Feeding problem.

[scott5017]

Having a feeding issue with my male san fran, hes accepting food just fine but appears to be unable to swallow the food, i can see the meals only making it approx 1/3rd of the way down his body and therefore not into the stomach consequently he has been throwing back up the meals. At first i thought maybe i had allowed him to eat too much and separated him and fed him smaller amounts but the same is happening. There is no apparent blockage or lump at the area where the food is having trouble passing.

Im not sure what is stopping the food, he has taken sizeable meals in the past, pinks, tilapia/salmon strips this problem has been the past couple weeks, i even gave him a week off but the same thing just happened so im getting worried.

Anyone else ever experienced this before?

[guidofatherof5]

Never experienced this problem. Not sure what to suggest other then a Vet. visit.
Please keep us posted on this situation.

Does water stay down?

[scott5017]

Never experienced this problem. Not sure what to suggest other then a Vet. visit.
Please keep us posted on this situation.

Does water stay down?


I figured it would be a vet visit, just not sure what a vet will be able to do with such a small animal, pretty sure nothing will show up on an xray and i dont even know if they have ultrasound or if it would show anything. I very rarely catch my snakes drinking, but when i separated him i made sure he had plenty of water and upped the humidty just incase that was an issue.

[guidofatherof5]

Does a single small piece of food get regurgitated? Have you tried much smaller pieces then normal?

[scott5017]

Does a single small piece of food get regurgitated? Have you tried much smaller pieces then normal?

Yessir, thats why im worried now, today i tried pieces i would give to scrubs that he still wasnt able to get past the first 1/3rd of his body, the body appeared distended below the point of the food getting "stuck" which i am assuming is the point of entry to the stomach.

*edit* distended above the point of entry.

[guidofatherof5]

To be honest, it doesn't sound good. I hope I'm wrong.;)

[gregmonsta]

Considering the history of tetrataenia in captivity I wouldn't be keeping my hopes up. Hope this snake proves me wrong though.

[d_virginiana]

When I was talking with my herp vet she said there was a type of parasite (don't remember the name) that would cause food not to move beyond the stomach. I don't know what the outlook for a snake with that parasite would be, but they seemed very relieved to find out that wasn't what was wrong with mine.

[scott5017]

Well vet appointment booked for tomorrow i cant imagine these is much they can do besides baytril, and possibly a small enough tube to try and tube feed, my hopes are not high.

[guidofatherof5]

Prayers headed your way. Keep us posted.

[scott5017]

Ceftazidime and metacam injections plus tube feeding administered, plus enough medicine for 6 more injections, 1 every 3 days, fingers crossed.

[d_virginiana]

Did they figure out what the specific issue was?

[guidofatherof5]

Ceftazidime and metacam injections plus tube feeding administered, plus enough medicine for 6 more injections, 1 every 3 days, fingers crossed.


Did they figure out what the specific issue was?

Very interesting. I too wonder what the treatment is for?

A antibiotic and a anti-inflammatory(NSAID).

[scott5017]

At this point its almost impossible to diagnose as he's too small for blood work and not eating for a fecal. So were kinda just trying anything. Now that he has been tube fed we can try and get a fecal analysis. Of course thats assuming the stress of doing all this doesn't get him first, fingers crossed.