Giving Oral Antibiotic

[Razaiel]

Hi Guys
Hope you had a good holiday and all yours are doing well

When I took my adult corn to the vet for her checkup the vet said there was two types of bacteria found in the bloodworks and that it would be better to switch to a different antibiotic (she was on injectable baytril) because although the baytril was dealing with one of the bacteria the other wouldn't respond to it. So she's now on a 3-week course of Septrin Paediatric Syrup (0.5 ml per day) - to be given orally I'm finding this a bit tricky - and today I have to do it on my own (all my little helpers are out) so I'm wondering what is the easiest way to open a snake's mouth to get the tube down? When I had someone to hold her I kind of stroked under her chin area to get it open a bit but I'm scared of hurting her.

The other thing I found when searching for this on the forum was that it's best not to feed during treatment - however, as she's a rescue I don't think she had much food previously - plus I wasn't aware she shouldn't be fed during antibiotic treatment and she had a couple of mice which she wolfed down a couple of days ago. Would it be best now not to give her any more food until her 3 week course is finished?

[jglass38]

I would be concerned that the vet prescribed something but didn't give you any direction on how to administer it at home. The fact that he has you tubing a snake without even having shown you how is a little odd. I would say go back to the vet and either have him do it or instruct you on how to do it properly. With a corn you could easily put the tube down the Esophagus by accident instead of into the stomach.

[Razaiel]

He did show me how - it's just so difficult to get her to open her mouth - basically the tube was soldered (I think he said) at the end to make it nice and smooth - then it has to go all the way down almost - makes me think she'll choke on it! The only good herp vet here is an hour away and this needs to be done every 24 hours - it would cost £25 per day ($30?) to keep her hospitalized all this time so having successfully done the injections myself I thought I would continue doing this myself (I'd prefer the injections though).

The tube does have to go all the way down doesn't it? It's difficult to know exactly but it seems to be going OK - just the opening the mouth part :/

So that I know - where would I have to put it to get it into the oesophagus (so I can steer well clear of that) - and would I be immediately aware I'd done something wrong? (i.e. she chokes). I am putting it down centrally (wish I could phone vet now but he is shut with the holiday ...)

[jglass38]

I would honestly pay the money and let the vet do the job. It doesn't seem like he showed you if you are asking how far down to put the tube. Please do whats right for your snake and get a professional to do it for you.

[Razaiel]

I'll phone vet tomorrow - I think I will go in with her and get him to let me do it under supervision. I thought I was doing OK actually once I got the thing in - she doesn't like it of course but no ill effects afterwards and she even ate two mice one evening I really can't afford the vet bill - it's not my snake - I rescued it (see my earlier post under "Royal Corn Snake??" so therefore no insurance like I have for my python it would cost me £500-£600 (guess some $700-$800).

[Lobo_Reptiles]

I had to give my BP oral medicine to treat any internal parasites just in case. My vet is a specialist herp vet and she never gave me a tube to administer it. For one, the syringe they give you should be plenty enough. If you mix half the dosage with half water it will make it much easier. I gently massaged the corners of the mouth until he finally opened them then in went the syringe. Slowly inject the dosage and rub on the neck before you take out the syringe to make sure it swallowed it.

You probably have this solved already, but just wanted to give you my input on how I did it.

[jglass38]

I had to give my BP oral medicine to treat any internal parasites just in case. My vet is a specialist herp vet and she never gave me a tube to administer it. For one, the syringe they give you should be plenty enough. If you mix half the dosage with half water it will make it much easier. I gently massaged the corners of the mouth until he finally opened them then in went the syringe. Slowly inject the dosage and rub on the neck before you take out the syringe to make sure it swallowed it.

You probably have this solved already, but just wanted to give you my input on how I did it.

Hades,

What kind of oral medication was it? How do you know it was the same type to treat the same problem. I think medical treatment is best left to the properly educated/properly trained. From everything I know, medication for internal parasites needs to be tubed for the best possible outcome of treatment. Maybe someone with some more knowledge on the subject could clear it up. Best to refrain from giving medical advice...

[Lobo_Reptiles]

Hey just saying what the herp vet said and told me to do. But understandable. It was medication that would treat internal parasites just in case he had them. I don't recall the name, it was a long time ago.

[Razaiel]

Thanks for your input

I did contact the vet again and he assured me I was doing everything OK - before I did that I googled the internet (you can imagine the site feedback I was getting when I typed in "give snake oral" ) Well I finally got more info when I added "tubing" - my problem is my snake is really, really wiggly - first time or two was not so bad - but of course now she knows what's coming and her head wiggles like mad. Once the tube is inside it's no problem. I'm fortunate that I know 2 reptile specialist guys and when I had to give my first injection (wayyyy easier!) I got one of them to supervise me while I did it - so this time I asked the second one

Another way I did find on the internet rather than going in the front (and one which would definitely avoid the glottis) is to go in from the side which is after the opening of the glottis.

My main problem though is to keep her still - she's so gonna hate me once this is over - just 2 more weeks to go ...