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Administering meds orally to snake?

SnakeAround

SnakeAround

Formerly Blutengel
I'm wondering; I have to administer Vibravet to my snake with a syringe for a couple of weeks. How deep should I put the syringe into her throath? I used to just put in the syringe and deliver the fluid into the back of her mouth at the entrance of her throath. But she lets quite some fluid get out of her mouth each portion that way so I worry about not getting in enough (I administer it in 3 or 4 portions cause she wriggles too much to get in everything all at once).

Today I put the narrow top of the syringe actually in the entrance of her throath so I didn't see the top anymore. It did seem to work and she was less able to wiggle and turn her head that way so I got it in in 2 portions and probabaly all at once the next time. So far so good. But I just want to know if I can possibly damage something this way? Do snakes actually have 'a lid' to close their throath or don't they? I don't feel anything like a bump or so when I put in the syringe and the fluid just passes easily after pressing out the fluid.... Also it seems like there is less production of slime after administering it this way... her mouth used to be full of crystal clear slime for quite some time after using my 'old' method.

Tnx in advance!

BTW; of course I could have asked the vet but the snake was all back in her bag again and I was in a hurry so I forgot... I don't like calling him for questions cause I always end up with an assistent asking him my Q, calling back later, ask any further Q's to him and call back again... it just doesn't work.
 
sounds like you've hit on the right method to me, from syringing Lil I know it's harder to describe than to do, and if there's less slime maybe you got the med far enough down that it didn't irritate? :shrugs:
 
If you are using a 1cc (1 ml aka tuberculin) syringe and the snake is large enough (able to eat medium size pinky as an estimate), you can probably insert the syringe a good inch down the throat to make sure the snake gets all the medication without spitting any out. I've used this method when necessary, but have since gotten some metal, ball tipped straight feeding tubes that I can insert quite a way down a snake's throat to administer oral meds. The entrance to the trachea (windpipe) in snakes is much more forward in the snake's mouth and actually pretty hard to insert anything into by accident. You can also lightly dip the end of the syringe in some vegetable oil to make it more slippery for a smooth insertion with minimal irritation.
 
Wow, tnx Szan for the reassurance! Further question; since the administering of the med. she is 'gorgling' (sound) a bit again and some mucus is visible in the back of her throat now and then. Could this be from irritation of the throat or should I worry about her RI getting back again?
 
It sure sounds like a RI. What exactly is in the medication she is being treated with? Is there and antibiotic? I'm not familiar with Vibravet. Your vet may need to due a culture and sensitivity to make sure the correct medication is being given. Also, just to make sure, you have your snake at slightly warmer temps as that helps treat RI.
 
Well, she now receives antibio for her stomach problem (the Vibravet), not for her RI. She had RI in December and gor another antibio. But I do think it has something to do with the oral med. now, cause the slime appears after administering it. Most of the time during the process some fluid does flow back and/or is pushed forward into her mouth and nose when she closes her mouth. It just floods sometimes. I think it has to do with the med. irritating the insides of her nostrils/airpipe. The slime is clear now, which it wasn't when she had the RI. I really try to get the med. in without some flooding into the front part of her mouth but it is difficult. I feel sorry for her cause I assume it does feel bad when fluid floods through your nostrils but she doesn't gasp for air or choke on it fortunately. After about half an hour now I don't see major signs of irritation anymore and in the morning after the administering I hardly hear any sound from her breathing. She still is active, alert and strong enough to try to fight against the med. being applied so I keep an close eye on her but await some more administerings before contacting the vet again. My technique improves so it should get less and less of a bad experience for her...
 
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