Snake anatomy

[Funkstaa]

I just bought fluffy (4 yr old spotted) home from the vet as we're carrying on with antibiotics for another week before we decide if we want to go ahead with operating-

The vet showed me last time how to give injections to my dragons and this time all the instruction I was given was not to inject in the first third or last third of his body but after I looked up anatomy I'm a little concerned!

Does anyone with expierience have any advice, I'm going to ring the vet in the morning if I'm not 100% with it but we are 3 hours from there, at the time while at the vet it seemed alot simpler but now seeing what I could possible be pushing the needle into, I have to admit I'm overwhelmed...

 

[waruikazi]

Depending how big he is you should be able to pinch a bit of skin up and inject into the body between the skin and the ribs. I have done this in the past and it worked for me. It helps if you have the snake bagged while you do this.

 

[hugsta]

What are you injecting? In in what way is it supposed to be injected? Intramuscular, subcutaneous? Generally 'anti-biotics' such as Fortum is injected into the muscle, so a 1/3rd way down the body either side of the spine into the muscle area facing the needle in the direction of the head entering in under a scale is normally the way.

Depending how big he is you should be able to pinch a bit of skin up and inject into the body between the skin and the ribs. I have done this in the past and it worked for me. It helps if you have the snake bagged while you do this.

it does help. just don't inject the snake through the bag for fear of contamination.

 

[Funkstaa]

Sorry should have been more specific, it's fortum sonyeah into muscle I'm just worried I'll do it in the wrong spot : / I'm not worried about physically doing it(although stumped how I will hold him) but more concerned on the part of his body as to where to inject..prob freaking over nothing but that pic put me off big time

 

[pythonmum]

The thickest muscles are alongside the spine, so aim for those.

 

[Funkstaa]

Thanks guys! I get the muscle is the best spot but from the attached pic which section of body is the safest to inject near?

 

[spilota_variegata]

The picture isn't really much help. I (actually my wife as I'm the snake holder and she's the injector) aim for about 1/2 cm away from the spine. I usually aim for the bulkiest part of the body and ensure that the needle goes in several mm and parallel to the spine. I'm lucky as my wife is a nurse and is very good giving injections.

 

[Funkstaa]

The injections are going well I think I was stressing over the unknown but he doesn't even flinch so that's a plus...Thanks to everyone that gave advice.
I need some advice now on a different perspective with Fluffy - The vet did an xray, ultrasound and a biopsy and 'thinks' it's a cyst or tumor not sure if it's cancer...He has lost a dramatic amount of weight this week, I can't get him to eat and the xray showed there is bone stuch infront of the lump that he can't pass until we do something about his lump - Here's where your advice is needed...The vet said he is unsure if the colon goes beside or through the lump so unsure if surgery will have the outcome that I want, it cost $500 for the initial xray's etc, it will be another $400 for the surgery and I initially paid $450 for Fluffy so short of naming him my spotted gtp where do I draw the line, not knowing if it's 'fixable'?
Do I have any other options? He can't not eat forever and his last feed was November 4th, he seems slow and docile and I just want him to be happy and healthy : /