Soaking a snake in Gatorade?

[emroul]

I've seen it around (on other forums; I can't say I've seen it here, but I could be wrong) that sometimes people suggest soaking a dehydrated Ball python in Gatorade. Now, considering it came from a good guy, I would like to trust him. But I've never heard of this before. Can some one explain, if you don't mind? He was talking about how it soaks up electrolytes, or something to that nature, but it sounds fishy. (Oh, and he was giving advice to someone else, not me.)

So I'm coming to you guys about it first, before I go giving that kind of suggestion to someone else, or use it on my snakes one day.

Thanks! :thumbsup:
Jennifer

[Linds]

Snakes aren't amphibians, so it won't have much more effect than regular water would. I've heard it suggested several times, but there really isn't much logic behind it, and will likely make your snake stickier than hydrated :rolleyes: If a snake is dehydrated, I would recommend orally administering a small amount of unflavoured pedialyte. The stuff works wonders :cool:

[ChunkyMunky]

haha that is whack, reminds me of the mustard method lol, Matt K do you still have that convo?

[Matt_K]

LMFAO!!! Oh, i definatly have that convo still bro..

[ReptiZone]

Guys that was so not funny you all had me going on that one it sounded to freaky to be wierd LOL but you all di get me on that one it was a good laugh after I verfied if it was a fawls.

Bad enugh My BCI had a runny fecus and you all had me praying my mustard don't turn green.

[BoidKeeper]

I would not use gatorade regardless of it's intended purpose. Instead I would go to the pharmacy and purchase some pedialite(sp). It's given to dehydrated infants. It's full of electrolites and no preservatives or sugar. There are two draw backs to buying it. It's expensive and has 0 shelf life once it's open that's it.
It's best if your snake wants to drink but if it doesn't you would have to tub it into there stomach. This should only be done by someone with experience, like a vet who has done it before. Also this is usually only performed for the most extreme cases.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Piers]

They have a pedialite that comes as "freezys" you can cut and thaw what you need, no wast.
Piers.
guppyranch@uniserve.com

[mykee]

Mind you, with the Gatorade, you can have rainbow-coloured snakes. I'm with Trevor, and if you absolutely must, go with the Pedialyte.

[Auskan]

Skin is an organ that has several intended purposes, one of which is to act as a barrier. So while certain meds and patches can be put on the skin and absorbed through the skin, most things cannot. Although I haven't done any studies on Gatorade in particular, I would guess that due to its composition, it is one of those things that cannot be absorbed by the skin and therefore would only make the snake sticky.

[marisa]

It doesn't soak up, it stains the skin. If you look on fauna, a couple people have definitly done this, and then gone on to try and sell the "red" (or whatever color) ball pythons in one specific example.

Marisa

[snakey]

Here is what to do for a dehidrated animal assuming it will eat, however if it eats, it should not be dehydrated. Any rate, get ahold of a hypodermic sirynge.Inject the prey { mice, rats, etc.} with water. Then feed to the snake in question. This is also helpful for constipation. Or worse case get a dushe bottle or a turkey baister and squirt some down the gullet {last resort}. Soaking can help if for no other reason than the snake is more likely to drink if surrounded by water, but water only please!

[daver676]

Originally posted by snakey
Here is what to do for a dehidrated animal assuming it will eat, however if it eats, it should not be dehydrated. Any rate, get ahold of a hypodermic sirynge.Inject the prey { mice, rats, etc.} with water. Then feed to the snake in question. This is also helpful for constipation. Or worse case get a dushe bottle or a turkey baister and squirt some down the gullet {last resort}. Soaking can help if for no other reason than the snake is more likely to drink if surrounded by water, but water only please!

A turkey baster?? That sounds like a bad idea. Do you not have to run a tube into the stomach of the snake as opposed to just "shooting" it down the throat??

[Siretsap]

I think he just mean to poor it in it's mouth, I use a seringue for my leopard geckos, put it in their mouth (not down any tube) and gently make the liquids go in it's mouth, it will swallow it.

also, in snakes, don't they breathe by that little air hole they have in the bottom of their mouth? so I would think the only way down the throat is to the stomach... might be wrong, anyone know for sure?

[Ace]

I had to give medication ORALLY to one of my snakes. The vet told me to open the mouth, place the syringe toward the back of the throat and press. No tubes involved.

[rwg]

I expect a soaking snake is pretty likely to drink, especially a dehydrated snake. I dont think the gatorade would help through the skin much, and may even be "bad", but chances are it'll end up drinking some.

My understanding is that gatorade and pedialyte aren't all that different. Different concentrations of the electrolyrtes is about all. Pedialyte is probably a safer bet, but I dont know much about snake electrolyte requirements.

[Boid_22]

IN my past experience, I have successfully used pedialyte, And in emrgency situations where pedialyte wasn't available to me i used gatorade and it rendered the same effect. You should use pedialyte, I only tried gatorade as a last resort.

The method i used was a 6" g.i. tube on a 5 cc syringe, Read the instructions carefully! As you don't want to over do it. I have never tried the soaking method but its definately worth a go if you dont feel comfortable handleing your snake in a manner that will most likely stress it out, Or if you don't have someone with past experience to help you.

Regards.....Ed Holder