Dexter Regurgitated Rats Twice This Month

[PitOnTheProwl]

Again back on track before we have to lock this one too......

[SDA]

So how's everyone liking nutribac? I hope to never have a regurg but I was tempted to get some after my GTP's prolapse.

[Aedryan Methyus]

So, Dexter defecated a little again already and also flooded his tub with pee again. It seems odd that he would be defecating again already after just taking such a massive dump on 12/09. Seeing how he had looked like he was going to pop for a month or so leading up to 12/09 and he is defecating again already, is it possible that he was backed up and maybe that's why he regurgitated? The Nutribac arrived today, but i'm a little confused about how to give it to him. It specifically says in the directions, "Never allow powder to mix in water (caking occurs)". This stuff is intended to dust the rodents before feeding, but everyone has advised me to not feed him for 4 - 6 weeks...

[zina10]

For now his belly is resting and his digestive system recovering. The Nutribac will help his digestive system dealing with the meal when you feed him next. Wait the recommended time and then feed a smaller rodent sprinkled with the Nutribac. Bloods are notorious about pooping rarely but massively. Perhaps he did get a little dehydrated at some point and backed up somewhat. I think it's now recommended to feed them conservatively...and not going by their girth. Perhaps Kara will pop in again. She should know more about this..


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[Aedryan Methyus]

I mixed about a tablespoon of Nutribac in with his water and it dissolved fine. It just sucks not being 100% sure that he's drinking or if it's enough Nutibac...

[AbsoluteApril]

It specifically says in the directions, "Never allow powder to mix in water (caking occurs)". This stuff is intended to dust the rodents before feeding, but everyone has advised me to not feed him for 4 - 6 weeks...

Okay so I'm not crazy lol yeah my bottle says the same. I'd never heard of mixing it in the water before. But, hey, if it helps, it helps.
Yes, it dusts the feeder, it's fine to wait until the feeding to give it. It helps with digestion.

[Kara]

Adding Nutribac to drinking water helps to give your snake another opportunity to get some beneficial bacteria into his system prior to feeding. Dust it lightly across the surface of the water & whisk in, repeat as necessary. You'll want to change water no later than every other day, preferably every day, if you go with this method. It just takes a gram or so of the powder, but it's also easy to go through it pretty quickly using this route. Not the optimal method, but better than nothing.

This is why mixing a slurry with NB & water and syringing it to the snake is usually the fastest way to get that initial dose in. To do so, the snake should be restrained in an appropriately-sized restraint tube, and held gently, but firmly, by an assistant. The person doing the dosing opens the snake's mouth with a stiff rubber spatula so there's no damage to the snake's teeth or gums, and quickly syringes the slurry down the snake's throat. Definitely not fun, but neither is watching a python decline due to regurgitation issues. The good news is it (usually) only needs to be done once.

As far as the caution against letting the Nutribac come into contact with water, this is with regard to it being used to dust rodents, and also to ensure it is stored properly. Exposed to water/humidity (i.e. left uncapped or with a measure of the powder intended for use but left sitting out), it will become cakey depending upon the amount of water and length of exposure. Same goes for dusting rodents with it - the rodents don't need to be sopping wet. It helps to spritz them with a sprayer (preferably a fine mist), then shake off any excess water prior to dusting. A damp rodent and and a fine dusting of Nutribac typically get the job done without issue.

So...not the most glamorous aspect of herpetoculture by far. In the days before commercially-available probiotics, snakes with chronic regurge issues were force-fed feces from healthy snakes of the same species to help re-establish gut flora. Good times.

[SDA]

I pray I never need to use this stuff for a regurg but it is good to know others swear by it. I think I will avoid it for a prolapse and stick with the reptile vitamin drops I have in the water for immune boosting.

[Aedryan Methyus]

In the days before commercially-available probiotics, snakes with chronic regurge issues were force-fed feces from healthy snakes of the same species to help re-establish gut flora...

OMG! Now, that sounds like a reeeeaaal good time! lol

[zina10]

OMG! Now, that sounds like a reeeeaaal good time! lol

Off topic, I know, but that actually was AND IS highly effective.

It is being used in human medicine as well, although, the "material" is "re-fined" and given through a tube It seems to be the only thing that helps with severe and antibiotic resistant diseases in the digestive tract..