Around Christmas time a meal worm got left in my salamander's tank while I was on holidays. The worm turned into a beetle and ate 3 of the toes off his back foot. I was horrifed to come home and see him like that, he would spasm when I rinsed the coconut fiber off of him and thrash around. He always has had a great appetite even despite past illnesses but he has not eaten a single thing since the very start of January. He is now appearing to become septic with a reddish tinge to his skin as well as some back spots and is excessively shedding little scraps (not a healthy shed as usual). I scrubbed his tank and now he is just on damp paper towels with his water bowl and cave to hide under.
The vet I used to work with recommended the following:
5-10 minutes once a day in dilute betadine/water bath
1 drop metacam once a day by mouth
0.1mls Baytril by mouth twice a day for 2 weeks
Force feed Carnivore Care
I tried to force feed him tonight as well as give him his meds and as careful as I was I still hurt his mouth as he had it clamped tight and when I tried to get the tip of the teat canula in, it must have caused a lot of pain since he suddenly opened up his mouth and turned his head to the side. It made me want to cry since I have never hurt him or had to be forceful to him in any way. I feel like a giant mean bully.
Does anyone have any tips? I have read a few articles on here suggesting that force feeding can do more harm than good but I am worried that without his meds he will become more septic and die. Please help!!
The vet I used to work with recommended the following:
5-10 minutes once a day in dilute betadine/water bath
1 drop metacam once a day by mouth
0.1mls Baytril by mouth twice a day for 2 weeks
Force feed Carnivore Care
I tried to force feed him tonight as well as give him his meds and as careful as I was I still hurt his mouth as he had it clamped tight and when I tried to get the tip of the teat canula in, it must have caused a lot of pain since he suddenly opened up his mouth and turned his head to the side. It made me want to cry since I have never hurt him or had to be forceful to him in any way. I feel like a giant mean bully.
Does anyone have any tips? I have read a few articles on here suggesting that force feeding can do more harm than good but I am worried that without his meds he will become more septic and die. Please help!!