I Feel Horrible...

[Havalian]

She actually has the highest level of board certification that can be had in this country, which puts her on a pretty short list. I've shared my snake's condition and story with a few other vets and they all said pretty much the same thing, which I will admit tripped me out.

I don't know if I need to be explicit about this, but the "force feeding" was a syringe of mush stuck down his gullet, NOT a small prey item poked down his throat. It seems the terms are sometimes used interchangeably though they are different procedures. My snake was tube fed.

One reason I think that these diagnostics may be necessary is the age of my snake. He was probably 10-12 when I got him and I've had him 10 or 11. It is conceivable that he could develop health problems due to his age. I plan to wait and see if he will eat. The good news is that since putting him back in his enclosure he has been in all 3 hides and when I lift them up to see what's going on he looks alert and has his head up (not curled up with his head just resting on his coils) which is the position he had been in the last several times I offered food before he proceeded to show no interest in it.

[Archimedes]

Tube feeding IS forcefeeding. Their bodies aren't made for a liquid diet, and it shouldn't even be an option for reptiles. Forcing a tube down their throat (or any prey) will pretty much always do more harm than good. There are exceptions to this rule, as there are with everything, but honestly, I would like to know the name of this vet, to avoid ever having to deal with her. Force feeding a snake that has only been off feed for 6 months is very counterproductive, and any board-certified reptile specialist should know that.

I don't blame you for what happened with your baby, but I would look at you differently if you chose to go back to a vet that caused your snake to regurgitate its entire GI system and all of the gut flora that allows it to digest on its own, should it decide it wants a meal next week.

Sent from my warm hide using Tapatalk

[PitOnTheProwl]

Force feeding a snake that has only been off feed for 6 months is very counterproductive, and any board-certified reptile specialist should know that.

No, any snake that has eaten on its own shouldn't be force fed.
There is a reason they don't eat and at that age 6 months is nothing.

[Archimedes]

No, any snake that has eaten on its own shouldn't be force fed.
There is a reason they don't eat and at that age 6 months is nothing.

Ah yeah, thanks for that correction Pit.

Sent from my warm hide using Tapatalk