Will my snake hate me forever for giving shots?

My baby Lucy needs antibiotic shots and the vet has us administering them at home. I tried to do the first one myself just now and failed horribly and she seemed really upset. The vet made it look so easy, but I couldn't even get the needle in.

Is she going to be afraid of me for life because of this, or am I just being a dramatic snake mommy? Any tips on giving shots? I will be trying again with my husband's help later.

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Originally Posted by Lirenn

My baby Lucy needs antibiotic shots and the vet has us administering them at home. I tried to do the first one myself just now and failed horribly and she seemed really upset. The vet made it look so easy, but I couldn't even get the needle in.

Is she going to be afraid of me for life because of this, or am I just being a dramatic snake mommy? Any tips on giving shots? I will be trying again with my husband's help later.

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just a tad over dramatic. [emoji14] snakes harbor no grudges, and do not love or hate. she might be a bit more timid and defensive afterwards, but she has 20+ years to get over it.

ive never had to give shots, so i hope someone here can offer advice to help make the next time a bit easier on everyone.

good luck!

I've never had to administer shots either, so unfortunately I won't be any help there.

But yes, you're be overdramatic. But that's ok, I'll take an overdramatic snake keeper over a neglectful snake keeper any day. It can't hurt to ask, that's what the forum is here for. But no, your snake won't hate you. She may be a little more apprehensive than usual, but it won't last.

Good luck with the next attempt, I'm sure somebody with experience will offer food soon.

I’ve had to do for a boa that injured its mouth striking its cage. It’s definitely easier to do with two people in my opinion. And hopefully the vet thoroughly explained how to properly do it . Like going in between the scales with the injection, and proper location on the snake (so you hit muscle). And yes it can be a little stressful. Hopefully with your husbands help everything will go smoothly. And if done properly, I believe the snake feels minimum discomfort (not as sensitive as us). Good luck.

I've done it before. It's a bit tricky because you have to push harder than you think, but still not too hard. Within a few, I got good enough that the snake barely noticed. Make sure you're doing it in the right direction so if they wiggle, they wiggle towards the syringe instead of wiggling it out. Also, if you want to gain confidence, you can practice on a raw chicken breast - sounds silly, but it's recommended because the texture helps people understand.

Its very important that you go "between" scales. You are never going to be able to push through a scale..

Its almost as if you use the needle to gently lift up a scale and slip the needle underneath of the scale. You have to do this at a angle, not straight down.

Keep control of your hands, it DOES take a bit of effort to punch through the skin, more then one thinks, but once you are through the skin, the needle slides through much easier. So you have to be very careful that you don't keep that pressure high after you punch through the skin, or your needle will go in far to deep.

Imagine it more of a very short but strong push, in which you only want the tip of the needle to penetrate. Once "in" you can gently insert slightly deeper..It doesn't have to be ONE strong motion all the way through, or you chance to go far to deep.

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Originally Posted by zina10

Its very important that you go "between" scales. You are never going to be able to push through a scale..

Its almost as if you use the needle to gently lift up a scale and slip the needle underneath of the scale. You have to do this at a angle, not straight down.

Keep control of your hands, it DOES take a bit of effort to punch through the skin, more then one thinks, but once you are through the skin, the needle slides through much easier. So you have to be very careful that you don't keep that pressure high after you punch through the skin, or your needle will go in far to deep.

Imagine it more of a very short but strong push, in which you only want the tip of the needle to penetrate. Once "in" you can gently insert slightly deeper..It doesn't have to be ONE strong motion all the way through, or you chance to go far to deep.

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Great info... But I feel sick now hahahhha

i had to inject my Cat who came to me w/o a heat pack and an URI. my cat is this girl BTW:

https://i.imgur.com/vXehcU1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3bHvdA9.jpg

those are pix from the vet. mucus is more visible in the second pix. anyway the exotic vet had me put her on 30 days of antibiotic injections initially and then another 2 weeks when she still had symptoms. that's like 45 days and 22-23 injections (administered every other day). the vet and vet tech showed me how to do it. it's better w/ 2 people but u can wrap the snake around your waist or leg and press against something like a couch to keep them from squirming too much. she took it fine, did not show signs of increased aggression and doesn't hate me (at least not forever).

i think the whole process was probably more traumatic for me. i didn't want to poke her and hurt her. i hated giving her injections and just felt so bad for her. :( :tears: :(

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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

Great info... But I feel sick now hahahhha

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Wait until you have to give injections to a horse, LOL.

Their skin is TOUGH, and you kind of "punch" (well, not punch like taking out someone, but a nice decisive poke) the needle in. Oh yeah, and if the horse isn't happy about it, it adds a lot of excitement to the entire experience ;)

I am having to give one of my Ball Pythons antibiotic shots for an RI right now, too. It's definitely a huge pain to do by yourself, but nowhere near as hard as trying to force a syringe in a snake's mouth to give medicine orally! The hardest part is she won't sit still. One time, I must have hit a scale, because the needle bent right over, so i'm hoping i'll be able to reuse one of the other needles to get the medicine out of that syringe. Otherwise, im going to have to go back to the vet to replace one of her treatments. It's amazing how difficult it is to push the needle through! One thing that helps to at least limit her range of motion and "sorta" free one of my hands up is, i've been having her crawl into a cardboard tube, while i'm giving the shot. Still 4 more shots to go for this girl... Aaargh!

Please don't re-use a needle. The risk of infection is not worth it..

And hang in there, almost done ;)

Yeah... It's such a tiny little bit of medication in these syringes that it would be difficult to get it all out of one syringe and into another, anyway. So, i'll just have to go to the vet to get another one. I can't imagine that would cost too much. Maybe he'll be nice and just give it to me. The other part of it that sucks is, i've already been having nothing but trouble getting this girl to eat on a regular basis and having to restrain her and stick her with a needle 7 times in addition to the ordeal that she went through with her RI obviously must have her stressed out. So, who knows when i'll be able to get her to eat again...

i don't remember the name of the medication off the top of my head, but i'ts one of the basic, common ones for RI's. each individual syringe was pre-filled and capped, put into a baggie and frozen. i would take them out and they unfroze in like 2 minutes. so i had my initial 30 day supply and then 2 week supply all pre-arranged.

This should help give you ideas on how to properly give injections

Emily is the best in giving practical advice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOh5nYZde8

The problem with her advice is, I haven't been able to get this girl to eat for a few weeks and most of the time I don't have anyone here to help me. When you can't get them to eat and you don't have anyone to help you, tubing seems to be about the only option...

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Originally Posted by Aedryan Methyus

The problem with her advice is, I haven't been able to get this girl to eat for a few weeks and most of the time I don't have anyone here to help me. When you can't get them to eat and you don't have anyone to help you, tubing seems to be about the only option...

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Yeah, when it comes to Ball Pythons and ill snakes, feeding them to treat them is usually not an option.

When you give an injection to a snake, and you are by yourself, I think it helps when you have the snake at the same level then your upper body.
Meaning, if you have a bar height counter, you can do this standing up, or sit down at a table.

Just take a normal sized towel and wrap the head and neck loosely into it, but make several loops around them. You want them NOT to feel severely restrained and start trashing, but they will have very little wiggle room and will stay occupied trying to find the way out with their head. That also gives great padding on which you can rest your left elbow/left upper arm.

Use your left hand to grab right below the neck and right above where you want to inject (have the towel end there), to hold the snake still. Use your bent left elbow and upper arm to push down a bit on the rolled up towel, to keep the snake from moving to much.

Of course BEFORE you do all that, have your syringe ready to go nearby. Grab your syringe with your right hand and then get your face close to where you need to work. Hold the syringe at a angle that allows you to get underneath the scale. Use the needle to wiggle under the scale and then use firm but gentle pressure to insert into the muscle. (on the side, below the spine). Then press down on the plunger in one steady motion. Take needle out and release all pressure on the snake, return the "miffed" animal to the cage :)

You can also use your right forearm to push down and stabilize the snakes lower body somewhat while you work.

Always give injections in the upper third of the snake, and its a good idea to alternate right and left side of the snake each time.

Good luck :)

Good advice given. Between the scales, at an angle, in the front 1/3 of the body. Either intramuscular or under the skin whichever the vet advised. It's never easy but you'll get the hang of it! If you have to, your vet would probably show you again or do it for you but would probably charge an office visit fee.
Good luck!!

I made a vid years ago when I had to give injections and tube meds to one of my boas that was having neuro issues. I think the injection part starts around the 3min mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpFsC7xOAyE

Thank you all so much for the advice and reassurance. She's our first snake and we love her to bits, but we haven't had her long. I worry about making sure she is happy.