What's better than a baby snake?

[RedSidedSPR]

Never said they didn't!! My snake (only snake) is wild caught. I'm all for it! Just didn't know she was 'till you said that.

[ConcinusMan]

They'll do much better, live longer, and have fewer problems if you hit them hard with the deworming meds. It's hard on them, but once they get through it, they're way better off and you'll have much better luck with them. Antibiotic "pulse dosing" isn't a bad idea either, if you can get the meds. This eliminates some of the diseases they carry which can cause health issues later. Anyway, all of this I speak of, I learned from a zoologist.

I have some dewormer I can send to you if you want. It will eliminate virtually 99% of the most common parasites they carry. Remember, even if they carry them and they cause no major health issues, they will still do better and live longer if the parasites are cleared. Captivity has a way of causing these things which wild snakes can live with for many years, to suddenly start being a problem whereas they wouldn't necessarily cause problems in the wild.

[RedSidedSPR]

I've never bought any of that stuff, I didn't really know there was meds. I've usually heard most of that stuff has to be done by a vet...
I'd like to do it though.. I'm not going to ask you to send it to me, I'll buy it, but I appreciate it. Thanks.
Where do you find it? How much is it? What forms are they in? Do you spray it on the food? Water? What is "pulse dosing"?

[ConcinusMan]

I've never bought any of that stuff, I didn't really know there was meds. I've usually heard most of that stuff has to be done by a vet...
Where do you find it? How much is it? What forms are they in? Do you spray it on the food? Water? What is "pulse dosing"?

"I've usually heard most of that stuff has to be done by a vet..." Why would you say that? That's just what vets want you to think. Many of the same drugs combined in one dose, that are "prescription only" at a huge markup at the vet, are available over the counter separately. When it comes to simple deworming, a vet is needed for someone who doesn't know what they're doing and wants to pay 100 times more than they need to. A vet will make you do fecal exams to the tune of lord knows how much money, and if it comes up negative (which is frequently a false-negative when it comes to herps) they won't give your snake the necessary med. Then they'll make you follow up with more fecal exams. All this is unecessary. I give it to all wild snakes regardless. If they don't actually have say, tape worms, oh well. I give them Praziquantel anyway. It won't hurt them if you don't overdose them and they are otherwise healthy. I hit them once, then about two weeks later, hit 'em again. If they come out of it and still have worms, then the worms must come from Krypton is all I gotta say, Lol.

"Pulse dosing" reptiles with antibiotics is when you give them higher than the normal daily dose for two or three in a row, stop, wait a while, and do it again. It kills a lot of pathogens that wild snakes carry that can cause disease and problems later on down the road, or spread to other animals in your collection that have no immunity. It's a little different than the sustained dosing you would do when an animal is actually sick and fighting an infection.

The dewormers I use come in tablet form and are a home preventative for cats and dogs. You need an accurate weight of your snake and a scale capable of wieghing very minute weights such as micrograms. You scratch off enough of the pill and you weigh it according to how much your snake needs. How much they should be given depends on their weight.

I give them Praziquantel which is only effective against tapeworms. I give them Pyrantel Pamoate which takes care of most other types of worms and is not effective against tape worms. Often times, snakes that seem perfectly healthy, pass a huge load of worms when I dose them. It's hard on them. They get the squirts, get dehydrated, and a sick snake won't be able to take it. A healthy one will pull through and be much better off afterwards.

[RedSidedSPR]

"I've usually heard most of that stuff has to be done by a vet..." Why would you say that? That's just what vets want you to think. Many of the same drugs combined in one dose, that are "prescription only" at a huge markup at the vet, are available over the counter separately.

I know the drugs themselves are sold, I just thought a vet who knows he's doing has to do it, because I'd mess it up, or because I don't have the equipment etc.
Again I'm gonna ask: What form is the meds? Would I be able to do it myself?

When it comes to simple deworming, a vet is needed for someone who doesn't know what they're doing

That is very likely me

"Pulse dosing" reptiles with antibiotics is when you give them higher than the normal daily dose a day or three in a row, stop, wait a while, and do it again. It kills a lot of pathogens that wild snakes carry that can cause disease and problems later on down the road, or spread to other animals in your collection that have no immunity. It's a little different than the sustained dosing you would do when an animal is actually sick and fighting an infection.

OK gotcha... I'd love to do it, but... I'm not sure I can. How do you do it? 'Cause I really want to, I'm just thinking it's to advanced. But what do i know?


Wait... you mean they don't come from Krypton?!?!?

[ConcinusMan]

That's why I offered to send you the deworming meds. Just weigh your snake in grams accurately (most vets will let you use their scale) and I can send you the right dosage. I promise it won't kill your snake. You just stick it in some food and feed it to them. You keep them cooler than you normally would for a week after that. They will "poop out" a lot of water, and you might even notice dead worms or pieces of tapeworm. Within a week, they are feeling better and the squirts will stop.

The antibiotics aren't absolutely necessary and those are prescription only unless you know someone (a vet or zoologist) that is willing to "hook you up".

[RedSidedSPR]

I may ask you to send me some, thanks. But first, where can I find it? I'd like to see how much it is and whether I can buy/do it myself.... Appreciate the offer.

[ConcinusMan]

I got the deworming drugs online

[RedSidedSPR]

I'll check thanks. If all else fails, you can send me some. 'preciate it.

[Spankenstyne]

Oops missed a bunch of this thread. Richard I'll definitely take you up on that (a female). PM sent