Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok guys, it's been a while since I've posted on here but for the most part everyone is doing well. Our sav - Sam - has an abcess on her mouth. It's small spot that we're flushing daily (or attempting to) and giving liquid antibiotics. We saw the vet last Wednesday just to let you know. She really doesn't like us trying to shove the medicine down her throat and I'd have to get a hold of the vet and have them call in a prescription for needles to the local pharmacy in order to get some to inject the antibiotic into her food. Short of doing that is there any easier way to get her the medicine? She's around 2 1/2 feet long and weighed 1.93 kg at the vet's office. Usually pretty nice - hisses at us some - but seriously doesn't like the medicine. Any suggestions are appreciated!

~Katie

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3.6 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow, Worm, Suzie, Soleil, Star, Snickers, Selena, Sunshine)
0.1 Columbian Red Tail Boa (Baby)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and Miss Piggy)
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2 Pac Man Frogs (Gordito and Spud)
0.1 Suriname Toad (Squishy & the Squishettes)
0.0.2 Giant Millipede (Mega & Mila)
0.1 Green Iguana (Iggy)
0.0.1 Red Eared Slider (Tiny)
1.2 Ball Pythons
0.1 Burmese Python

I think you should give the meds as your vet has reccommended.
Sometimes you have to put up with a bit of a struggle and put in some effort when caring for them.

Since your monitor is sick be sure your husbandry is up to par.

I never found it that difficult to give them the meds orally. Just a drop on the front of the mouth while holding there head up. I never had to pry the mouth open or anything.

I find fixing any weak links in my husbandry helps me avoid the vet altogether.
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"Don't just use something because you read it worked, use that something because it does work. If you are to listen to anyone listen to your monitor."

Thanks for the quick response. I think this happened when she bit my boyfriend with gloves on. It was a struggle to get her off and I think she may have lost a tooth or something similar and it then became infected. The problem is the vet wants us to give her 4 mls of the stuff (it doesn't seem like a lot but it is to an unwilling monitor). I called and they said that the medicine won't be absorbed as well if we inject it. So now the question is any suggestions on getting her to cooperate? Husbandry is good - temps are right on (or will be as soon as we get the replacement bulb for her later - other one burned out this morning). Has her hide and water dish as well. We're already starting to plan her bigger, permanent cage for when she's fully grown. It was interesting though - the vet said that she doesn't see monitors the size of ours because most of the time they don't make it that far. I found that very sad.

~Katie
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3.6 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow, Worm, Suzie, Soleil, Star, Snickers, Selena, Sunshine)
0.1 Columbian Red Tail Boa (Baby)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and Miss Piggy)
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2 Pac Man Frogs (Gordito and Spud)
0.1 Suriname Toad (Squishette)
0.1 Green Iguana (Iggy)
0.0.1 Red Eared Slider (Tiny)
1.2 Ball Pythons
0.1 Burmese Python (temporary)

That would not cause an infection. There immune system can handle that and lots lots more, when healthy. FR

loosing a tooth will not cause such a problem. If it did then your husbandry must be off.

A healthy monitor will heal very fast. Example the gator living in the canal near me missing his rear leg. He never seen a vet but healed up very quickly. The leg was no doubt bitten off by another gator. Reptiles have been helaing themselves for many years. It's whether or not they are supplied with the means necessary. This could be for healing, breeding, growing, etc..

That is why so many of us push for checking double checking and rechecking of husbandry methods. Why we give ranges rather then saying something spot on to go by. It is only close to spot on when your monitor says it is.

As for the injection of antibiotics, it is much easier to inject it into food. Like FR mentioned inject it into a mouse. Adding more holes to a monitor already having trouble healing will not be much help.

If you do not address the issues that caused the problem in the meantime then most likely the monitor will not heal.
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"Don't just use something because you read it worked, use that something because it does work. If you are to listen to anyone listen to your monitor."

inject it in the mice you feed it.

Also, consider looking at it wholelistically, Figure how what caused the problem, then the problem will diasppear all on its own. That is considering you went to the vet and your doing what the vet recomended.

Consider, healthy monitors do not get infections unless they are stressed, or old(which is its own form of stress, I know)

The antibiotics are to cure the infection, now fix the cause. Good luck FR

didnt read other posts but i go to a local feed store to get mine. They have them all sizes, some ask you questions what your going to use them for "i just say im going to inject my friends wife's veins with some air bubbles" and they usualy sell them to me after they meet her.

the needles be used for injecting the monitor or the food?

Just curious as if someone is un-familiar in the method of how to inject the meds with a needle what good will it do the monitor?
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"Don't just use something because you read it worked, use that something because it does work. If you are to listen to anyone listen to your monitor."

I believe the question was how to get antibiotics into the food, unless i misunderstood.

Vets will usualy provide the syringes to inject the monitor yourself(if thats what he intended). My vet gives me the syringes if he intends me to inject them.

I didn't see the part of injecting food in the post above. My badd

I was thinking they wanted to inject the monitor itself rather then doing the meds oraly. Which to me is the better choice.

Oh well guess I need more sleep today haha
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"Don't just use something because you read it worked, use that something because it does work. If you are to listen to anyone listen to your monitor."

i used to use tetracycline to deal with mouth fungus or the like...thats not an antibiotic but allows the immune system to go at it and work.....a lot of the simple problems i have had in the past are now gone just by having temperature/humidity/choices..(a basking site to speed up metabolism..as well as adequate humidity so the animal can take in moisture through it's skin)now too much humidity without sunlight or someway to control mold can be trouble also...so good luck.....billy

Yes, tetracycline is an antibiotic.

The issue had been beat to death and it is all in agreance that husbandry needs constant improvement.

I dislike the relations to wild herps because, they are wild. They not only have the perfect husbandry (lets face it, we cannot exacly mimic the wild indoors) but if you have noticed, most are all scarred up, and don't live nearly as long as the average, well taken care of herp. Reptiles have absolutely amazing healing abilities, but with modern husbandry skills, and ever evolving reptile medicine we can keep our varanids happier, longer.

As for your case specifically, your monitor may already be happy and healthy husbandry wise, as any injury has the potential to abscess. It is part of the normal healing process, although healthy monitors are less likely to form one than a sick animal.

Stress must be taken into consideration as well, and although I agree that the vet presciption should be followed to the letter, if there is an absolute problem of restraint then ask them to reconsider the antibiotic/prey method. Don't do it simply because it is easier though.

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks so much for all of the replies. The vet said that the medicine wouldn't be absorbed as well if we injected it into Sam's food so we're dealing with forcing it to her. She doesn't like it but it's the best thing for her. There are two scenarios that I can think of that caused this. Either she's slightly stressed because she wants more space (working on the custom enclosure plans) or she had it when we got her and it's just now getting to the point where you can see it (we got her from PetCo - yes, I know...). Either way, she's still eating fine and basking and her behaviors haven't changed. We'll just continue the antibiotics and take her back in a while for a check up. Thanks again!

~Katie
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3.6 Cornsnakes (Slink, Shadow, Worm, Suzie, Soleil, Star, Snickers, Selena, Sunshine)
0.1 Columbian Red Tail Boa (Baby)
0.3 Leopard Geckos (Cutie, Lily, and Miss Piggy)
0.1 Savannah Monitor (Sam)
0.2 Pac Man Frogs (Gordito and Spud)
0.1 Suriname Toad (Squishette)
0.1 Green Iguana (Iggy)
0.0.1 Red Eared Slider (Tiny)
1.2 Ball Pythons
0.1 Burmese Python (temporary)