Forcing Mouth Open for Liquid Meds - HELP

[NightLad]

Hi everybody,

Salzedo got bit in the eye* by his latest meal. I took him to a herp-specialist vet the next morning (it happened late in the evening, and nobody was answering the emergency number - GAH! I'd have gladly paid the fees!) and he got a shot of antibiotics. In addition I am supposed to administer 0.5CC of of liquid oral meds for the next 10 days, as well as apply 1 drop to the eye twice a day.

Fortunately even with all the trauma and stress, Salzedo is a little champ and remains calm/still enough for me to hold his head and play with his lips while trying to get him to open up. But --- no success. I can sort of part his lips, but his mouth remains tightly shut. I'm positive I must be doing this wrong!

I know not to administer the liquid at the front of his mouth, because that might risk it going in his glottis so I've been trying to get it in the back of his mouth on one of the sides.

I had to quit earlier this morning after unsuccessfully getting him to open up. Hopefully enough residue liquid made it into his mouth via the open lips to be effective.

Any suggestions/instructions, or better yet, directions to a tutorial video, would be very much appreciated.

Thank you!!!!!

* I will be writing a complete thread about this experience in detail later. I've been too much of a wreck the past couple of days to do so.

[GirDance]

My best advice, having done this myself and working at a vets for years, take him (or one of your healthy snakes) back to the vet and get the vet or one of the techs to teach you how. They really should have done this *before* sending you off with oral meds... But I won't get into that much further.

The other option, would be to inquire as to whether you could switch over to a non-oral method, injections may be easier for you, and less stressful for him because you're not fumbling around with his mouth.

Good luck,

[LadyOhh]

My trick is to get a credit card or something flat and insert it into the side of the mouth, then just lift. That will give you leverage to place the syringe into the back cavity of the mouth easier than just shoving it in there.

BUT... you need to be very coordinated no matter what.

Good luck.

[Thor26]

My trick is to get a credit card or something flat and insert it into the side of the mouth, then just lift. That will give you leverage to place the syringe into the back cavity of the mouth easier than just shoving it in there.

BUT... you need to be very coordinated no matter what.

Good luck.

I think a rubber spatula would work best

[wicked5446]

I have always used the method Heather described with the card. Always worked well for me.

[boost3d05]

i used credit cards, keys, the those blue pen cap thingers...i always start trying to "pry" on the front of their mouth...right in the center.....then manuever it lefrt and right until the python adjusts its jaw a little (or opens it)