I have an adorable and cherished somewhat recently (been with me < a year) acquired Western Hognose.
About a month and a half ago he got out. His cage was solidly latched, but it was on a shelf at eye level. My cat somehow managed to push it off when I wasn't home (this was totally unanticipated and it still baffles me how she did it). He was found within four hours maximum of his escape, put in his cage, put in a safe cat free spot, and was left completely alone for two weeks as getting batted around had to have been pretty stressful. The escape happened on his feeding day, so he didn't end up getting a mouse at that time. He was an excellent feeder up till this.
Its been long enough that his weight is seriously diminishing (he is an immensely active hognose, and is almost always cruising his viv) and I have gradually reached a point of having to force feed him.

This is a completely last resort. I have tried toads, lizards, live pinkies, brained pinkies, pinkies actually covered in a brain/blood mix that I keep in a tiny vial in the freezer for a corn snake who is sometimes a stubborn eater, deli cup trick to minimize distraction, etc. I give him overnight to eat, and although I usually feed out of their vivs, I have been leaving the pink in his cage overnight to minimize stress on him.

He literally has absolutely no feeding interest whatsoever. It doesn't matter what I present him with, he is completely uninterested.

We've reached the point that he absolutely needs to have something in him. Last night was my first experience force feeding a snake. I've never been in a position where none of the other methods didn't work.

Last night I was able to gently use a piece of stiff paper to force open his mouth (he will not open it any other way) and quickly pushed the tip of an anole tail (anole not attached) down his throat enough that he finished swallowing it. He got a two inch segment, and then another two inch thicker segment once he had swallowed the first. There's pretty much zero chance of actually getting him to take a full pink this way. It was attempted, but I'm fairly hesitant to try to force it past his fangs and venom glands when he doesn't want it.
I did try to take advantage of his muscle response and try to get him to take a pinky because he was accepting the tail, but it wasn't successful.

A couple of questions: Is there an easier way of getting him to open his mouth? Although I have a basic understanding of snake skeletal systems and the strength of their bones, it is not something I'm an expert in at all. I do not know how aggressive I can be with this whole process. I pry his mouth open by slipping the edge of the paper between his 'lips' on the side, and wiggle it for a second until he opens slightly to adjust his jaw, then I keep the paper between his upper and lower jaw as I slip in the tail. This is extremely difficult because he's very small, and as a hoggy he has an absurdly short mouth.
What's better? Anole tails? Mice tails? Rat tails? Rat feet/front legs?
I do have the means to feed him mouse puree, but don't know if that would be a preferred alternative.
Will force feeding for some time eventually generate a food response again?
This is extremely stressful for both he and I, and if there is a point where I should give up and have him put to sleep for his sake, I am willing to accept that.

Thank you for reading all of this. I honestly appreciate it.

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