Why shouldn't you feed a frozen (or not quite thawed) rodent

[Tigergenesis]

I'm trying to remember the reason why so that I can explain it to someone else. I'm thinking because it causes gas/stomach problems? Is this right? Also, anyone know if it would apply to lizards? I know someone who was a bit impatient and didn't think it was a problem to serve their lizards a half frozen fuzzy.

Thanks!

[daftperception]

The only reason i know is that a bp won't take a frozen rodent because they identify prey with there heat sensors.And just think how hard it would be to swollow a frozen rodent because you can't smoosh them in my mind this feels like a common sense thing that i just know even though i don't.

[Marla]

Because the food will start to rot, possibly leading to ptomaine poisoning, before it can be digested. That's why these animals with otherwise very slow metabolisms have turbo-style digestive processes and a retic can digest a pig in a week.

[Tigergenesis]

Thanks Marla! Do you think this would also apply to lizards?

[gozetec02]

I think it applies to any cold blooded animal that is not able to thaw it out for themselves.

[Hoomi]

Another reason I can think of for NOT feeding a frozen rodent without properly thawing and warming it up.

Frostbite to internal tissues. At room temperature last night here in Tucson, which was probably in the mid to high 80's with the cooler going, the rat I set out to pre-thaw before heating was still partially frozen two hours later. That would have been two hours or more of potentially damaging cold on the stomach lining of the snake.

[Ginevive]

Yeah, I would think that a frozen mouse/rat would bring down the reptile's internal body temp too low.