Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to treat several snakes with Panacur (FBZ) as a prophylatic means to rid them of any parasites. I know the dosage I will use for the various weight snakes. My question is what is the best way to administer this drug? Option are: syringe via mouth avoiding trachea, syringe and stomach tube via mouth, or gut loading mouse and feeding? What way would you recommend? Please describe how you do it. I plan to use a Panacur(FBZ) 10% suspension, 100mg/ml.

My vet recommends injecting a prekill directly before feeding. It's too thick to press through a needle so I inject it without the needle through the rodents mouth. If you are familiar with the other methods you mention they will work just as well. In fact if it is a treatment you'll have to repeat in a scheduled day (ie. in one week re-treat) you'll be better off to use one of the other methods due to the fact when put within a rodent the snake isn't treated immediately they have to digest through the rodent before the medicine begins aborbing. We all know that the digestion of the rodents can vary depending on rodent size, temperature, individual momentary circumstances. So the timing won't be exact. But for a single treatment loading the rodent works well.

When using fenbendazole, one easy way is to weigh the powder to the proper dosage and then place in a gel capsule. These can be purchased at most pharmacies. The capsule is then placed under the skin, through an incision, into the smallest feeder animal that can be used. There will be a day or two delay in the release, but also the same release lag time on any additional dosages, so the spacing of the dosages will be consistent.

Kelly

Kelly, Thanks for your reply. I've got Safeguard, a 10% suspension of fenbendazole. Can I still use the capsule and place the proper dosage in it and put this in the feeder mouse? If I want to use a catheter and small syringe what size catheter should I use for corn snakes and kingsnakes weighing from 120 to 470 grams. I know how to calculate the correct dose depending on the body wt. of the snake, etc. I'm just not sure of how best to administer it.

I have read several journals written by very reputable vets not to count on defined consistant lag times due to digestion. I will concur that fenbendazole don't need to be extremely defined but if you practice a specific method why not apply it everywhere.

I would agree with you if the drug of topic were an antibiotic or other orally administered drug where serum concentration, half-life, or toxicity was an issue. However, with fenbendazole, none of those issues exist and so the lag time in dissolution and subsequent release of this drug is unimportant in these cases. Fenbendazole has a massive safety factor and intervals between dosages are greatly spaced, not nearly as time critical, and can be off by several days with absolutely no adverse effects.

DBurdick:
As far as using the 10% solution in a gel capsule, the volume of liquid would be too great for the gel cap, so you would need to go with the tubing method when using this suspension. I would probably us a 10 FR or 12 FR size catheter with these snakes depending on the viscosity of the suspension. Good luck.

Kelly