that saw herps but she obviously had just read the wiki or something on it, haha... we only went to her the day after we decided to keep him just as a check up on his head wounds and such...

Second vet was listed on a herp vet website. She knew a bit more but in retrospect was also fairly clueless in my opinion. She is the one that had us start tube feeding him. I also blame her for him losing his eyeball (even if he was blind in it anyway) - I took him to her when he had this horribly pus-filled swollen eye and she said she didn't think it was an infection and couldn't do anything for it. Grumble. Oh well... she is also the one who told me to think about putting him down.

Third vet also found on a herp vet list... seemed to have more knowledge. I was actually hoping to see another vet in their practice that day but he was on vacation that week and Silv needed to go in. They are the ones that cut his eyecap to drain the swelling and put him on antibiotic eye drops. I think they also gave him something but only as a one-time deal at the vet. No oral antibiotics (that I have given him) or baytril. I don't remember what the drops are; I will look when I get home.

He didn't vomit up his food this morning! Maybe that is a good sign.

[EasternGirl]

That sounds like a good sign. Maybe you might want to try getting him in with that vet that you wanted to see who was on vacation...ask him/her about the pain, vomiting, infections...the things we've been discussing on here. Tell the vet that you want to avoid euthanizing if you can...that you want to know how to make him as comfortable as possible...basically just discuss all the concerns you have. Might be worth a try?

[Ryachanira]

He kept his food down again, yay! After two weeks of regurgitating at least some food each feeding, this is two in a row that he has kept it all down both times. Lips still inflamed and eye is still nasty looking... but we will see how things progress.

[guidofatherof5]

Glad the feeding went well.

[EasternGirl]

So glad he's keeping the food down! Keep us posted.