Stubborn Beardie not wanting to eat anything

[MushuDaBeardie]

hello all! Mushu is 1 1/2 year old male beardie and he is my life! He recently came out of brumation maybe a week or so ago and at first, he showed signs of respiratory infection, so I took him to the vet. She didn't see infection and she didn't know why he wasn't eating she has him on some vitamin A and B and an antibiotic I give daily orally and 2 shots one every 72 hours the other every day. She was concerned about him not eating veggies at all in his diet (he is sooo stubborn ...seriously.) so she said I need to force-feed him this mix she gave me of crushed veggies and some fruits. So I started the other day and I hate it!! It hurts me so much to see him not want me to force-feed him and honestly I can't blame him. I've offered salad and bugs bot neither seem appetizing to him. I really need some advice! Do I keep force-feeding him ( i force feed 3 times a day.) or let him get hungry enough to eat salad? Any feedback is highly welcomed!

 

[MrSpectrum]

Keep with it, but in addition, offer fresh salad daily, and leave it there until 2 hrs. before lights-out.

40 yrs ago when we were starting out, we kept guinea pigs (cavies). One got sick, and the vet we took her to admitted that there was a saying that, "a sick guinea pig is a dead guinea pig." Because they're rodents and quite fecund, they often/usually don't have a strong will to pull through/survive, and tend to give up if/when they get sick (exceptions noted).

We weren't willing to give up, so I stayed up late nights force-feeding her a suspension of crushed alfalfa pellets in carrot juice laced with vitamin C every few hours round the clock. After a couple weeks, she eventually pulled through, and lived another 7 years. (She died--literally--in my hands of old age.) The vet was astounded, and questioned carefully exactly how we did it, and for the next few years, we occasionally got calls from other vets who'd heard about "the people who saved a sick guinea pig" asking about it.

Bottom line--the GP didn't like it either, and fought us off with what strength she had left, but we persevered, and it was worth it.

That's the way husbandry goes sometimes; not all tasks are pleasant, but that's one of the responsibilities we commit to when we take on caring for an animal. :wink:

 

[MushuDaBeardie]

Keep with it, but in addition, offer fresh salad daily, and leave it there until 2 hrs. before lights-out.

40 yrs ago when we were starting out, we kept guinea pigs (cavies). One got sick, and the vet we took her to admitted that there was a saying that, "a sick guinea pig is a dead guinea pig." Because they're rodents and quite fecund, they often/usually don't have a strong will to pull through/survive, and tend to give up if/when they get sick (exceptions noted).

We weren't willing to give up, so I stayed up late nights force-feeding her a suspension of crushed alfalfa pellets in carrot juice laced with vitamin C every few hours round the clock. After a couple weeks, she eventually pulled through, and lived another 7 years. (She died--literally--in my hands of old age.) The vet was astounded, and questioned carefully exactly how we did it, and for the next few years, we occasionally got calls from other vets who'd heard about "the people who saved a sick guinea pig" asking about it.

Bottom line--the GP didn't like it either, and fought us off with what strength she had left, but we persevered, and it was worth it.

That's the way husbandry goes sometimes; not all tasks are pleasant, but that's one of the responsibilities we commit to when we take on caring for an animal. :wink:

Okay, I am a little nervous though. for one I really don't want him to hate me, two he is very very very difficult to force-feed! not even exaggerating and three I am leaving the country in a couple of weeks for 10 days, and I have a friend will be caring for him but I can't expect her to force-feed him she knows nothing about it! I seriously don't know what to do and I am kind of freaking out! I've heard of a kind of 'starving them' of course I would be offering salad and some bugs but if he doesn't eat at all for a week or so his appetite has got to take over right?

 

[MrSpectrum]

1. He'll get over it. Might take a little time, but all animal training requires reinforcement.
2. Guinea pigs have much larger (and sharper) teeth and claws. Do you wrap your beardie in a soft towel to feed him that way?
3. Can't help you with this one. I could be wrong, and hope I am, but it kinda sounds like you're looking for a rationalization to re-home. If not, I apologize. If there were such a thing as a beardie kennel, I'd suggest that. What I can suggest is try to find a reptile rescue, talk to them and ask if they'd be willing to board/nurse him while you're gone in exchange for a fee/donation. If not a reptile rescue, perhaps your veterinarian has a technician who'd be willing to help you out for a few bucks.

If you can get him eating within the 2 weeks before you go, I'm less concerned about the 10 days you're abroad. I would be concerned about the 2 weeks plus 10 days. Others may have different experience.

 

[KarrieRee]

I went thru this last March w/ Hiccup - would not eat - so I was force feeding as well - had him to the vet 3 times to find out why he would not eat ------------------- spent almost $500 to find out there was NOTHING wrong w/ him --- I quit w/ the force feeding saying he would eat when he was hungry --- the day after I quit force feeding him he started eating again --- I dont understand why the vet put him on a antibiotic when there was no infection going on ---- to me that is a waste ------------ as long as hes not losing weight and you know hes healthy he will eat when he is ready in the mean time I would just keep an eye on his weight and continue to feed him every day like you normally do
Karrie

 

[MushuDaBeardie]

Thank you both so much! I am in no way looking for a way to re-home him I love him to death, just want him to live a long happy life, including when I am not going to be able to be with him. Thank you for your suggestions! I think I am going to try the approach of not force-feeding for now and I'll watch his weight. If he continues on not eating for longer and losing a dramatic amount of weight I will have no choice but to force-feed him. He looks healthy, alert, and just stubborn!! I will wait out this period for him offering salad daily and maybe he'll come off his high horse and eat!! Thank you both!

 

[MrSpectrum]

I dont understand why the vet put him on a antibiotic when there was no infection going on ---- to me that is a waste

Just to play devil's advocate for a moment...

What if it had been the other way around, he'd had an infection, and the vet did nothing to treat it and it got worse, or the worst happened?

I think the vet was weighing the risks, and his/her better judgment was "better safe than sorry."

 

[MrSpectrum]

He looks healthy, alert, and just stubborn!!

Oh, I think anyone here can attest to their (for the most part) stubbornness. :laughing6:

I've had dogs, a cat, hamsters, GPs, a rabbit, and a variety of reptiles over the decades, and every one has had a stubborn streak--no exceptions (Not to mention DW--the only one who's more stubborn than me... ). :lol: