Barb,
Once he has a bowel movement for you, if it isn't particularly hard, and doesn't have any undigested pieces of crickets, or sand in it, then I think feeding him as much as he'll eat is a good plan. However, use common sense, and don't let him overstuff himself all at one time. Feeding him several small meals a day, as opposed to a couple of huge ones, is a very good idea, especially until he start going to the bathroom regularly.
Also, keep an eye on his urates when he goes, to make sure that they're not unusally large or very hard. Sometimes, after being very dehydrated, they will form urate plugs, where the urates come out in a hard lump, rather than in a crumbley white powder. Urate plugs can make it difficult for him to have a bowel movement, because they can partially block his vent area. If that happens, then you need to continue to get lots of fluid into him to break up the urates so that he passes them normally. You can either do this by bathing him frequently until his urates appear normal, or by giving him fluids from a feeding syringe. If he isn't thrilled about taking water from a feeding syringe for you, then try giving him some sort of low sugar juice, such as apple juice. Any sort of juices that you can find in the baby food aisle at the supermarket are usually low in sugar, but stay away from anything citrus, such as orange juice, as that tend to upset their stomachs.
From what you're describing, I would say that he's definitely on the mend, and that the worst is probably over! You're doing a great job with him.....keep up the good work!
Once he has a bowel movement for you, if it isn't particularly hard, and doesn't have any undigested pieces of crickets, or sand in it, then I think feeding him as much as he'll eat is a good plan. However, use common sense, and don't let him overstuff himself all at one time. Feeding him several small meals a day, as opposed to a couple of huge ones, is a very good idea, especially until he start going to the bathroom regularly.
Also, keep an eye on his urates when he goes, to make sure that they're not unusally large or very hard. Sometimes, after being very dehydrated, they will form urate plugs, where the urates come out in a hard lump, rather than in a crumbley white powder. Urate plugs can make it difficult for him to have a bowel movement, because they can partially block his vent area. If that happens, then you need to continue to get lots of fluid into him to break up the urates so that he passes them normally. You can either do this by bathing him frequently until his urates appear normal, or by giving him fluids from a feeding syringe. If he isn't thrilled about taking water from a feeding syringe for you, then try giving him some sort of low sugar juice, such as apple juice. Any sort of juices that you can find in the baby food aisle at the supermarket are usually low in sugar, but stay away from anything citrus, such as orange juice, as that tend to upset their stomachs.
From what you're describing, I would say that he's definitely on the mend, and that the worst is probably over! You're doing a great job with him.....keep up the good work!