Xposted.
Just returned from the vet, and after getting 2cc more of his blood for anaerobic culturing, and discussing things for a while, we decided to get him started on 0.5cc Piperacillan daily for the next 10-14 days. Piperacillan is pretty good stuff, and pretty expensive, but I got it free since it expired last month.
It's very wide spectrum and is effective against many aerobic and anaerobic microbes, so hopefully this will do the trick, and we can avoid the PCR.
He feels good enough to have a go at the Dr though. LOL
Interesting news though. As we are talking, and he's explaining some things, he mentions, "and as you already know, Jacobson agrees with me". I'm like, oh, so he forwarded my email to you? "well, we are friends, I visit him every time I'm in FL, we talked some about it". Makes me feel even better about my vet.
More news, maybe not so good. With many of these bone "diseases" for lack of a better word, he may not ever get his tail straight again. So basically we're trying to stop it before it progresses to the rest of the spine. It may correct itself, or maybe correct just a little, or may not. Dr. also says, "if he was my snake, I'd still breed him and get those genes passed on if he's willing and able".
I wish I had his confidence about it. I'm still skeptical.
Anyway, cultures are being started, so more waiting. Best case is, we culture something that the AB's I'm using are effective against.