- Joined
- Jun 17, 2013
- Messages
- 13
While I'm a new member to this forum, I've probably read hundreds of posts from various users as I've been the mommy to a Sulcata (Trigger, Trig for short) for over 12 years.
My baby has gone through a couple close calls in his lifetime - first when he was 1 and had a horrible case of worms that went undetected for a while (he was eating so much, I had no idea he was starving from the worms getting all his nutrients!!!) and that was my first experience nursing him back to health. He bounced back well with the meds that i had to inject him but the docs said he would likely have stunted growth from the ordeal.
We live in Chicago, so obviously he doesn't get as much outdoor time as we would like him to. That being said, recently he got reeeeeeally sick and was suffering from kidney failure. He was at the vets for 3+ weeks before we got to bring him home.
Once home however it's been QUITE an ordeal getting him to eat. For two weeks he barely drank during his soaks, and was still too weak to eat on his own - but was so stubborn that I couldn't syringe feed him either (he's a stubborn fella!!!)
FINALLY we had a break through a couple weeks ago and I've been able to successfully hand feed him and he's eating a TON. However - he's still having trouble eating HAY - and yesterday he had really runny poop - I imagine because he needs more fiber.
Any suggestions on how I can get him to eat hay? He's just not able to chomp it up. I've been giving him dandelion leaves, some cactus (both of which he loooooooves), some romaine (that's what finally got him to start eating) and tried giving him little hay pellets which he can eat a few of - but can't eat on his own (still not strong enough to eat properly) and he doesn't like my hand feeding him all the time.
SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!! Trig is a verrrrrrry stubborn tort. We've finally worked out a system were he is okay with me hand feeding him long foods (like dandelion leaves) but I'm not sure how to get more fiber into him and he is NOT willing to be syringe fed!!!
Thanks!
ps- here is a link to Trig "quacking" during his soak yesterday...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SzvJgnwISo0
My baby has gone through a couple close calls in his lifetime - first when he was 1 and had a horrible case of worms that went undetected for a while (he was eating so much, I had no idea he was starving from the worms getting all his nutrients!!!) and that was my first experience nursing him back to health. He bounced back well with the meds that i had to inject him but the docs said he would likely have stunted growth from the ordeal.
We live in Chicago, so obviously he doesn't get as much outdoor time as we would like him to. That being said, recently he got reeeeeeally sick and was suffering from kidney failure. He was at the vets for 3+ weeks before we got to bring him home.
Once home however it's been QUITE an ordeal getting him to eat. For two weeks he barely drank during his soaks, and was still too weak to eat on his own - but was so stubborn that I couldn't syringe feed him either (he's a stubborn fella!!!)
FINALLY we had a break through a couple weeks ago and I've been able to successfully hand feed him and he's eating a TON. However - he's still having trouble eating HAY - and yesterday he had really runny poop - I imagine because he needs more fiber.
Any suggestions on how I can get him to eat hay? He's just not able to chomp it up. I've been giving him dandelion leaves, some cactus (both of which he loooooooves), some romaine (that's what finally got him to start eating) and tried giving him little hay pellets which he can eat a few of - but can't eat on his own (still not strong enough to eat properly) and he doesn't like my hand feeding him all the time.
SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!! Trig is a verrrrrrry stubborn tort. We've finally worked out a system were he is okay with me hand feeding him long foods (like dandelion leaves) but I'm not sure how to get more fiber into him and he is NOT willing to be syringe fed!!!
Thanks!
ps- here is a link to Trig "quacking" during his soak yesterday...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SzvJgnwISo0
I too live in Chicago. Do you soak the hay I water before feeding? In not, try that and also cut it up into small pieces. I would also get some Mazuri tortoise food. Most torts love in and you would be able to hide food into it. You would soak the Mazuri also. Good luck, keep us posted, others should have more ideas to try.
