Changes

===Fluid===

===Fluid===

Dehydration is common in sick snakes so it is important that fluid therapy forms part of supportive care. Rehydration is imperative prior to nutritional support or drug therapy. Methods include water baths, oral fluid (using an orogastric tube) and parenteral fluid. Water baths three times daily are a simple way of helping rehydration. All fluids should be warmed to within the POTZ prior to their use.

Dehydration is common in sick snakes so it is important that fluid therapy forms part of supportive care. Rehydration is imperative prior to nutritional support or drug therapy. Methods include water baths, oral fluid (using an orogastric tube) and parenteral fluid. Water baths three times daily are a simple way of helping rehydration. All fluids should be warmed to within the [[Preferred optimum temperature zone|POTZ]] prior to their use.

====Oral fluids====

====Oral fluids====

Fluids can be supplied to snakes by an orogastric tube e.g. a French catheter. The mouth is opened and a mouth gag applied. Try a cleaned old radiographic film with hole cut in the centre. The snake is held vertically. The lubricated tube can be passed through the hole of the radiographic film into the oesophagus and the snake’s mouth will not be damaged. The tube is then passed to the level of the stomach. The stomach volume is approximately 2% bodyweight so do not exceed this when administering fluids by stomach tube.

Fluids can be supplied to snakes by an orogastric tube e.g. a French catheter. The mouth is opened and a mouth gag applied. Try a cleaned old radiographic film with hole cut in the centre. The snake is held vertically. The lubricated tube can be passed through the hole of the radiographic film into the oesophagus and the snake’s mouth will not be damaged. The tube is then passed to the level of the stomach. The stomach volume is approximately 2% bodyweight so do not exceed this when administering fluids by stomach tube.

====Amount and concentration====

====Amount and concentration====

Maintenance fluid can be given at 2.5% bodyweight/day, preferably PO but parenteral if necessary. For severe dehydration up to 40ml/kg/day can be administered. Fluid balance in snakes is poorly understood but snakes may have a lower plasma osmotic pressure than mammals. A slightly diluted mammalian rehydration fluid therefore appears appropriate. An appropriate fluid is a 50:50 combination of dextrose 5% in water and a nonlactated, isotonic multiple electrolyte solution.

Maintenance fluid can be given at 2.5% bodyweight/day, preferably PO but parenteral if necessary. For severe dehydration up to 40ml/kg/day can be administered. Fluid balance in snakes is poorly understood but snakes may have a lower plasma osmotic pressure than mammals. A slightly diluted mammalian rehydration fluid therefore appears appropriate. An appropriate fluid is a 50:50 combination of dextrose 5% in water and a nonlactated, isotonic multiple electrolyte solution.

===Environment===

===Environment===

Reptiles have metabolic rates of about one tenth that of mammals or birds so thermal support is essential for ill snakes. At all times maintain hospitalised snakes within their POTZ with a temperature gradient and, if critical, maintain them at the upper end of their POTZ.  Snakes also need to have a hiding place and attention should be paid to humidity control. To reduce stress the snakes should only be handled at feeding times. A veterinary hospital with reptiles as in-patients requires fully-functioning vivaria.  

Reptiles have metabolic rates of about one tenth that of mammals or birds so thermal support is essential for ill snakes. At all times maintain hospitalised snakes within their POTZ with a temperature gradient and, if critical, maintain them at the upper end of their POTZ.  Snakes also need to have a hiding place and attention should be paid to humidity control. To reduce stress the snakes should only be handled at feeding times. A veterinary hospital with reptiles as in-patients requires fully-functioning vivaria.