force feeding advice?

[JuliaGoolia]

Trying to get a little advice here...

I have an aprox. 9-10 m/o normal female ball - she's been sick - and taken to the vet.. currently being medicated.

(Original thread:http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=57176 for the history on this...)

She hasn't eaten in about 3 weeks, as she really just doesn't have that much control to strike yet. Her anti-biotic has a vitamin supplement added, but the vet shares our concern with her being so young and not having the nutrition she needs, and suggested that we try force feeding her a pinky or two(Normally, she can eat a normal size mouse or baby rat...)

Any tips and tricks on how to do this? I can get a cat/dog to swallow a pill, but I have a feeling this is going to be a tad bit more complicated..

After I post, I'll search and see if there has been a thread on this already.. and hopefully get all sorts of feedback in the meantime

Thanks SO much!

[West Coast Jungle]

How much does she weigh? Has she lost weight? 3 weeks isn't that much for a BP that has adequate body weight. I have had Bp's fast for 4-5 months with no ill side effects. I didn't read your other thread but if the snake is getting antibiotics it probably won't want to eat. Force feeding is extremely stressful on a snake and should only be done as a last resort. if she isn't loosing weight and sunken in i wouldn't force and just wait till she is better. if she was eating small rats and is 9 months old I would figure she has some size to her?

[littleindiangirl]

9-10 months is a good size for a BP to go without food for a while... Have you first tried assist feeding?

[JuliaGoolia]

To be honest, we had her weighed when we brought her in to the vet last week, and I meant to write it down, and it completely slipped my mind. The only scale I have in the house is a cheap kitchen pound scale....

She looks a little dehydrated, from what I can tell by things I've read.. a little wrinkle here and there where she's bent..?? but I know she's drinking..I've seen her in the water, and I've watched her throat to see if she was getting anything down...

The avatar I have is a picture of her in October when we got her.. she hasn't gotten too much bigger than that - she's had one shed before she got sick.

I know that force feeding is stressful.... but being that the vet suggested it (I don't know exactly what her "specialty" is, but she is the exotic vet in the next town over..) shouldn't I try it??

I just want our girl to get better.....*sigh*

[JuliaGoolia]

Assist feeding? Okay... I guess I'm new to that terminology...

What is that?

[JuliaGoolia]

although I understand that 3-4 weeks isn't a long time as far as fasting goes - is it any different because she is trying to fight this infection??

[West Coast Jungle]

although I understand that 3-4 weeks isn't a long time as far as fasting goes - is it any different because she is trying to fight this infection??

Most snakes won't eat when they are sick.
Assist feeding and force feeding are different.

Force feeding is much more stressful and a much higher chance of regurge which could do more harm than the illness she's got. They can get severe burns from stomach acids.

Assist feeding is done mostly to hatchlings that haven't had their first meal and helps get their natural feeding response going.

I would wait until you are done with meds and then try feeding after 4 or 5 days.

[JuliaGoolia]

Along with your advice, ive decided to wait. I didn't think she was losing weight just by looking at her, but I couldnt be sure as I don't have a good digi scale here.. but she looks as though she is about to go into her 2nd shed.. her scales are dull and her eyes are starting to get "that" look to them..
so given that, I'm guessing she's doing okay as far as her weight goes. Now I'm just a little nervous to give her her meds (all 3!!??) while she's about to shed. She's cranky enough....

Ahhh... all for the love of little Dagron....

[Simple Man]

3 weeks isn't anything for most snakes. Do your meds and be patient. Force feeding is ridiculously stressful on a snake. Good advice from the people above.

[JuliaGoolia]

A little update -

She still hasn't eaten, for one.

With meds being administered for this long she has been getting a lot stronger and healthier. But her head and the 2-3 inches behind it still don't have as good control as she used to.

We've kept the feeder mouse in another tank - and to make a long story short, one of the cats figured out how to get into the tank and get the mouse. he's done it twice in two days. We chased him down and got the mouse, thinking it would still be alive as it was the day before.. but to no avail. Dead mouse under the Christmas tree!!

So.. we picked up the mouse and put it in our little Dagron's cage, holding our breath and crossing our fingers..

...and I think it stressed her out more than anything. I'm not real sure why...?? Because it was dead? (She's used to live) Because she's hungry and can't strike to eat?

So our girl STILL hasn't eaten since late Oct/early Nov., and now a mouse makes her a little loopy. I don't get it.

Maybe I should just wait until she's completely better.. but the way things are going....?? I think we need to bring her back to the vet.


I *never* thought I would feel this way about a serpent!..lol!