Injection help? (restraining issues)

[Bertie]

I need to give my BP Baytril injections and I'm pretty nervous. My vet says giving injections is a one-person job--and showed me how--but I'm not sure I can hold his head and find an injection site at the same time. Any suggestions on how to restrain him so I can just focus on giving the injection?

Thanks.

[bad-one]

I'd recommend getting someone to help hold the snake while you administer the shot.

[WingedWolfPsion]

This really is a two-person task. I can't imagine how you would restrain a snake with one hand, and inject it with the other.

I put one hand behind the snake's head to hold it gently but firmly, and prevent bites. The other I put midway down the neck, underneath the snake, to prevent twisting and keep the back of the neck open for an injection site. (most injections in snakes are given in the upper part of the body--I use an area far enough down the neck to have good muscle, but not so far down that the snake can easily twist out of my grasp).

My partner uses one hand to stabilize the snake's body further down from my hand, and the other to administer the injection.

This way, the snake is quickly restrained, injected, and it's all over with quickly so there is less stress.

[Alice]

This really is a two-person task. I can't imagine how you would restrain a snake with one hand, and inject it with the other.

I put one hand behind the snake's head to hold it gently but firmly, and prevent bites. The other I put midway down the neck, underneath the snake, to prevent twisting and keep the back of the neck open for an injection site. (most injections in snakes are given in the upper part of the body--I use an area far enough down the neck to have good muscle, but not so far down that the snake can easily twist out of my grasp).

My partner uses one hand to stabilize the snake's body further down from my hand, and the other to administer the injection.

This way, the snake is quickly restrained, injected, and it's all over with quickly so there is less stress.

Good description of how to get it done safely!

I do know that some use those snake restraining tubes (clear plastic tube that you put the head and upper neck of the snake in). I don't like them though because of the real chance of the snake getting stuck.

[Bertie]

This really is a two-person task. I can't imagine how you would restrain a snake with one hand, and inject it with the other.

I put one hand behind the snake's head to hold it gently but firmly, and prevent bites. The other I put midway down the neck, underneath the snake, to prevent twisting and keep the back of the neck open for an injection site. (most injections in snakes are given in the upper part of the body--I use an area far enough down the neck to have good muscle, but not so far down that the snake can easily twist out of my grasp).

My partner uses one hand to stabilize the snake's body further down from my hand, and the other to administer the injection.

This way, the snake is quickly restrained, injected, and it's all over with quickly so there is less stress.

Thanks so much for the description, that's way more specific than what my vet told me.

My boyfriend is scared of snakes (normally he won't even get within 3 feet of my BP, much less touch him), but when I told him I didn't think I could give the injections alone he volunteered to hold him for me. So two-person job, it is!

[dreese88]

I usually hold my snake while my friend gives the injections. It's probably better for the person who is more used to the snake to hold it, because they'll squirm to get their head away and then again when you start to inject the medicine...someone not used to them may be very uncomfortable with this.