Zilla jump start

[tom112089]

I have a ball python with a respitory infection. He has been to the vet and given fortaz and Iv also been nebulizing him with f10 almost every day for atleast 20 mins. He has had this infection for almost 2 month now. He is not lethargic and never was. He still has alot of energy to fight when I hold him down to rinse his mouth with saline and often cruises his tank at night. The only issue is he hasn't eaten since he had started with the infection. I have tried to feed him every week since then and he just won't eat. He's looking a little skinny lately so I was wondering can I syring him some Zilla jump start? For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a calorie supplement and appetite stimulant for anorexic reptiles. Would it be ok to give him some of this a few times a week until he starts eating again on his own?

Thanks

[NH93]

I don't know anything about the stuff (sorry!) but I wonder if you could put it in the water instead of putting it in his mouth, and if he'd still drink the water that way? Just less invasive/stressful, if it's possible.

[tom112089]

Well I work in a pet store so I have some laying around already. It does say to syring him with water after the jump start stuff on the directions. Maybe I can mix it with water then. I just wanted to know if it could have any bad effects on him. I don't see why it would I just have been worrying about him alot.

[NH93]

I guess a better question is, how much has he lost (and how much does he currently weigh)? Adults can go quite awhile without eating I have heard!

[200xth]

I have a ball python with a respitory infection. He has been to the vet and given fortaz and Iv also been nebulizing him with f10 almost every day for atleast 20 mins. He has had this infection for almost 2 month now. He is not lethargic and never was. He still has alot of energy to fight when I hold him down to rinse his mouth with saline and often cruises his tank at night. The only issue is he hasn't eaten since he had started with the infection. I have tried to feed him every week since then and he just won't eat. He's looking a little skinny lately so I was wondering can I syring him some Zilla jump start? For those of you who don't know what that is, it is a calorie supplement and appetite stimulant for anorexic reptiles. Would it be ok to give him some of this a few times a week until he starts eating again on his own?

Thanks

Has he lost weight? I know you said he looks skinny, but have you got weights from before he was sick and now?

If he hasn't lost weight, I don't know if he needs anything.

Also, what have you been trying to feed him? Live or FT?

[tom112089]

He eats both when I got him he was on frozen but I have gotten him to eat live before.

[SlitherinSisters]

It's normal for them to not eat when they are sick. It's also normal for them to loose some weight. Unless he's super skinny I wouldn't stress too much. If the infection doesn't get healed in a good time (before he gets so thin he dies), unfortunately he's a loss whether or not you get him eating during the sickness. I wouldn't bother with any vitamins/sprays/what have you, they are gimmicks.

[200xth]

He eats both when I got him he was on frozen but I have gotten him to eat live before.

You've been trying to feed him both and he's refused both live and FT?

[shadowsnakes]

Firstly I can say Jump Start is 100% not a gimmick. It helped my pied male's life when he was off feed and sustained a nasty belly burn plus the systemic infection that sometimes follows. He was off food since April and only took his first meal this month. If not for the caloric/vitamin boost I have no doubt he would have passed.

Unless your snake has substantial weight loss, i.e. you are genuinely concerned they may die, don't use it. This stuff can't really be dissolved in water (it is almost pure fat and sugars) and it is best injected into the mouth with the supplied plunger. There is enough length to get it down the throat just a little without worrying about the windpipe. Let your snake drink afterward. This stuff is very thick and if he tries to regurgitate it will get stuck in the mouth and cause a whole mess of problems.

Good luck, I hope your snake recovers soon!