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→Antibiotics
The principles of medication in snakes are similar to domestic animals. Always ensure adequate hydration prior to giving any medication.
The principles of medication in snakes are similar to domestic animals. Always ensure adequate hydration prior to giving any medication.
====Antibiotics====
====Antibiotics====
Microscopy, culture and sensitivity are necessary to establish aetiology and the resistance/sensitivity of antibiotics prior to therapy. The use of antibiotics has changed dramatically with the availability of fluoroquinolones. These antibiotics are relatively non-toxic in the animal, are bacteriocidal and presently a low level of resistance is seen. Other antibiotics such as amikacin may be efficacious but have problems with safety. The use of chloramphenicol should be discouraged because of its use in human medicine. Dosages of antibiotics vary between taxa but enrofloxacin given at 5 mg/kg every second day should be efficacious
Microscopy, culture and sensitivity are necessary to establish aetiology and the resistance/sensitivity of antibiotics prior to therapy. The use of antibiotics has changed dramatically with the availability of fluoroquinolones. These antibiotics are relatively non-toxic in the animal, are bacteriocidal and presently a low level of resistance is seen. Other antibiotics such as amikacin may be efficacious but have problems with safety. The use of chloramphenicol should be discouraged because of its use in human medicine. Dosages of antibiotics vary between taxa.
====Analgesics====
====Analgesics====
Perception of pain in reptiles may not be as obvious as in mammals. This does not mean that analgesia should be ignored. Analgesics commonly used in veterinary medicine include the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (carprofen) and opioid agonist-antagonists (buprenorphine and butorphanol).
Perception of pain in reptiles may not be as obvious as in mammals. This does not mean that analgesia should be ignored. Analgesics commonly used in veterinary medicine include the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (carprofen) and opioid agonist-antagonists (buprenorphine and butorphanol).