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probiotics?

Shaky

Shaky

Ought to know better
I dont know much about probiotics, but I have gotten advice to either pick up some lactobacillus from the feed store, or to simply use live acidiphilus in yogurt.
These 2 options seem fairly easy.
Advice?
 
Well like you I dont know much about probiotics for snakes but I wouldnt use yoghurt. Most animals cant digest dairy protein (apart from cows !!) so wouldnt recommend it at all! In fact Ive never heard of using probiotics for snakes anyway. Whatcha using it for??
 
for...

my rat snake who has regurged twice and the second time, the mouse was almost completely undigested.
 
Once a snake regurgitates, you should leave it alone for at least 7-10 days for the acid in the stomach to rebuild. During this time, no handling AT ALL! Just put in fresh water and basically that is it. Other than that, you shouldn't disturb it a bit. When feeding a regurgitated snake, feed an item that is a bit smaller than what it was taking before. Make it take smaller food items so that it can handle the food.

Good Luck and Happy Herping!
 
have done...

did exactly that the first time.
Fed him a much smaller item the next time and it stayed in his gut undigested for 2 weeks.
 
Shaky,
I agree with what Simon says(sorry I couldn't pass that up), but I would like more history--is this a new snake or just a problem feeder. If this snake has been feeding well all along, then you may have a more serious problem. I have never heard of a snake benefiting from any dairy protein. I would be interested in any positive results.

Matt L.
 
Last edited:
history

Always been a timid and sporadic feeder.
has grown less than his mate from same year.
'01 hatch
first regurges ever, though.
had a fecal done, which was negative.
 
Shaky,
Ok-at this point I would stick with smaller food items, isolation(no contact) and maybe bring the temperature up just a bit. I have had some picky or slow feeders, most of them turn into glutton's after a while. Sounds like your doing all you can.

Best of Luck!
Matt L.
 
Shaky, did the vet. say specifically that it was clear of protozoans. As I said before most vets don't have a microscope powerful enough to check for them. If everything is correct with your husbandry, regurge is a prime sign of protozoans. IMHO
 
yep..

I asked him beforehand if they shecked for protozoans. He said yes, then the fecal came up negative. I guess I trust him. I dont really have any other choice.
Talked to someone lately that said he would use flagyl anyway-thats his standard procedure with regurges-and it has never had any ill effects.
I wonder, though, and I dont want to use it.
I'm still stumped as to what to try, if anything. I may just wait awhile and try to feed again.
 
when you said he has grown less compare to his mate, you meant mate right? Not like tank/enclousure mate right?
So what I basically mean is that you don't have him in a tank with another snake in it do you?

If you do, please separate them immediately....
I don't know if I have enterprate that correctly...

Otherwise.....
just stay with the smaller food item.
Get him to another vet and get it checked again.
Wait again for the few days.
Increase temperature a bit.

Good Luck to you and your snake...
 
future mate...

..hatched and purchased at the same time. Kept in seperate enclosures at all times. Have only seen each other thru plastic tubs so far.
But forget all that, I wanted advice on using probiotics.
 
:)

I don't know exactly your situation, or exactly what is going on, but jsut a little info,,,,my Amazon Tree Boa is on a run of Flagyl right now, and the vet so far hasn't recommended probiotics...I am not sure if they should have them or not. Just thought I'd share that tiny piece of info.


bmm
 
I am familiar with probiotics...

We use them on a regular basis at work...for dogs, cats, etc. with digestive problems. We use a brand called probiocin. Do you know what the probiotics are for? Well, I'll tell you just in case...it helps to replace the "good" bacteria in the gut which helps with digestion. It DOES help with regurgitation problems. It works really well, actually, but I have not heard of giving it to a reptile before. I will see what I can find out and let you know tomorrow.
 
Sorry...

...that it took me an extra day to get back to you. It was SUPER crazy at work yesterday and I didn't have the chance to find out anything. Today, I asked the exotics doctor that I work with about using probiotics in reptiles. He has used them in almost every type of animal...including reptiles. He even just finished treating a parakeet with them!!! Anyway, he said that most of the time it actually helps with the digestive problems. He asked how large of a snake you are wanting to treat. Since I wasn't sure, he used the size of one of my snakes to give me a dosage. My snake is just over 500 grams (a little over half a kilogram). He said the dose for my snake would be 1 gram of probiotics.

Good luck! I hope your snake gets better soon!
 
Thanks, Terri..

And a couple more questions..
What brand does he use, and
what are the active ingredients?
Thanks a bunch.
-Jack
 
He uses a brand called Probiocin. I am not sure what the active ingredients are, but I will check on that today.
 
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