Problem Hatchling

[Jay_Bunny]

I think I meant to post this one instead of posting the other one twice. Oops.

[J.Vandegrift]

If it were me and he hadn't swallowed it within about an hout I would try to massage it down to his stomach. If he regurged in the next few days I would euthanize.

[bamf64]

If it were me and he hadn't swallowed it within about an hout I would try to massage it down to his stomach. If he regurged in the next few days I would euthanize.

i disagree about the euthanization. he deserves a chance.

[Jay_Bunny]

He definitely deserves a chance. He is the first ball python I have produced and he has a special place in my heart. He's my little baby and I want him to live. He is TRYING to eat and that in itself earns him a chance at life.

[Jay_Bunny]

He hasn't made any more progress. How would I go about massaging it down into his stomach?

[Freakie_frog]

Just out of curiosity did you moisten the pink at all prior to assist feeding him???

[kazboots]

If it were me and he hadn't swallowed it within about an hout I would try to massage it down to his stomach.

I had to do this with my vine snake who was in really bad shape when I got him. I just worked with the swallowing motions the snake made and rubbed gently down if that makes sense.

As for euthanasia thats for each person to decide as long as you feel there is a chance than its your choice to keep trying. I have brought animals back from near death while others I knew just didn't want to fight anymore and had them put to sleep. Personally I would keep trying as long as I felt the animal had a will to live but that's just me.

[Jay_Bunny]

Yes, the pinky was moistened. And he salivated a lot too. I don't think the pink could have dried up on the way down. I saw him open is mouth a bit and you can see the tail of the pinky mouse right at the entrance to his throat.

[Jay_Bunny]

As an update....

Rubiix had the pinky mouse in his throat in the same spot for over 24 hours! Finally when I got home he was in the process of spitting it out. The pinky mouse was very elongated and the skin came right off it. The inside of its body was mushy like. I know what a normal, live pinky mouse feels like as far as bones and the bones felt like they were not even there. I wish I would have taken a picture but my mother in law flushed it before I had the chance.

I took him out of his tub and gave him a bath in some shallow warm water. He didn't drink any but some did get in his mouth (I'm worried about dehydration since he went 24 hours without having any water to drink.) I then cleaned up his tub and put him back.

I want to give him a few days before I try anything else, but I don't know what the next step is. He seems able to get it down a little further each time, but this time it just stopped and wouldn't go any more. Not that we really have the money for it but would an x-ray show if he's able to pass anything through? I was thinking of using a pinky pump for a few feedings to get him to gain some weight. Maybe if he could get a little larger he could pass a pinky.