Flagyl for non eating ball?

[envy_ld50]

I have an important female that is not eating for me shes goes about 5-7 weeks and then eats. I was recommended to do a flagyl treatment to help to get her eating again. Has anyone done this and how did it go?

[envy_ld50]

No one has tried this?

[josh@outbackreps]

I would use flagyl as a last resort.
We have done it for a few imports that held out for almost a year and it helps but flagyl is also used as a anti bacterial drug so you dont want to take a chance on using it and getting a resilience to it.
Most of the time it is something to do with her environment, I would change a few things around, like switch her from aspen to cypress, smaller box, etc.
We have animals that will not eat a rat or soft fur for weeks at a time but will take 4-5 gerbils a week...

Try keeping her in a warmer room that has a higher ambient temp instead of a heated rack, that works a lot of the time too.

If you try all the options and she still wont eat regularly then I would talk to a vet about a safe dose of flagyl, that will not risk anything to her.

Hope this helps....

[WingedWolfPsion]

Flagyl as an appetite-stimulant is a myth. It only works if it clears up a protozoal infection that the animal happened to have. Imports always have internal parasites--if these weren't properly cleared, it could be the problem.

Check or have your animal checked for internal parasites, then treat them with the appropriate meds if parasites are present. If protozoal infection isn't present, flagyl won't help. Panacur is most commonly used for roundworm, and Praziquantel for tapeworm. It's essential to treat a parasite with the right drug, and make sure that it's really gone afterward. Flagyl isn't effective against roundworm, and panacur isn't effective against tapeworm.

Imports can often have trouble adjusting. Make sure temperature and humidity is optimal, the cage is in a secluded area and not exposed to vibration or activity, and the snake has a secure hide box.

[Bundu Boy]

I recently administered Flagyl to 5 of my ball pythons that were not eating.... one of them was an 06 Het Albino female that weighed a paltry 550g. I had one normal female that had not eaten for 4 months and a male that had fasted for 6 months

If I recall correctly I tubed 1ml/kg and did not offer food for two weeks.

After 2 weeks all my balls got onto the feeding train and now eating very well, especially the het albino female who last night took down a 100g rat without even thinking about it....

I agree that it should only be used once all other avenues have been discounted.