Back from the vet, medication questions...

I have been dealing with a respiratory infection with my female ambilobe Elizabeth for quite some time now. It goes away and comes back. We have done Baytril and ReptAid. They only seem to decrease but not get rid of the actual problem.

So today the vet said we needed to go a different route and prescribed Ceftazidime to be injected once evey 3 days.

My question is, who has used this particular medication and their experience with it? Should I be looking for decreased appetite? The quick search I just did looks like this is a pretty good broad spectrum antibiotic.

Thanks!

Fortaz is one of the trade names or formulations; I've known people who recommend it highly (under that name) and have had luck with it when Baytril and others have not come through, but have had no personal experience. Good luck!

I found these two websites with helpful information about Ceftazidime:

http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/college/departments/sacs/research/AntimicrobialTherapyinReptiles.html

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-81144.html

I hope the best for Elizabeth.

I don't know about the medecine you mentioned, but i know that Marbocyl F.D. (the F.D. one) is sometimes given for respiratory infections.

Thanks guys. Thanks for the links Donna!

No problem, I thought the 2nd one was interesting and I learned something about Tylosin (TYLAN) that I didn't know was used.

Update

The injectons (Fortaz) were not improving the situation so today I took a 3 hour drive to visit Dr. Alfonso in Orlando. We decided to go back to Baytril and try again. He is also doing a culture and sensitivity test on the mucus he swabbed. Elizabeth has also stopped eating the last couple of days so he suggested that I begin force feeding her. He did not feel any eggs and doesn't think that is the reason for her lack of appetite.

I am VERY interested in the C&S results. Hopefully we are on the right track now.

good luck !!

I sure hope that Elizabeth will be ok.

Thanks so much!

Thanks Jann. He sent me a mesage on FB a little while ago about what me and you were talking about earlier. I'm feeling better about the path we are on now.

Aww crossing my fingers. Good luck!

Thank you Sabrina.

bridgofaith said:

Thanks so much!

Thanks Jann. He sent me a mesage on FB a little while ago about what me and you were talking about earlier. I'm feeling better about the path we are on now.

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Dr. Alfonso's really great! He truly cares about chameleon.

Things have changed very quickly tonight. I have Elizabeth sitting in my lap not sure if she will survive the night. I went to check on her after a long day and found her hanging upside down by 1 leg with thick mucus running from her mouth. She was completely limp as I removed the mucus from her mouth. This is just devastating.

Oh no Heather. I am praying that she turns around.

jannb said:

Oh no Heather. I am praying that she turns around.

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Thank you so much! I'm just holding her, she's calm right now, but still with difficulty breathing.

you can only do, what you can do

it always hurts to lose a cham, especially if its one you have put an extra piece of yourself into. if she doesnt make it, at least you have the comfort of knowing you did the very best you could do for her , if ivan alphonso couldnt save her, then it is not likely there is any thing else you could do that would have. jmo

Heather I am so sorry you are still having problems, I sure am hoping things work out ok. Dr Alfonso is the best.

I hope she improves.

Thank you very much everyone with the kind words!

Sweet Elizabeth survived the night. I have been in constant contact with Dr. Alfonso and Dr. Stein has also been involved. So, with that said, I am not giving up and it appears neither is Elizabeth! Everyone involved feels this is a case of full blown pneumonia.

Steamy showers and a warm mist humidifier have been added to the mix. Administering her meds and the force feeding went fine today. She isn't moving about her cage, but she is sitting up, watching everything going on.