Stopped eating after being sick, can only syringe feed

[SkittlesK]

It sounds like Coccidia.

Please try some reptaid for the RTI.
Get regular strength.

 

[mactac]

All of this sounds pretty normal. (Besides the Coccidia infection).
Does her throat click/make popping sounds.?
excess saliva at all?
excess mucous in the mouth.?
A 'puffier' appearance to the beard at all.?

That's an RTI.

Entice W/ Superworms.
Don't syringe feed too much if she does have an RTI.

You may have missed my first post in this thread - She did have a respiratory infection (that's when she stopped eating), it was treated with antibiotics and is resolved.

I cannot entice with anything. She shows zero interest in any food - that is the problem. She literally will not eat anything, even her favorite foods.

 

[AHBD]

It might just take an undetermined amount of time until she really feels better and has interest in food again. We never know exactly what they go through after the stress of being very sick. Appetite is still not up for insects yet, you just have to wait it out and see how things progress.

 

[mactac]

It sounds like Coccidia.

Please try some reptaid for the RTI.
Get regular strength.

Yes, she did have coccidia, and was given medication for it. I assume the medication worked (?).
The RTI is resolved - it's what started this whole thing 6 weeks ago.

 

[mactac]

It might just take an undetermined amount of time until she really feels better and has interest in food again. We never know exactly what they go through after the stress of being very sick. Appetite is still not up for insects yet, you just have to wait it out and see how things progress.

The thing I'm worried about is that I'm assuming the longer the syringe feeding goes on, the harder it will be to get her to eat on her own again (or that's what I've been told), up tot he point where syringe feeding might be a lifetime thing. Or is this not true? It's been about 6 weeks.

 

[AHBD]

No one can claim that she will never eat on her own. I know that it's hard but there's nothing to do except wait.

 

[mactac]

No one can claim that she will never eat on her own. I know that it's hard but there's nothing to do except wait.

I guess my main question is what strategies should I be using? eg:
- Just keep doing what I'm doing and expect she will eat one day
- Stop syringe feeding her for 2 days every once in a while
- Stop syringe feeding her for a week
- gradually decrease syringe feeding
etc

It's been 6 weeks already, which seems like a very long time.

 

[AHBD]

You can experiment with those different methods. It's more likely that she will start eating again at some point.

 

[mactac]

You can experiment with those different methods. It's more likely that she will start eating again at some point.

Well, at leas that gives me some hope, so thank you. I'm making all sorts of changes to her lights and temperatures and routines and everything that I'm sure I"m making it even harder for her to get back to normal. Just a bit of panic.

 

[AHBD]

I'm sure it's tough on you, don't give up hope.

 

[mactac]

I'm sure it's tough on you, don't give up hope.

Never

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

I agree, it is very hard on them to go through rounds of antibiotics. As AHBD suggested, it can
sometimes take weeks or longer, for them to get back to normal.
Definitely try some molasses a few times per week & some bee pollen. You can definitely start
to slowly decrease the amount of the syringe feedings. Is she losing weight or managing to keep
her weight stable right now?
Just lower her hammock a few inches so she doesn't get too close to the UVB light. You are using
the Arcadia D3 14% T5 tube bulb?
I would start using a regular calcium without D3, to avoid excess D3 toxicity since you are using a
strong UVB light. If you want to give D3 once weekly that would be plenty.
Did you ever try nebulizer treatments for the respiratory infection?

Keep us posted on your girl!
Tracie

 

[mactac]

Hello,

I agree, it is very hard on them to go through rounds of antibiotics. As AHBD suggested, it can
sometimes take weeks or longer, for them to get back to normal.
Definitely try some molasses a few times per week & some bee pollen. You can definitely start
to slowly decrease the amount of the syringe feedings. Is she losing weight or managing to keep
her weight stable right now?
Just lower her hammock a few inches so she doesn't get too close to the UVB light. You are using
the Arcadia D3 14% T5 tube bulb?
I would start using a regular calcium without D3, to avoid excess D3 toxicity since you are using a
strong UVB light. If you want to give D3 once weekly that would be plenty.
Did you ever try nebulizer treatments for the respiratory infection?

Keep us posted on your girl!
Tracie

Hi Tracie,

OK, thank you - we will add the molasses. What do you think, maybe 0.5ml or 1ml ? (EDIT: tried it ... man, did she ever hate it ! lol, I think that's off the table for us right now.)

We are using the 14% T5 Arcadia, but we just went out and bought a 12%. It's above the screen right now, but I'm thinking that's OK because it's fairly close (?).

We will get rid of the D3 too.

No, we did not try a nebulizer, just the antibiotics. Do you think it's still needed? She doesn't have any of the previous symptoms (the popping noises)

We have been wondering if it's possible that the medication for the parasites did not work, but I don't think there is a way to find out other than another fecal test. That being said, the vey said that the parasite level wasn't all that high. Is the medication for coccidia usually all that is needed?

Thank you!

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

LOL
The molasses can be mixed with water to thin it out, but if she didn't like it that might be hard!
How is she doing today?
Yes, the lighting placement sounds perfectly fine. Be sure she can get close enough, so she
still gets adequate UVB exposure.
If she doesn't seem to have any symptoms of a respiratory issue, then I wouldn't think she needs
nebulizer treatments right now, no.
Which medication for coccidia, was used previously? If it is coccidia again, then most of the time
the medication should take care of it, without any other medication/treatment.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

 

[mactac]

Hello,

LOL
The molasses can be mixed with water to thin it out, but if she didn't like it that might be hard!
How is she doing today?
Yes, the lighting placement sounds perfectly fine. Be sure she can get close enough, so she
still gets adequate UVB exposure.
If she doesn't seem to have any symptoms of a respiratory issue, then I wouldn't think she needs
nebulizer treatments right now, no.
Which medication for coccidia, was used previously? If it is coccidia again, then most of the time
the medication should take care of it, without any other medication/treatment.

Let us know how she is doing.
Tracie

Hi Tracie, someone suggested to me that it might be ADV. Does that sound right?
Thanks!