My New Retic WILL NOT EAT! Someone help me out here! - Page 4

**millertime89** · 04-21-15, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

@millertime89 - That man wasn't bit during feeding time, he was cleaning the cage. Look at the comments

No, but that's what can happen when a big python gets a hold of you. Much more likely to happen during feeding time when they can smell food and are keying on things with heat...

MDT · 04-21-15, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyleKennedy

What I have is a severed tendon in the thumb, no disease........knock on wood

you probably don't, but there is no way they/we can tell you that based off of exam. it's not common and i was throwing that out there as another example of why live feeding may not be the best choice.

you wouldn't know if you had rat bite fever until the bacteria could be isolated and identified (that does not happen in the ED) and, if your ER doc wasn't considering that as a possibility, you may not have received the correct antibiotic. chances are though, you did. (This is where follow up is important)

if you have a severed tendon, you have a whole other set of problems depending on if it's a flexor tendon or extensor tendon....and i'm guessing they set you up w a hand surgeon to repair the tendon? When you go in for tendon repair, they can take a culture if need be.

**millertime89** · 04-21-15, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

you probably don't, but there is no way they/we can tell you that based off of exam. it's not common and i was throwing that out there as another example of why live feeding may not be the best choice.

you wouldn't know if you had rat bite fever until the bacteria could be isolated and identified (that does not happen in the ED) and, if your ER doc wasn't considering that as a possibility, you may not have received the correct antibiotic. chances are though, you did. (This is where follow up is important)

if you have a severed tendon, you have a whole other set of problems depending on if it's a flexor tendon or extensor tendon....and i'm guessing they set you up w a hand surgeon to repair the tendon? When you go in for tendon repair, they can take a culture if need be.

This is all latin to me... lol

MDT · 04-21-15, 09:48 PM

sorry dude...we gotta talk in code.

severed tendon=not good=surgery, +/- loss of function
rat bite fever=couldn't tell that in ER=treat empirically and hope you covered everything

**millertime89** · 04-21-15, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

sorry dude...we gotta talk in code.

severed tendon=not good=surgery, +/- loss of function
rat bite fever=couldn't tell that in ER=treat empirically and hope you covered everything

Lol, it's all good. Mostly directed at the specific tendons.

KyleKennedy · 04-22-15, 10:51 AM

Yeah I'm scheduled see a hand surgeon, but that's in 2 weeks. In the meantime I have to keep my hand bandaged and my thumb is in a splint. I never heard of rat bite fever until you mentioned it. I looked it up and I'm starting to worry. I have been feeling sick and now my whole hand hurts, not just my thumb. I took off the bandages to look at it and my thumb is still swoll. I know it's a severed tendon, but I don't know why that would affect the rest of my hand. Going back to the ER and tell them to check for rat bite fever later today.

KyleKennedy · 04-22-15, 10:54 AM

Even though mortality rate is low if untreated, I'm not taking any chances.

MDT · 04-22-15, 10:54 AM

they can't check for it....(so to speak),,,they could potentially do a culture you'd know in about 4 days. Typically, we would make sure that whatever antibiotic you're already on would cover that bacteria... and, my advice, go to an urgent care. quicker, cheaper, same evaluation. unless you have a true emergency (can't breathe, chest pain, etc)....you should avoid the ER .

Princess-dad · 04-22-15, 01:01 PM

Hi Imam not an expert but try feeding your small,thin snake some smaller thinner food . change his enclosure to as close to as close to the he was kept before . Why do u think its appropriate to feed a jumbo live rat to a new animal u just received when he is probably not a bug enough animal to eat that offering .By your post he is scared of that rat or he would not hide he would kill it they dont try to eat what they cant swallow. At this point your desire to have your snake eat what it cant eat , he is probably stressed , by u,,and hungry and weak . Only offer food that is no bigger around than he is . Now that he gas been bitten try med or small frozen . You know something that isnt to big for him. After he starts feeding on a regular bases then try pushing the size thing .Think about it hes in new place after a scary trip living in a small home and having what sounds like to me someone try to push him into a food source thats way to, big . Feed two smaller offerings if ge needs more not one he is scared and might not be able to swallow . More nourishment does not have to add up to way to big . My 5ft. RTB is quite healthy (thick ) for under two yrs old hes on 1med rat every 5\7days depending on ho he is acting . Im thinking about upping his food because he is hunting his cage sooner each week . But that doesnt mean up a size up means up the amount depending on his ability to handle the size . Good luck sorry if I seem harsh but come on he is what he is fatten him up after he will eat for u not at first meeting .

**millertime89** · 04-22-15, 02:44 PM

A 5ft retic can usually take jumbo (XL or bigger) rats. Your 5ft rtb can probably take bigger food too. I prefer to up the size rather than increase frequency. Different strokes for different folks.

Princess-dad · 04-22-15, 05:37 PM

sorry I didnt see the 4 pages of post I was speaking to the guy that started this thread . The one who said he just got a skinny ft 4 snake in trade and is trying to give it a Jumbo rat as a first meal and kept giving it to him until he got his snake bitten by rat even though he stated that his animal would defense strike and then hide . Again I am no pro but its not hard to tell if an animal is scared of thief pray . And yes Prince could easily handle a large rat , but he is longer and in no way could he be described as skinny . I believe before a owner starts trying to go for as big if not bigger than your animal can handle you should get familiar with you new friend . And yes I would also rather go up a size instead of feeding two more nutrition in 1 as apposed to 2 having more waste ie fur and bone .But at the same time I was not asking what should I do if my new friend wont eat something to big that its hides from , and bites it .so I keyed in on the owner desire to fatten up his new snake by going very large with the suze and suggested if he thinks it needs that many calories . feed two pray items of an easier to handle size .If his snake is scared of the food its not gonna get eaten . The snake might and apparently dud get hurt though .Sorry for my lazyness I should of made sure I was addressing the proper person . Piece and love for alo things especially our feetless friends.

Princess-dad · 04-22-15, 05:51 PM

Prince pics

KyleKennedy · 04-22-15, 05:54 PM

@Princess-dad - My snake was not bitten by a rat, I was lol. And it was when I was attempting to feed my red tail boa, not my retic. I'm going to give my retic large f/t rats, and I am sure he will take them down with no problem. This retic is underweight for his age, so I am going to bulk him up. What's the point of having a mainland retic if they're small. I am trying to turn him into the giant that he know he has the potential of becoming.

KyleKennedy · 04-22-15, 05:57 PM

@millertime89 - Me too. When I had my savannah monitor, I would feed him 1 large rat rather than 10 small mice. The same can be applied for snakes.