Pinworms/transporting in cold !

[cwburns32]

Hello all, there is a lot here as I am trying to be as descriptive as I can. Thank you.

I have a 2 yr ish old Tarahumara Mountain Boa, I recently brought him to a reptile swap as I knew a vet came from about 90 minutes from where I am there every 2 weeks, he had some dry skin on the top of his head that he checked out and gave him a normal checkup, everything was good. We did a fecal sample and he tested positive for pinworms, unfortunately.

He is eating, pooping, etc normally but he seems way overdue for his shed and seems to lose weight more quickly between meals than he used too. In a 4 day span he appeared to go from 772 grams to 583 grams, I was a little alarmed at first but he really didn't look or feel any smaller, wasn't acting any differently. I fed him that same day I weighed him and he ate just fine, let him digest his food for a few days and weighed him 6 days later....sure enough he is at 833 grams......so 772 grams on 12/13, 583 on 12/17, ate a 77 gram rat on 12/17 and on 12/23 he was 833 grams.

He lost a few lbs between 12/23 and when I fed him next on 12/29 where he weighed 825 grams, fed him 79 gram rat, weighed 890 on 1/2. Haven't weighed him yet today but will in a bit here.

He is in an AP T8 with a fairly constant temp of 60-70% throughout the enclosure and temps ranging from 85-90 on the warm side to 74-77 on the cool side from left to right. Aspen wood chip bedding.

I am bringing him back to the vet I saw at the swap a while back who is going to take another look at him and provide me some medication. I live in Chicago where it has been below 0 to 15F for the last 3 weeks and will be about 10F when I bring him tomorrow morning. I need to know how to transport him safely in these very cold temps. 20 minute or so drive, I know to keep car warm but what do you all use to transport your guys/gals in frigid temps?

Any advice on the pinworms would be greatly appreacited. I clean the cage very regularly, every 7-10 days as a full clean and spot clean thoroughly when I see poop/urate/urine. I'd say I'm OCD about it. Few photos of snake, enclosure and a snippet of my schedule of when I feed, how much he weighs, when he sheds, poops, etc.

Thanks!

EDIT: I could not upload my photos due to sizing, I will upload a OneDrive link in a minute here. Thanks again.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AqOCHQW1MOLxhsswjKD0KlAfVoi-Ag

[DJC Reptiles]

In terms of the pinworms, listen to the vet's advice. For transporting in the cold use a styrofoam cooler, and line it with a couple hand warmers. Put the snake in a snake bag inside the cooler and you will be okay for short term transport.

[cwburns32]

In terms of the pinworms, listen to the vet's advice. For transporting in the cold use a styrofoam cooler, and line it with a couple hand warmers. Put the snake in a snake bag inside the cooler and you will be okay for short term transport.

The vet prescribed some oral medication (will send name over later when I get home) that I need to provide via a syringe 3 days in a row, 3 times with 7 day breaks in between. He provided first dosage of .5 mL and I was nervous about doing it myself but was able to do the second dosage just fine last night and he kept all .5 mL down.

This doesn't seem to bother him that much other than it may be a bit uncomfortable for him. He seems to be doing just fine but my question is can I feed him regularly on these meds or should I be waiting to feed him until after his treatments or when he is on 7 day breaks?

Only 7 more dosages! We can do this! Haha

[DJC Reptiles]

I would only attempt feeding every 1-2 weeks, but I doubt he will be interested. He will most likely suffer from minor weight loss, but should be fine. Continue to monitor weight, you're doing great so far. Like you said, it's best to offer food in that seven day break, since I highly doubt he will want food after an injection, but your welcome to try.

[cwburns32]

I would only attempt feeding every 1-2 weeks, but I doubt he will be interested. He will most likely suffer from minor weight loss, but should be fine. Continue to monitor weight, you're doing great so far. Like you said, it's best to offer food in that seven day break, since I highly doubt he will want food after an injection, but your welcome to try.

I also only feed every 7-14 days. He will be on his normal schedule during his 7 day break but now I noticed he is about to go into the blue, likely tomorrow, so he also may not be in the mood to eat.

I just fed him his 3rd dose in 3 days, he definitely was not having it but got it all down. As soon as he felt some freedom from mine and my roommates grip he ripped away from us probably before he swallowed all of it and I noticed the smallest amount of medication come out of one of his nostrils (proper terminology?) it was a scary moment (really he seemed fine I just was being a panic) but a very small amount so I am hoping it is harmless. He went right back into his warm hide and curled up like normal after....hoping he is ok.

[DJC Reptiles]

Are you absolutely sure it was medication? It wouldn't be out of question that your snake developed a respiratory infection because of him being stressed.

[cwburns32]

Are you absolutely sure it was medication? It wouldn't be out of question that your snake developed a respiratory infection because of him being stressed.

I am absolutely sure......white chalky substance, same consistency, I dabbes the tiny bit with my finger and smelt same as well. Undoubtedly the medication. It was only a very small amount and he seems perfectly fine, was just a scary moment for me.

[DJC Reptiles]

Okay, that's good then. Continue to keep a close eye, your doing great!

[cwburns32]

Small update:

6 doses down, he is getting smarter and smarter each time. This time made it very difficult for me to get his mouth open but once I did he took down the med nicely. 3 more doses to get go next weekend.

He is about 21 days off food - started meds between feedings, then he went into blue on the 7 day break and shed, 3 more days of doses, tried feeding him 2 days later and he was somewhat interested in the food but didn't take. Trying again tomorrow otherwise he will have to wait until after his next 3 doses next weekend; however, he will be 30+ without food...

Good news is, little to no weight loss since I started administering meds.....he had been losing weight pretty quickly between feedings because of the worms previously.

[DJC Reptiles]

That's really good to hear, your doing a great job! If he isn't loosing weight I wouldn't be worried about food, and you can try to feed, but I doubt he will take it. Handling won't be the best idea for a while, after this is over, but the rest of his life should be pretty nice at least.

[cwburns32]

That's really good to hear, your doing a great job! If he isn't loosing weight I wouldn't be worried about food, and you can try to feed, but I doubt he will take it. Handling won't be the best idea for a while, after this is over, but the rest of his life should be pretty nice at least.

He's maintained his weight pretty well over last 2-3 weeks while I have been administering meds. I might try to feed him today and if he doesn't take I'll just wait until next week or so after his last dose of meds. I haven't handled him much since giving him meds.

Part of (and maybe all of) my problem is that when I give him meds I have just been putting him in the same tub that he goes in before I feed him (very stupid of me). I could tell when I put him in there to eat on Friday he was defensive and probably felt I was gonna manhandle him again.....gotta try and find something else to put him to make him feel more safe before he eats. Or I could be over thinking it and he is just not ready to eat until he passes the worms/meds.

[DJC Reptiles]

I always recommend feeding inside of his enclosure, that way he can feel safe. Ingesting a little bit of substrate is not a big deal. Plus, there is less of a risk of him regurgitating his meal.

[cwburns32]

I always recommend feeding inside of his enclosure, that way he can feel safe. Ingesting a little bit of substrate is not a big deal. Plus, there is less of a risk of him regurgitating his meal.

I've been feeding him outside of his cage since I've got him....never had a regurg. I am thinking about next time feeding him in his cage because he did not take again, he was interested, checking it out, just did not take. Everything seems normal with him so I won't push the feeding. I'm administering meds Fri, Sat and Sun, Ill wait until the following weekend to try and feed again.

I'll have to admit, feeding inside of the the cage will prove to be difficult with just 10-12" clearance between the top and bottom.

[cwburns32]

I've been feeding him outside of his cage since I've got him....never had a regurg. I am thinking about next time feeding him in his cage because he did not take again, he was interested, checking it out, just did not take. Everything seems normal with him so I won't push the feeding. I'm administering meds Fri, Sat and Sun, Ill wait until the following weekend to try and feed again.

I'll have to admit, feeding inside of the the cage will prove to be difficult with just 10-12" clearance between the top and bottom.

Last 3 doses these past 3 days. Waiting 3-4 days, leaving him alone and then will try and feed him. I have never fed him in cage and am worried about him ingesting some of his aspen chips but wondering if that is the only way he will feel safe/comfortable taking food