Oral antibiotics?

[Sharlynn93]

does anyone have some insight as to the best way to distribute oral antibiotics to a snake? my vet is not a reptile expert, so all i have is some syringes filled with the proper dosage...i researched online, and i see 2 methods...the tube method, and the syringe method...i'm sure i have some airline tubing, but would it be ok to just use the syringe? i really don't think i have the nerve to shove a tube down my baby's throat...articles say its ok as long as you get past the glottis, but what are you guys' thoughts?

[Starbuck]

it depends on the type of antibiotics your vet gave you, what is the name of it?

Syringe is very easy, you will want to REMOVE the cap and needle from the syringe. You may draw in a little air as well at this point so that you are not losing any of the drug in the hub of the needle. hold your snake (gently) behind the head and put the needle-less syringe at the corner of its mouth. Gently maneuver the syringe up and down until it is in the snakes mouth. You will want to angle the syringe backwards and up so you stay well away from the glottis (airway). Snake esophagus' are very stretchy, so as long as you are careful you won't hurt him. the snake may open its mouth and seem to 'chew' at this point, thats ok, it lets you see that you are away from the airway; hold the snake so that as you push the plunger the medicine will go down his throat, not out the sides of his mouth.

alternatively, if it is feeding day, maybe you could inject the antibiotic into the F/T prey item (if he will eat) and do it that way (inject into the abdominal cavity, try not to hit any major organs?). I would call the vet and see if this would be ok first though.

[Sharlynn93]

she hasn't eaten since i got her, so i doubt that would work...they were feeding her live, also, so once she takes a meal for me i am going to try and convert her to f/t....

the medication is baytril..its not a huge dose...gotta wait till the hubby gets home to help me, i don't trust myself trying to do it and hold her at the same time...lol

[shaunyboy]

i use an infant baby feeding tube and a syringe cut the the proper length...

your vet will give you an infant baby feeding tube for a few dollars mate

cheers shaun

[MizCandice]

You can also find syringe extensions commonly used to hand feed baby birds, this gets the syringe tip down further and with a thinner object then the syringe itself, ( also saves your fingers) I however agree that the easiest way is to inject it into the fresh killed or f/t food item, ( if he were eatting regularly) you can find the syringe extenders in some well stocked feed stores as well as all the bird shows. Good luck with the poor baby!

[Sharlynn93]

So far I was able to get the first 2 doses into her. Only 5 more to go. She isn't real thrilled with me for about 5 minutes after either. Lol.

[KORBIN5895]

The downside of injecting it into prey is that you are feeding it every other day either.

[shaunyboy]

The downside of injecting it into prey is that you are feeding it every other day either.

^^^^^
i agree,that would not work with snakes imo.....

it takes time for them to break the prey down to release the meds,also feeding a snake every other day for 2 to 4 weeks would be bad for the snake imo

cut a tube to the correct size,then attatch it to a syringe,is by far the easiest way to administer oral meds imo

cheers shaun

[MizCandice]

^^^^^
i agree,that would not work with snakes imo.....

it takes time for them to break the prey down to release the meds,also feeding a snake every other day for 2 to 4 weeks would be bad for the snake imo

cut a tube to the correct size,then attatch it to a syringe,is by far the easiest way to administer oral meds imo

cheers shaun

Yes for Q2days I agree, luckily when I had to do this it was Q5days so in food worked for me. Im glad to hear you are getting it in them!!

[shaunyboy]

Yes for Q2days I agree, luckily when I had to do this it was Q5days so in food worked for me. Im glad to hear you are getting it in them!!

it's only been oral baytril ive used and its usually prescribed for 2 weeks upwards

one good constipation method is using prey...

inject 1ml of vegetable oil or milk of magnesia per kg of body wieght of the snake, into the prey...

mouse lax or rat lax it be called,and its very effective :)

cheers shaun

[Sharlynn93]

tonight's dosage (#3) went very smoothly, and she didn't seem mad at all afterwards...seemed pretty content, actually :)

[MizCandice]

it's only been oral baytril ive used and its usually prescribed for 2 weeks upwards

one good constipation method is using prey...

inject 1ml of vegetable oil or milk of magnesia per kg of body wieght of the snake, into the prey...

mouse lax or rat lax it be called,and its very effective :)

cheers shaun

Oh, Great tip thank you! Havent had that issue ( knocks on wood hard) but I'll keep it in mind for if it ever creeps up :)

Glad there adjusting Sharlynn just 2 nore to go! **shakes her pompoms**

[Sharlynn93]

ok...now a new "issue"...she has gone blue...lets see if she bites me trying to administer meds tonight.... :(

[shaunyboy]

ok...now a new "issue"...she has gone blue...lets see if she bites me trying to administer meds tonight.... :(

ive always found it easier to administer oral meds using 2 pairs of hands...

one person holds the snake,by the neck just behind the head and mid way down the body,holding it flat and stretched in a straight line on a hard surface,also keeping the head and neck in a straight line...

the other opens the snakes mouth,slips the tube far enough down the throat,so the meds go into the stomach and not back out its mouth

cheers shaun

[Sharlynn93]

my hubby helps hold her while i get the wonderful job of administering the meds...lol...i can honestly say, this sweet thing is a total angel...new home, RI, and now in blue, and meds went off without much issue...she let me hold her for quite some time before the attempt, not too much of a fight, and still seemed content afterwards...and btw, she seems almost 100% better already! her humidity has been holding great now that i got plexiglass for the top of her cage, temps are good, and her dehydration issue seems 90% better, will know more once she sheds....hopefully after that she will finally eat for me so i can TRY to get her on f/t....THAT is gonna be another battle :/