How long can they go without eating?

[lauraj1055]

Ollie has NEVER been a big eater since I got him at 7 months... Now he is completely not eating anything. He will never touch his greens, I try switching them up, adding fruit, squash, carrots, anything with color, but nothing. He will eat MAYBE 2 wax worms a week. I have tried butterworms, small dubia, small supers, hornworms, silkworms, reptiworms...

Since he won't eat, I feed him critical care 3x a week. And he will eat 15mls of this at a time.. he loves it. I do not want to have to do this his whole life since he is only 14 months old. I am cutting back the critical care to 2x a week now, but I know he will not eat on his own.

He is 19" long and 405 grams. He loses weight quickly if I don't syringe feed him. He does poop 2 x a week (because of the critical care) and it is fine looking, not runny, urates look good.

How long can a 14 month old go without eating if I stop syringe feeding? I offer feeders 3x a week, but he will only eat 1x as I stated, and that is 2 waxworms even though there are 8 in the bowl...

PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!

 

[Beardednoob]

I would suggest getting a fecal done. You can also try some Bene-Bac to help restore an appetite, tasty bites treats also help stimulate eating.

 

[lauraj1055]

I would suggest getting a fecal done. You can also try some Bene-Bac to help restore an appetite, tasty bites treats also help stimulate eating.

I've tried the tasty bites, they didn't do anything. It seems as though he only wants to eat from a syringe. I can make veggie slurries and he will eat those right up too.. 15 mls at a time. So, it's not like he doesn't want to eat. It's just that he just doesn't want to eat on his Own...I really don't want this to be the only way he eats. I figured I should try tough love. When I stop syringe feeding him, he gets lethargic, his eyes sunken in, and loses weight. But once I syringe feed him, he perks right back up. It's so frustrating. I just don't know how long to use tough love on him. I feel like he's forgotten how to eat. Do you think if I mix some critical care, and put it on top of his greens, that maybe that might work since he loves the taste of it?

 

[Beardednoob]

How is his coloration when you stopped feeding him? I would get a fecal done. If he is loosing weight fast when he stops eating it may be a sign of parasites.

 

[Screamin99]

I would grab a fecal, they will usually eat feeders no matter what even if they are not eating greens (my guy is stubborn and will turn around and walk away from greens) If I hold off his supers for a few days he will cave and eat greens after about 3-4 days, but not well!

So I am fighting dehydration in him, he isn't going to the bathroom nearly as regular as he should. Its just very frustrating. Grab a fecal and see what it turns up..

 

[lauraj1055]

Ok, I will have a fecal done on him.. I have never fed him crickets and when I first got him I did give him panacur just incase he had pinworms. I did get some Rept aid, but am hesitant to use it on him right now. He only poos in the tub, so can I just strain it out of there for the fecal? The thing that sux is my vet is the opposite town of where I work, so I can't drop it off on my way in the morning... I will have to wait until he does his Saturday morning poo and bring it then.. but will it be ok with it being in the water for a short amount of time?

Pretty sad I have his poo schedule down.. Tuesdays and Saturday.. doesn't miss a beat.

 

[Screamin99]

Honestly, I don't know the answer to that and I'll make sure to check this thread for answers to see if I can find out. To me most city water would have so many chems in it that it might kill the parasites? If all else fails maybe ask the vet just to be certain? Lazlo used to go in the bath, but he slowly stopped and I am lucky if he goes once every two weeks now.

Good luck !

 

[Beardednoob]

I need to look through all my old posts as there was a mail in fecal testing with the results emailed to you. It was pretty cheap in comparison to local vets. Let me see if I can locate it again. :wink:

 

[Beardednoob]

I need to look through all my old posts as there was a mail in fecal testing with the results emailed to you. It was pretty cheap in comparison to local vets. Let me see if I can locate it again. :wink:

I couldn't locate it. Hmm :?

 

[lauraj1055]

I need to look through all my old posts as there was a mail in fecal testing with the results emailed to you. It was pretty cheap in comparison to local vets. Let me see if I can locate it again. :wink:

I couldn't locate it. Hmm :?

Bummer!! I think I remember seeing that at one time too..

Other than the not eating.. he is very alert, and basks and runs around the house. He doesn't act sick in any other way..

I'm just at a loss with him

 

[bandit27]

Hi

You can just scoop his poop out of the water, it's fine. My girl only poops in the bath and i've had hers checked after being taken from the bath water.

Good luck, hope he eats on his own for you soon