Need some info. Possible Panacur death of a kingsnake

Sharpie86 · 06-09-16, 07:50 AM

Hey everyone. I just joined this forum this morning because it seems like a very informative bunch. Been pondering all night and googling the hell out of my phone for answers.
I lost my eastern kingsnake,Tort, last night for unknown reasons. He was only 11 years old. And i know he could have lived a helluvalot longer. He had eaten two mice(he usually eats 4 or 5), so I know his appetite was still there. I think it has something to do with the vet visits a few weeks prior.
Last month, I had brought him to the vet for the first time for retained spectacles. The vet gave me a small tube of bacitracin, suggested a humidity box and insisted he get dewormed with Panacur. He has NEVER had worms or any other medical problems for the entire time Ive had him since he was 6in long. 11 years of no problems. They never bothered asking for a stool sample and dewormed him in the back room.
So I get him dewormed. He eats five mice a couple days later, doing great. Set up his box and do the recommended bacitracin treatments and soaking in the tub for ten days til his next appointment. He's looking better, more active.
But he lost a bit of weight. They suggest continuing the bacitracin on his eyes and give him a second panacur treatment.
By his next appointment, i told the vet he's looking thinner, more sluggish but his eyes are looking better. He ate 5 mice with no problem. The vet suggests giving him more natural sunlight and keeping an eye on him.
His last appointment was two weeks later(6/2/16). He has lost a little more weight. They say he's looking okay otherwise. They take him in the back to get another Panacur treatment.
They come out 15 minutes later, saying they had to force feed it to him and then give it time to make sure he didnt regurgitate it. His jaw was slightly offset and he was very eager to retreat into the travel bag I bring him in.
He wasnt eager to eat anything a couple days after. Never drank any ddop of water. He wasnt himself at all. I managed to get him to eat two mice, but he took way longer than usual. A couple days later, his eyes looked as if they were swelling out of his sockets, which i stupidly thought was the result of him being in the humidity box for too long since he completely avoiding soaking in his water dish since his retained spectacle problem started.

Again, he had never had any sorts of medical problems for 11 years. And this is a highly recommended vet clinic that I had never been to. Is it the Panacur? Treatment of the vet stressing him out? Possible negligence? I've looked around on other forums and sites and read that wrong dosages can potentially harm or kill. And with his slow metabolism, was it killing him and I didnt know?
This vet office didnt give me any info on the Panacur or tell me that it can curve appetite. So I'm questioning everything here. Any help or info would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Shannon

phassin · 06-09-16, 09:38 AM

Shannon I'm really sorry to hear about your snake. I don't have any info that could help but I hope somebody here does.

**Andy_G** · 06-09-16, 10:29 AM

Bacitracin is only used for skin infections or the prevention of bacterial skin infections with open wounds or for eye infections, so with what you're describing, there was absolutely NO good reason for it to be prescribed and the swelling could have been the result of a reaction to it. In a nutshell, nothing should have been prescribed for the eyecap unless an infection was present. Your snake really shouldn't have been dewormed out of "routine" and a fecal should have been done before any decision of treatment. Saying that, I have never heard of a death due to incorrect dosage with this specific medication. Also, there was absolutely no reason for them to force feed your snake under the circumstances. I'd normally recommend taking your snake for a necropsy to figure out the cause of death, but I am not convinced you would get a definitive/correct result here...the lack of testing/diagnostics done when your snake was ALIVE to treat any present health issues correctly cast a large shadow of doubt in regards to the competence and skillset of the vet/clinic you saw. That's all I can offer, unfortunately. This REALLY bothers me and I am sincerely sorry for your loss.

albertagirl · 06-09-16, 12:00 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss Sharpie. I don't know anything about the treatment of worms in reptiles so I can't comment on the first dose, but as far as I know, in mammals any "routine" dewormer is given in one dose. The only time a second dose may be required is if a heavy infestation of worms is apparent (or at least suspected). It seems really fishy to me that they gave a second dose. Also, as Andy said, the bacitracin for a retained eyecap without any other issues present sounds fishy.

**Andy_G** · 06-09-16, 12:09 PM

Albertagirl, when it comes to reptiles 2 doses is the normal treatment. Just a friendly FYI.

albertagirl · 06-09-16, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Albertagirl, when it comes to reptiles 2 doses is the normal treatment. Just a friendly FYI.

Oh sorry for the misinformation Sharpie! Thanks Andy. I have so much to learn.

Albert Clark · 06-09-16, 04:54 PM

Sorry for the loss of your king! I feel some of the vets treatments needs to be questioned and investigated. Then the vet needs to explain his decision making. Panacur in and of itself is a pretty benign antihelminthic but still is a medication that is administered based on weight and should be preceded with a stool sample to confirm a infestation. Thus, as a medication, has side effects. He needs to justify the bacitracin treatment for the eyes too. That really sounds suspicious to me. Why don't you consider a follow up call and or visit? Best of luck on the follow up.

MDT · 06-09-16, 06:17 PM

Sharpie, was your kingsnake captive born/bred or from wild caught origins?

Sharpie86 · 06-09-16, 11:24 PM

Thank you all for your condolences and the information. When I was given the Bacitracin, I was told to use it for 7 to 10 days until his next appointment. And then was told to continue using it until he shed the eye scales completely. I am going to have a necropsy done tomorrow to determine the actual cause of his passing. I talk to the vet today and she suggested because of his weight loss that it may have something to do with liver problems or some other internal issue. I will update as soon as I know the cause.
MDT, he was captive-bred.

MDT · 06-10-16, 05:26 AM

If captive bread, the likelihood of parasites would be very very small. This is kind of like giving Amoxicillin just because you *might* get strep throat, but unless you test for it, you're just flailing around. The Bacitracin topically shouldn't have caused any issues though, people smear the stuff on every little bump and bruise without ill effects (other than they usually don't need it). The eye ointment is given frequently, and unless you have an already established hypersensitivity to it, shouldn't be a prob. For reptiles with highly cornified skin, I would guess even less of a problem.

The necropsy is prob a good thing for peace of mind. You'll hopefully get some answers.