A month and still not eating

CanadianEryx · 01-22-11, 04:16 PM

Hi! It's been almost a month since my KSB last ate. She is getting skinny and has shed (poorly) three times since then. She was stabbed by a cat's claw and I think this may have stressed her out, but I am beginning to get worried. Her cage is clean and she has no mites that I can see. Otherwise her behavior is pretty normal from what I've read about these guys. Any suggestions??

NennaMeerkat · 01-22-11, 05:05 PM

Have you tried some live food to stimulate her more to eat? I have heard that works.

CanadianEryx · 01-22-11, 05:13 PM

I haven't tried live food because I am afraid of injury (especially since she was clawed). I removed her water dish yesterday and am thinking of trying to feed her a soaking wet f/t pinkie tomorrow. She does drink from her dish regularly so I'm hoping that she gets thirsty enough to snatch the mouse from tongs (she ate 3 f/t pinkies per week prior to this situation with no problems). I've also heard that piercing the pinkie's head may help...what do you think? She's approximately 10-12 months old and usually two pencil widths thick (she's almost down to one pencil width thick right now).

CanadianEryx · 01-22-11, 05:14 PM

No, I did not take her to the vet, but the puncture has totally disappeared with her sheds and there is no sign of swelling or infection or fever.

2006gt · 01-22-11, 05:06 PM

did the cat punture any internal organs?? did you take the snake to the vet??

Will0W783 · 01-22-11, 05:17 PM

I wouldn't think that she should be dropping much weight in a month of not eating. One month is not a long time for a snake to be off feed, but if there's significant weight loss then there's usually another underlying issue like parasites or kidney problems. I would honestly say get her to a good reptile vet.

NennaMeerkat · 01-22-11, 05:17 PM

If she is eating pinkies then a couple of live ones will not be able to hurt her at all. You could do a single live along with frozen thawed and see if the one live would stimulate her eating the f/t as well.

CanadianEryx · 01-22-11, 06:47 PM

I just took a closer look at my little girl and I inadvertently exaggerated her weight loss. I've been looking at too many pictures and my memory sucks. I'd say she looks so skinny because she has no pinkies bulging in her body which, of course, is when she is her thickest.

NennaMeerkat · 01-22-11, 06:51 PM

Hey a-vd take some pics of her I bet plenty can tell you if she excessively skinny and if that is the case then yeah time for a vet visit.

totheend · 01-22-11, 08:28 PM

Sand boas really prefer live food when they are little. Put him/her in a deli cup with aspen and throw in a live pink or 2.

CanadianEryx · 01-22-11, 09:32 PM

Hi! Here is the link to a picture of my KSB as of half an hour ago: a-vdberg's Kenyan Sand Boa - My Photo Gallery

Will0W783 · 01-23-11, 11:58 AM

It is a bit hard to tell from the poor resolution of the picture, but it looks to me like she has very dry skin- possibly dehydrated. She is a bit thin, but not dangerously so. Can you see her spine? If possible, can you try to get a better picture of her that shows the condition of her skin a bit more clearly? If she is really as dry as she looks from that picture, I would recommend a vet visit.

CanadianEryx · 01-24-11, 06:41 PM

I know the resolution sucks so I will get my daughter's camera and take a few pics in the next day or so. I cannot see her (Eryx) spine and the dehydration look may be due to her being in shed at the present time. I'm having trouble posting pics with my posts--is there a trick to this?

Will0W783 · 01-24-11, 08:28 PM

Watch her shed...it should come off in one piece.