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Post by etana on Sept 10, 2016 12:44:35 GMT
From what I have read, it seems that with achatinas, deep retracting is unfortunately almost always fatal... There is a bit of misinformation around. Yes, many snails who are unwell or even dying will deep retract. There are some additional symptoms (turning sideways in shell, stopping eating) that together with the retraction make what we call "deep retraction syndrome" - that one is nearly always fatal sooner or later according to current knowledge. However some deep retracting is for different reasons. I've had large GALS go very deep in after heavy egg laying, and recover fully with extra pampering (protein rich food and lots of bathing). One wild-caught Grandpa snail I had, well, he never once slept like the others, and he was with me for maybe 8 months, living a very slow but comfortable enough looking life. So it is generally a sign of weakness, and sometimes it is a symptom of a bad illness but sometimes also quite innocent, such as plain exhaustion or the mantle muscles simply not working so well anymore due to old age.
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Post by hgradeca on Sept 18, 2016 11:49:44 GMT
From what I have read, it seems that with achatinas, deep retracting is unfortunately almost always fatal... There is a bit of misinformation around. Yes, many snails who are unwell or even dying will deep retract. There are some additional symptoms (turning sideways in shell, stopping eating) that together with the retraction make what we call "deep retraction syndrome" - that one is nearly always fatal sooner or later according to current knowledge. However some deep retracting is for different reasons. I've had large GALS go very deep in after heavy egg laying, and recover fully with extra pampering (protein rich food and lots of bathing). One wild-caught Grandpa snail I had, well, he never once slept like the others, and he was with me for maybe 8 months, living a very slow but comfortable enough looking life. So it is generally a sign of weakness, and sometimes it is a symptom of a bad illness but sometimes also quite innocent, such as plain exhaustion or the mantle muscles simply not working so well anymore due to old age. Thanks for sharing this info. Well, the main problem lies in the fact that the literature about snails as pets is practically nonexistant, so most information that can be found on the internet are speculations and wild guesses...
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ct
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by ct on Oct 11, 2016 17:00:59 GMT
endlesstuesday, I don't suppose you could tell me the name of your vet? My snail is, I think, suffering from a severe infection and probably needs antibiotics. I am trying to persuade my local vets to give him the antibiotics you mentioned, but they are very nervous. I was hoping if I could put them in touch with your knowledgeable vet it might help!
Thanks!
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Post by etana on Oct 11, 2016 18:47:45 GMT
I'm wondering about this: Snails are known to really need their bacteria, and antibiotics are known to kill beneficial bacteria as well. I wonder if there's an antibiotic-probiotic balance that could be maintained to successfully treat snails' infections, something like what can be done with reptiles (and also helps humans)?
I will try to get to vet school next spring, and if I do get in I will research snails as much as I can. I'll of course be required to study and treat all kinds of animals, but I want to be one of those vets who will look at an ill snail among others.
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ct
Achatina fulica
Posts: 6
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Post by ct on Oct 12, 2016 13:01:10 GMT
Oh dear. Now I'm worrying about the Melafix, let alone the antibiotics! I hope you get into vet school, etana!
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slowly
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 23
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Post by slowly on Oct 13, 2016 19:12:11 GMT
endlesstuesday, I don't suppose you could tell me the name of your vet? My snail is, I think, suffering from a severe infection and probably needs antibiotics. I am trying to persuade my local vets to give him the antibiotics you mentioned, but they are very nervous. I was hoping if I could put them in touch with your knowledgeable vet it might help! Thanks! Urge your vet to reconsider! If they don't have the specialist knowledge required to make the decision to treat your snail they should be contacting other vets and trying to find a solution. Hoping your snail gets the treatment he needs. Let us know how it goes!
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slowly
Archachatina marginata
Posts: 23
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Post by slowly on Oct 13, 2016 19:14:48 GMT
I'm wondering about this: Snails are known to really need their bacteria, and antibiotics are known to kill beneficial bacteria as well. I wonder if there's an antibiotic-probiotic balance that could be maintained to successfully treat snails' infections, something like what can be done with reptiles (and also helps humans)? I will try to get to vet school next spring, and if I do get in I will research snails as much as I can. I'll of course be required to study and treat all kinds of animals, but I want to be one of those vets who will look at an ill snail among others. Good luck with your journey to vet school!
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Post by endlesstuesday on Nov 24, 2016 21:31:43 GMT
Slowly I'm so sorry for not getting back to you sooner, I haven't checked this forum since Charlie passed away, but I go to Chase vets in the UK (it's a whole branch of vets) but I'm afraid I don't remember the name of the vet himself. Your vet should give you the medication Charlie had if you ask them to, since it's an unlicensed treatment and therefore entirely up to you and you also apply the injections yourself so beyond prescription your vet has nothing else to do with it, but it does come with a lot of potential side effects and doesn't always work, as in the case of Charlie. Talk it over with your vet some more or look elsewhere for someone more willing to help, you can find specialist exotic vets who will likely have more knowledge too, I'd recommend finding one of them if the infection hasn't gone away.
If this thread could be locked or discontinued now though that would be much appreciated, opening it today made me pretty upset and I'd rather not have to do so again.
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