Frank,

We will have to respectfully disagree. Someone once told me you have to learn from the animal what is best and learn from experience not books. Perhaps that someone was a little fuzzy from a few beers.

While I respect your knowledge and even agree with you a great deal of the time, this is not one of them.

Here are some intake numbers of monitors I have taken in over time.
Nile Monitor 42" 2lbs11.8oz
Nile Monitor 40" 3lbs11oz
Nile Monitor 26.5" 10.10z
Savannah Monitor 14.25" 2.7OZ
Savannah Monitor 17.5" 5.8oz
Savannah Monitor 20" 8.7oz

My most recent monitor intake was 41" and 28 oz on intake.

That is where the diet must include things such as the dog food. Now while you are thinking dog food as in kibbles and bits, the brand I use is merely a mix of meat, organs and water. I increase the water as well. This is also not a sole diet, however this is the reality of rescue. These are animals that often times can not support their own bodies weight.

At that stage, dehydration is in fact a situation that needs to be addressed with more than pinky mice or other rodents and proper husbandry. It needs a boost. The animals do need the soaking, but because of their often weakened states, the need additional support to properly rehabilitate.

Dog food, while never a staple of any reptile's diet in my opinion, has a valid use in proper rehydration in the rehabilitation stages.

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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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