Is it not safe to feed a milk snake in shed?

[Redneck_Crow]

I don't think that the amount of blood that might be diverted to the skin could cause the snake not to be able to digest. But I do think that the diversion could make the snake not feel like taking on the additional circulatory load of digestion until the blood flow in the digestive organs is back to it's normal baseline status.

I think that it just causes a lack of appetite in snakes that are sensitive to it. The gastrointestinal tract is one of the body systems that can be temporarily at less than optimal function for a short time without harming the body. That doesn't work so well with the lungs or kidneys. Most animals will divert some circulation from less critical functions, such as digestion, when there is a greater need for increased circulation elsewhere.

Heavy exercise or blood loss can cause decreased appetite in many animals, including humans. The body picks priority functions, such as respiration and circulation, over digestion. It seems logical to me that a priority function such as maturing a new skin would take priority over digestion.

The skin is an vital organ in any animal. It not only protects the body from injury, but it's a barrier to fluid loss and a barrier to infective organisms. Lose your appetite for a few hours or even a few days and no harm done. Lose your ability to maintain a fluid balance and protect against infective organisms for a few hours and you could potentially die.