Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a 18lb female boa with a resp. infection. I work at a dog and cat clinic and was able to get the 22.7 concentration Baytril. I've been told by several people to do 5mg/kg. This would mean her dose would be right aroung 2ml. I know it is supposed to go IM in the upper 1/3 along the spine but can I give all 2ml in one injection site? It seems like a lot to be going IM. Also what needle length and gauge would you guys reccomend? Thanks for any input, the big girl appreciates it!

First! i hope you mean 2.27 not 22.7%. otherwise ive been told for that concentration its 0.45ml/kg. i'm not positive though so dont go lighting anyone up just yet

The Baytril 22.7 mg/ml is correct and her dosage would be 2 ml. Remember it needs to go DEEP IM so base your needle gauge and length selection on that.

Not too close to the spine though. Use one of your fingers, or thumb, and press on the spine, and inject next to said finger of thumb. Go at an angle, and get into the muscle good to avoid the burns associated with the drug.

Should I aspirate as w/ the dogs and cats? Make sure I dont get blood (IV) or air (lungs)? Angle towards the midline or lateral? Too bad the vet at my work knows nothing about reptiles! I heard every other day for a week or two. Thanks for the quick responses guys!

Jack

You can aspirate. You should feel it though when you get to the muscle. I used a 5/8 in long 22 or 23 guage on my adult female last year. Worked out fine. You can also split the dose in two spots if you want. But she may not like the second prick.

Your dosage and frequency sound very similar to the one I used last year. But I ain't a vet, or even a vet tech. Just to be fair.

..that comes to 1.86 cc for an 18# boa. 18 lbs divided by 2.2 is 8.18 kg. 8.18 x 5 = 40.9 mg. 40.9 mg divided by 22.7 = 1.86cc

Rounding up to 2cc shouldn't matter, but you could give .14cc less. If you haven't already done it, you could get 100mg per cc generic Baytril and give only 0.4cc total for the dose at 5mg/kg. Giving a smaller amount could lesson reactions at the injection(s) site.

>>I've got a 18lb female boa with a resp. infection. I work at a dog and cat clinic and was able to get the 22.7 concentration Baytril. I've been told by several people to do 5mg/kg. This would mean her dose would be right aroung 2ml. I know it is supposed to go IM in the upper 1/3 along the spine but can I give all 2ml in one injection site? It seems like a lot to be going IM. Also what needle length and gauge would you guys reccomend? Thanks for any input, the big girl appreciates it!

One of the most important things to remember when using Baytril is that you never give more than 1 ml of solution at any given injection site. Even with a very large boid, you need to give multiple injections to avoid more than 1 ml per site. This will significantly lower the chances of tissue damage at the site of the injection. Inject well below the skin level or you will definitely increase the risk skin destruction. Always clean off completely with a wet cloth any excess Baytril that leaks out of the injection site. Baytril should always be dosed at 48 hour intervals and aspiration is not necessary.

Another option is oral dosage of Ciprofloxacin, or Cipro, an antibiotic that is closely related to Baytril and has a little better spectrum of activity. I would only use Cipro if the snake is still eating as the tablet can easily be placed in a small food item.

Kelly

I used Baytril orally with success many times over the years. I use 1.5ml orally for a 15lb pound female recently for 10 days.
I also used 1ml per day for a 10lb male. Both doing well and are back to breeding. I was told by my vet that injecting it can damage or discolor the scales especially with Albinos, Sunglows and Light Hypos.
Just my 2 cents.

Thanks
Mike
Boas Etc

When you gave it orally did you inject the rats w/ liquid baytril?