Illness/Sickness: Severe impaction from chitin

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Natalie

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My A. mavortium, Bhima, is bloated, and barely alive now. I foolishly thought I could give him mealworms once a week, and then I left him with a friend for the holidays... I don't know if it's the chitin, if a mealworm is still alive in his stomach, or both. Does anyone know a sally-safe Chitinase (substance which dissolves the tough mealworm shell) which I could either soak him in or drip into his mouth?
 
My salamanders suffered impaction twice, from wax worms. Leaving the animals in the fridge for a couple of days helped (they excreted the whole worm). You could try this in the mean time. Sorry I can't advise anything better.
 
evut said:
Leaving the animals in the fridge for a couple of days helped (they excreted the whole worm).
Click to expand...

Evut, could you please tell me what the reasoning is behind the fridge? Is there a medical effect the cold will have? It is 9 C outside today. So maybe I put him outside where cooling is gradual and there is fresh air. Thank you for your reply.
 
I can't really elaborate on why it is beneficial. I think axolotl keepers whose animals ingest something use this method. Someone else can perhaps explain why it helps.
 
Although caudates don't hibernate, the cold will trigger a purge in their digestive system (as it does in mammals when they prepare to hibernate) and help them pass whatever is causing discomfort.

Outside in a covered container would be OK at 9C.
 
auntiejude said:
Although caudates don't hibernate, the cold will trigger a purge in their digestive system (as it does in mammals when they prepare to hibernate) and help them pass whatever is causing discomfort.

Outside in a covered container would be OK at 9C.
Click to expand...

Thank you, thank you, thank you Auntie!:happy:
 
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