Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i posted a few days ago about my caiman with a blood parasite, well i went back to the vet and found out it is the malaria type. i got more chloroquine for it, 4 tablets or 4 days worth of dosage. i tried the method of giving it to her the way u guys told me too where u rubber band her mouth open and put a rubber ball in her mouth then open up the flap and gently push a baby mouse down with the pill in it. it worked great. i did it last night before i wenbt to bed. i checked this mornin and she had not thrown up the mouse. then i got home from today about 8 and there was half of a mouse at the bottom of her tank. my question is if i should try the same method tonight or just put the pill down her throat. i hope she got the last one, but like i said there was half of a mouse in the tank when i got home today. please reply tonight if u have a chance bc i need to give her another pill tonight. thanks, mike

I wouldnt force-feed it if possible. The reason is because of how stressed this can make the animal. If all possible see if the animal will eat the mouse /w pill on it's own. If you have to force feed let him rest for a while say like a day or two before giving him it again.
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Jeremy Carroll
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Propagation and Conservation
http://www.onet.net/~eagle/Reptile/index.htm

I would suggest using something easier for the caiman to break down, like a mouse or rat pinky. No tough skin, no solid bones. Nothing difficult to break down and absorb. The vet really should have told you the best way to do this.

>>i posted a few days ago about my caiman with a blood parasite, well i went back to the vet and found out it is the malaria type. i got more chloroquine for it, 4 tablets or 4 days worth of dosage. i tried the method of giving it to her the way u guys told me too where u rubber band her mouth open and put a rubber ball in her mouth then open up the flap and gently push a baby mouse down with the pill in it. it worked great. i did it last night before i wenbt to bed. i checked this mornin and she had not thrown up the mouse. then i got home from today about 8 and there was half of a mouse at the bottom of her tank. my question is if i should try the same method tonight or just put the pill down her throat. i hope she got the last one, but like i said there was half of a mouse in the tank when i got home today. please reply tonight if u have a chance bc i need to give her another pill tonight. thanks, mike
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It isn't "Ideas" that fail or succeed,... it is the "Systems" which are instilled to launch and sustain the idea that either fail or succeed.>[Me.]