Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Beanie is still not eating although her behavior is
getting back to pre-gravid normal. It is getting difficult
to force feed her now because she is fighting the syringe.
I am getting the stink eye more often too.

Can anyone please tell me when she may get her appetite
back? She has 2 weeks yet before the stitches come out
but she does have full run of her habitat finally.

Thanks everyone
Linda

Rescue person mode kicked in - I do NOT mean to offend anyone and its only what I've found, but:

Don't worry.

If she's not a rail, if she's still got good weight on her tail and legs, and she's still fighting, she'll be fine. Its so alarming when animals don't eat, especially for long periods of time, but sometimes the body needs to heal so much that hunger and the energy of digesting food almost disappears. If she was lying limp and listless, rail thin, with hip bones sticking out then yes I'd worry, but it sounds like she's still in good body condition and feeling feisty. Be patient, it'll happen!

When I got Tempest, he was rail thin, but he fought like a champion. He refused to eat for 2 weeks, at which point I started force feeding him mushed up soaked ig pellets. I would pick him up, and when he opened his mouth to bite I'd push a long, thin piece of carrot or bean or pea in there, and he'd chew and swallow, but on his own? Never! It was over a month before he actually ate anything on his own, the whole time I was a nervous, worried wreck to the point my vet was getting peevish with all my calls (he's a saint!). Now he's huge

If her body condition is good, I'd actually stop with the force feedings until her stitches are out. As long as she's hydrated, she should be fine. Offer food every day, but take it away if she doesn't eat it. If she looks dehydrated, I'd make her drink water, but thats it.

Have you called your vet btw? He might have better insight as well, as he knows Beanie's case. I'd like to know his advice too, its always good to be learning. I know with mammals, a few days off food makes such a huge difference, and as mammals we tend to think in those terms, but reptiles are much different with different tolerences.

the vet is not too worried because I am force feeding.
She was a very good weight before she became gravid. Now
she is getting very thin. The vet thinks that after the
stitches come out and I am able to soak her again that she
will return to normal. I am giving water and calcium by
syringe still but with her little attitude, it is getting
harder to force feed her. She is very alert but just very
thin. It is difficult to see her so thin as this was how
she was when I adopted her.

I guess I will have to be patient and hope she eats soon.

Thanks again
Linda

Linda: I agree w/bexley but still suggest you try the 'conveyor belt' method I mentioned in earlier posts. . . where you get that first piece of food in her mouth then insert the second as she's chewing/swallowing the first. bexley's suggestion of a long, thin narrow piece of carrot (or squash, or something) is the perfect way to get the process started.
Also. . . make sure to ALWAYS include some of her very favorites when handfeeding solid foods. For example, my girls LOVE(!!!) grapes and yellow squash. I always made sure I had plenty of those in w/the greens, when handfeeding solids.
I had to hand feed solids, to Shirley, for quite some time after her surgery (can't exactly remember but, it may have been even after her 6 week recovery was over). . . before I finally started to notice her beginning to pick bits and pieces on her own.

Good luck to you. Let us know how it goes.
Rebecca