Syringe Help?

[RedSidedSPR]

The second does of deworming meds for my snake, I need to use a syringe... I have a few, but the tips are so thick I couldn't slip it under his lip...

What kind of srynge do you use for you snakes, and how do you get them to open their mouths?? How do I do it without hurting him, and without hitting his glottis?

He's nice and cooperative, doesn't get too bothered by it, I just don't know how to get him to eat it.

Thanks

[count dewclaw]

I put the medication in a food item; I cut a small hole in the abdomen of a f/t mouse and inject the worming medication into that area.

[guidofatherof5]

Any chance you can post a photo of the syringe you're using?
I've found the snake will usually open their mouth once you apply slight pressure with the syringe.
You have to be quick or they'll turn their head away from it.
If you start insertion further back on the jaw you will avoid the glottis for the most part.
It's hard to explain in word. I'll do a video if you want Jesse.
How old and how big a snake are you working with?

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah I'll take a photo, but it'll be with my iPod since I cat upload my camera to a computer, therefore crappy.

A video would help, but you don't need to stick a syringe down a snakes throat for a video.:rolleyes: Yet.

He's probably about 2-4 Years old (wc) 22 inches long. (male red sided)

[RedSidedSPR]

LeeAn, I can't do that with this dose, t needs to be mixed with water... It's just dust now.

[RedSidedSPR]

Heres the pics. This one was lying around but I'll be happy to go buy another. Steve I lost the photos you had sent me awhile back of the syringe you use when our computer died... Can't remember.

Sorry for bad quality. It's all i got,

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/1d6e28d3.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/f0928966.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b283/chucknkelly/f3e1964e.jpg

[chris-uk]

What dose are you giving Jesse? 10ml is a fair size syringe, maybe a 5ml would be easier? You've still got the problem of getting it in the mouth but Steve's instructions seem to make sense. If I was trying with any of our crowd I'd expect to get musked. :-)

[guidofatherof5]

This is what I use. It allows for a much more accurate dose.
I don't mind doing the a video and I'm sure my helper snakes wouldn't mind................. all that much.
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/syringe2.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/syringe3.jpg

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/syringe1.jpg

[RedSidedSPR]

Yeah I want a 1-5ml like yours Steve, although the dose doesn't make a difference, I'm mixing it with with water, and will just have to use all of it... Doesn't make a difference really.

Much better Steve! I'll look for one of those tomorrow!

Well if it's not and inconvenience I guess a video would help.:D

[guidofatherof5]

I've got a video but my camcorder and laptop aren't getting along right now. Sorry.

[RedSidedSPR]

That's ok. I will probably do it when we get back from VA, leaving Wed, coming back Mon so I've got time.

Tomorrow I'll get a sryinge like yours...

Also, I went ahead a kinda tried to see if I could just get his mouth to open with it.... He wouldn't open it for anything. Didn't do like you said and open with pressure. He's very cooperative, doesn't seem too bothered but doesn't open for me.

[ConcinusMan]

I used the same syringe as Steve does. You don't even want to try prying their mouth with that. You can break teeth and/or injure the mouth. I used that syringe, but not to open the mouth. For that, I take a smooth glossy matchbook cover, fold it, and use the smooth fold to get the mouth open. Once the cover is in the snake's mouth, it's easy to slip the syringe tip in over the top of it. Then move the matchbook cover out of the way. Not exactly easy, but no injuries that way. And be careful with the syringe too. The tip only needs to go just to the back of the throat. Don't force it down.

Don't use that monsterous syringe you have. It's way too big. You only need a small 1cc/1mL one since doesage is probably just fractions of that. The 1mL will allow you to measure in 0.01 mL increments. This is how I gave Big Bertha her baytril suspension. Her dose was only 0.04 mL, otherwise known as 4 units on a 100 unit, 1cc syringe.

Don't confuse the doseage. Don't confuse 0.01 mL for 0.1 mL . (that would be deadly) The former is only one of the tiny marks on a 1 mL syringe. 1/100th of a full 1mL syringe, not 1/10th! Way better to have the vet measure the doseage for you in a 1mL syringe with a removeable needle. That way you can inject the dose into food, or take off the needle and give it orally directly.

Be very careful and good luck!

[guidofatherof5]

The video is cooking at the moment.
I'll get it posted as soon as it's done.

[guidofatherof5]

chidxGRdT_w

[RedSidedSPR]

Thanks Steve! That did help! That's basically what i would have done, except it was scared to do it.:D After seeing that i feel much more comfortable doing it. I'm picking up a syringe soon, so when we get back I'll do it. Thanks again that helped.

[mmoria00]

Where can you find the smaller syringe's? Would it be a Walgreens or a pharmacy?

[ConcinusMan]

I always got mine from the vet although they aren't exclusively for vet use. Try that. I would think that any vet would be willing to sell you one without the needle. (Needles can be attached to this type of syringe, or removed for oral use) One of my dogs takes a monthly IM injection which I give her myself. I simply take the needle off and you're left with this syringe for oral use.

[guidofatherof5]

Where can you find the smaller syringe's? Would it be a Walgreens or a pharmacy?

Found this.

20 Nutrient Measuring 1ml Plastic Disposable Syringe | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/20-Nutrient-Measuring-1ml-Plastic-Disposable-Syringe-/110750567447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c93f8c17)

[d_virginiana]

If you are in high school or college (or work in any sort of health related field) I've noticed that the 1 mL disposable pipettes work really well for that sort of thing. They're a soft sort of plastic with a very small tip, which helps with very uncooperative tiny animals. Downside is they're one-use and only 1 mL at a time. I mainly use them because I can sneak a couple for free from the labs where I do research. The kind Steve uses is definitely higher quality, even if you do have to pay for it :)

Never had to use one for a snake, but we've used them on infant mice, planarians (taken from the same lab!), and fish-tank-med measurements.

[chris-uk]

If I'd been into snakes when I was at Uni I would have had no problems getting hold of measuring instruments, the lab stores sold all sorts of useful stuff that I could use now for both snakes and fish. Although a Gilson pippette may have been an overkill I think I probably would have got hold of one just because I could.
Now I need to find someone who is studying a proper subject, most of the students I know are doing silly B.A. degrees and not a proper B.Sc. I shall have to ask around and try to get hold of some syringes.

[d_virginiana]

Now I need to find someone who is studying a proper subject, most of the students I know are doing silly B.A. degrees and not a proper B.Sc. I shall have to ask around and try to get hold of some syringes.

B.Sc. is really the only way to go, what a shame :D Goodness... I have so many things pilfered from labs. Including a pig skull, which is a wonderful prop to bring out around unwanted guests :rolleyes: But more on-topic, there's really nothing that beats lab tools as far as accuracy goes.

[chris-uk]

.... Including a pig skull, which is a wonderful prop to bring out around unwanted guests :rolleyes: But more on-topic, there's really nothing that beats lab tools as far as accuracy goes.
I see your pigeon skull, and raise you a human skull. I have a medical skeleton left over from my degree course :D
Medical and lab instruments are the way to go, I have a pair of dissection scissors that I use as general purpose small scissors which are now 20 years old and still as good as new. I need to replenish my dissection kit as I'd forgotten how useful scalpels are to have to hand...

I did notice that on Amazon UK you can get 1ml syringes (in boxes of 100), scalpel handles and scalpel blades. Not sure if Amazon in the US carries them. The prices weren't bad, but I wouldn't want the quantity of syringes, although sat here I just remembered that Char's mum is now an injecting diabetic, maybe a handful of her syringes...

[RedSidedSPR]

Been away for awhile and haven't had the chance to actually get the darn syringe, but I'll do it this weekend I hope.

Richard, the stuff you sent me is already dosed so I can just use it all right?

[kimbosaur]

Now I need to find someone who is studying a proper subject, most of the students I know are doing silly B.A. degrees and not a proper B.Sc.

http://images.findicons.com/files/icons/2311/anime_smiley_icons/128/ashamed.png

[d_virginiana]

I see your pigeon skull, and raise you a human skull. I have a medical skeleton left over from my degree course :D
Medical and lab instruments are the way to go, I have a pair of dissection scissors that I use as general purpose small scissors which are now 20 years old and still as good as new. I need to replenish my dissection kit as I'd forgotten how useful scalpels are to have to hand...


I also have a possum skull and a perfectly dessicated frog on display in my room. I sometimes wonder if it's abnormal to have these things just sitting around, but finally decided it's only strange if I start having conversations with them.
Hm.. How might one go about legally procuring a human skull? :D

Some injection needles/syringes would be really good to have on hand. The only way to test for certain diseases in frogs and fish (without paying a ton of money) is to draw some blood and check it out for yourself under a microscope since most vets around here refuse to even see those animals, and the only other option is to send a test sample off somewhere.

[RedSidedSPR]

Got the 1ml syrnge. One concern i have now is the dosage, cause it's already dosed so i don't have to worry about how much i put in the syringe right? I can just give it all too him?

[ConcinusMan]

Not sure what you're doing. I was saying before it's best to put the dry meds into food and feed immediately. Am I to assume that you've made it into a suspension (liquid) and you're going to give that liquid directly (orally) through a syringe? Anyway, yes. The doses I measured are set for the snake's weight as you quoted it to me. Give each dose in it's entirety, all at once.

I now have Pyrantel pamoate, Praziquantel, and Fenbendazole (Panacur) each in their own 16 oz bottle liquid suspension. Much easier to get here in CA. Same goes for Baytril. Many people here use these on their livestock (horses, cows, dog litters, etc.) and so it's very easy to get. I plan on acquiring a collection of coastal CA garters (infernalis', coast garters, atratus') next spring so I'm sure it will come in handy. Gonna get a fishing license and finally make that dream herping trip to San Mateo and adjacent counties.

[RedSidedSPR]

It got destroyed in the mail remember? Had to mix it with water to make it anything but dust... BUT I DID IT! It's in him. He was very cooperative.:D

CA garter species are sweet!

[guidofatherof5]

Glad it worked out.