Posted by:
icequeen
at Tue Jun 3 15:48:36 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by icequeen ]
First...that's a terrible ordeal to have to go through!!! How long ago did he have the surgery?
I am all too aware of that horrible anxious feeling of watching them struggle, and not knowing what to do!
I have a male veiled, 2 yrs old. He has not eaten on his own (except two isolated incidents) since March of this year.
I to have been force feeding him, and using a syringe to give him his water.
For a while, I was forcing the crickets and mealies into his mouth...sometimes he would spit them out, other times they would go down. ALL the time it was a fight! Stressful for him, stressful for me.
For about a month now I have been feeding him Fluker Farms Repta-Aid, for insectivores. It comes in a powder form, and you mix it to the proper consistancy you need, based on your chams current health condition. It provides nutrition, and hydration, plus you could mix his meds right into it.
Zoe loves the stuff! He sits with his head up, waiting for his next taste.
The BIG difference is, Zoe has a tongue. So, you would really have to experiment with the thickness until you get it right for your guy.
I've found that if you place your fingers (thumb one side, index finger on the other) on either side of thier mouths, right at the hinge, and apply very gentle pressure, after a very short time Zoe will open his mouth...first a tiny bit, and then slightly wider when I don't let go. I can then get a taste of his food into his mouth, and from there, he does it on his own.
After I give him a feeding of repta-aid, I then give him his water, also by syringe. Just to help clear his mouth of the left over food, and to make sure I know he's getting enough water.
Even with the water, he will drink until he has had enough...then he just closes his mouth. Of course I continue to try...just to be SURE...but this is when he will usually start to resist me. Then I know he's done.
The only thing I guess I would be concerned about...is you wouldn't want to make the repta-aid taste bad because of the meds, and put him off of the repta-aid because of it. Maybe do a small mixture of the medicated food...get that into him, and then "reward" him with the yummy UNmedicated food.
Keep a close eye on him now after aspirating some fluid...in case of a respiratory infection.
I know it's hard to watch them struggle...but keep up the great work and dedication.
Give it a little bit of time, to see if he can manage on his own.
He just might.
Good luck, and hugs to you both!
-----
Kim
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There is hope...and an idea... - icequeen, Tue Jun 3 15:48:36 2003