B12 & small animals.

bensnacks · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2002, 03:16 PM

Should B12 be administered to small (not much bigger than hatchling) size animals.??
What is a good source.?

Same Q again but as to anti-biotics to treat scale rot.??
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bensnacks · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:56 PM

The reason I ask is I have recently taken charge of three spotted pythons,
they are all approx 1yr old but are very small for their age (thinner than my pinkie)
. I'm guessing this is because they have been fed nothing but , of all things, gecko's.
They haven't fed for approx three months however don't appear to have lost much condition
despite this fast.
I'm trying to get a pinkie into them so I can at least get a fecal sample (I'm expecting
to find parasites due to the geko's )and to set them on the way to a proper diet.I was thinking of using B12 to
get them really hungry as a last resort.
Oh yea and one of the little buggers have the early signs of scale rot .I have learnt that anti -biotics probly would'nt
be a good idea due to dehydration .
So what about the B12??
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eddie · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 02:13 PM

The B12 is a good appetite stimulant and will not harm them unless done in massive doses.

For the scale rot, if not too bad it can some times be cleared up with neosporin and by raising temps and lowering humidity some what. Keep that one on a paper substrate to keep moisture off its belly and a water bowl too small to soak in. And yes, antibiotics may be a little strong for it right now.

Since all of them are somewhat small then concentrate on getting them rehydrated with orally administered water if needed and get them eating. This is the biggest step in their recovery, especially the one with SR.
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bensnacks · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 02:27 PM

They aren't showing any visible signs of dehydration atm.

The SR fellas floor had pools of water on it when I picked them up !!, got their cages set up right now.

Neosprin is an ointment I take it??
And can you just use human vitamin capsules as a B12 source??? (a fraction of one of course)
Should you put it in the drinking water, or tube feed it ,or other??
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eddie · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 02:37 PM

Neosporin is an ointment, sold typically in huiman drug stores. It's also commonly called Bacitracin, triple antibiotic, etc.

The ingredients to look for are : Polymyxin B Sulfate-Bacitracin Zinc-Neomycin Sulfate.
Get the type with NO PAIN RELIEF AT ALL! The lydocain and other pain meds are bad for herps.

The B12, you can get it as an injectible from a vet or as an oral from most pet stores. Don't use the human pills etc. Most pets stores should carry it usually mixed in with other vitamins for oral use only.
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JuliusSqueezer · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 10:33 PM

I would just squirt a little B12 into or on a pinkie and push it down with a pinkie press. B12 works great. I got a huge vile of injectable B12 at a farm supply store.
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bensnacks · #7 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 12:34 PM

Trouble is I was hoping to use the B12 in order to get them to take a pinkie on their own.
Without resorting to aided / forced feeding a pinkie pump or injections, I'll only use thatas an absolute last
resort.
Thanks for the info guys!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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bensnacks · #8 (**permalink**) 10-19-2002, 10:07 AM

The Neosporin, or equivelent containing above ingredients is not
avail. over the counter here.
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif[/img] , I would need a doctors consult to get a script costing $40 on top of the price
of the medicine.!
If they were my snakes there would be no question but I can't afford that for
someone else's snakes [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img] .
I tried one vets the same story on the animal equivelent (Tricin triple anti-biotic).
There is one final avenue, the only vet w/ some herp knowledge is back from
hols on monday. I may be able to convince him to give it over the counter ,fingers crossed. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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JuliusSqueezer · #9 (**permalink**) 10-19-2002, 04:39 PM

What? did you try a drug store? I don't know what's in Australia...but surely they have some kind of antibiotic ointment over the counter there. The Neosporin we are talking about is not sold for vet use...it is sold for people use. any goo'll do. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Can you get betadine? if so...you can dilute it heavily with water...like a cc or 2 of betadine into a liter of water....the mix should not be dark at all..just stained to the color of weak tea. You can soak him in that for an hour a day and it should help clear up scale rot. However...you will see no improvment untill sheds occur no matter what you use.

I prefer neosporin or some kind of antibiotic ointment over betadine...but ya gotta use what ya can get I guess. Be careful with the betadine though...it does do a wee bit of cell damage ...at full strength your snake will get chemical burns...heavily diluted though is ok other than it may stain your snake's belly for a while [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

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bensnacks · #10 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 11:02 AM

Yeah Jule's I realised Neosporin was sold w/ people in mind.But when I gave the
pharmasist the list of ingredients Eddie gave above they were adamant they were
script only.
I was shying away from other products because I couldn't be sure they did not contain
pain killer.
We do have betadine avail. but I recalled seeing pics of the burns it can cause thought it wasn't
recommended by you guys.

So how diluted should it be ?? 1 part betadine to 10 parts water or what??

Thanks ,this is going to make things so much easier! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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JuliusSqueezer · #11 (**permalink**) 10-21-2002, 05:27 AM

just fill up a jar of water and dropper in a couple of drops till it stains it the color of weak tea. Then it wont burn....I don't like using it too much but when diluted like this, it wont cause any problem. Most people err by using too much. Use it sparingly and like I said before, don't expect any results till the next shed.
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