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[[Image:Prep_cropped.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Supportive care includes environment, nutrition and fluids''' © RVC]]

[[Image:Prep_cropped.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Supportive care includes environment, nutrition and fluids''' © RVC]]

Supportive care is an important consideration in treating snakes during illness and emergencies and may be necessary as well as aetiology-specific therapy.

Supportive care is an important consideration in treating snakes during illness and emergencies and may be necessary as well as aetiology-specific therapy.

An important part of supportive care is the provision of adequate nutrition. This involves determination of the energy requirements and the method of administration. Protein should also be supplied at 4-5 g per 100 kcal. Once the patient is rehydrated nutritional support can be initiated. It is generally recommended that nutritional support be provided to a patient that has lost 10% bodyweight acutely or 20% chronically. Food can be in the form of whole prey or commercial nutritional preparations. Cat and dog foods are not recommended due to the high content of non-animal protein.

An important part of supportive care is the provision of adequate nutrition. This involves determination of the energy requirements and the method of administration. Protein should also be supplied at 4-5 g per 100 kcal. Once the patient is rehydrated nutritional support can be initiated. It is generally recommended that nutritional support be provided to a patient that has lost 10% bodyweight acutely or 20% chronically. Food can be in the form of whole prey or commercial nutritional preparations. Cat and dog foods are not recommended due to the high content of non-animal protein.

'''For more information, see''' [[Snake Feeding]] '''and''' [[Snake Diet]].

'''For more information, see''' [[Snake Feeding and Digestion]] '''and''' [[Snake Diet]].

===Determination of requirements===

===Determination of energy requirements===

The basal metabolic rate for snakes kept at 30°C can be calculated from bodyweight using the following formula: Kcal/day = 32kg 0.76. Energy requirements increase above the basal metabolic rate due to activity, reproduction, growth and sickness. The basal metabolic rate is multiplied by a factor to reflect these energy requirements. For a convalescing snake (stressed, sick, burnt etc) this is about 2.  Convalescing snakes can be fed whole prey (chicks and rodents) that can be blenderised or commercial preparations (Vetark’s Critical Care Formulation and Hill’s AD). These can be mixed with fluid such as lactated ringers or saline.

The basal metabolic rate for snakes kept at 30°C can be calculated from bodyweight using the following formula: Kcal/day = 32kg 0.76. Energy requirements increase above the basal metabolic rate due to activity, reproduction, growth and sickness. The basal metabolic rate is multiplied by a factor to reflect these energy requirements. For a convalescing snake (stressed, sick, burnt etc) this is about 2.  Convalescing snakes can be fed whole prey (chicks and rodents) that can be blenderised or commercial preparations (Vetark’s Critical Care Formulation and Hill’s AD). These can be mixed with fluid such as lactated ringers or saline.

It is obviously worthwhile trying to coax the snake to take the prey that is offered: try gently slapping the prey against the side of the snake’s head. If this fails, nutritional support by involuntary means will be necessary.  Snakes can be force-fed with either whole prey or commercial nutritional support preparations. Whole prey can be lubricated and passed nose first through a mouth pried open. The prey is then milked down the oesophagus. This may be stressful. Alternatively, blenderised whole prey or commercial preparations can fed through an orogastric tube. Both procedures can be done under light sedation.

It is obviously worthwhile trying to coax the snake to take the prey that is offered: try gently slapping the prey against the side of the snake’s head. If this fails, nutritional support by involuntary means will be necessary.  Snakes can be force-fed with either whole prey or commercial nutritional support preparations. Whole prey can be lubricated and passed nose first through a mouth pried open. The prey is then milked down the oesophagus. This may be stressful. Alternatively, blenderised whole prey or commercial preparations can fed through an orogastric tube. Both procedures can be done under light sedation.

==Fluid==

==Fluid Therapy==

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.

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 snake's [[Preferred optimum temperature zone|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 a 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 a 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.

===Miscellaneous===

===Miscellaneous===

Most drugs have not had pharmacokinetic studies done in reptiles. Their use is generally bases on experience and their use in other animals.  If you think that you have found a useful treatment inform others! Publish it in the British Veterinary Zoological Society newsletter or the Bulletin of the Association of Amphibian and Reptilian Veterinarians.

Most drugs have not had pharmacokinetic studies done in reptiles. Their use is generally bases on experience and their use in other animals.  If you think that you have found a useful treatment inform others! Publish it in the British Veterinary Zoological Society newsletter or the Bulletin of the Association of Amphibian and Reptilian Veterinarians.

[[Category:Snake_Therapeutics]]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[Category:Snake_Procedures|B]]