I do think it's good to have a coherent set of hints and tips on how to tube feed (and give injections) - maybe we should start a dedicated thread, seeing as how a lot of this so-useful information is kind of getting buried in all my woes...
I do make sure I get all the air out of the tube, I dip the snake end of the tube in edible cooking oil, and last time I tried warming the tube itself in hot water just before use to make it a bit softer and more flexible.
My partner and myself tag team the actual feed - we lay a towel across my lap, I feed and he holds Samael's body level and tries to prevent acute coiling (without over stretching). After feeding we hold his head and upper third of body upwards to let gravity (and a bit of gentle belly massage) do its work to try and prevent it all coming back down his nose..... Mostly it works after his original objections, but last time but one he fought us hard and did spit up half the egg.
And yet, his system is working - he defecated last night and gave us a properly sized, (if soft and smelly - eggy
) stool. I've seen him drinking. When we take him out his tongue is flicking and he does move around slowly. But when I offer him solid food he recoils, and if left in the tank, ignores it.
I will order some Flukers Liquid Calcium reptile supplement, but given that it took over 2 months for the Nutri-bac to get to us, I'll wait until my partner can pick it up the USA in July. For the meantime I've bought some other children's liquid multivitamins that include calcium, and I'll start adding those to his egg instead of the baby vits (which have no calcium, but do have iron, which these new ones lack... maybe I'll need to alternate).
I have to be away again soon for a couple of weeks, so I'm not trying anything new immediately, but when I get back I think I'll try blending up the tinned cat food again - he tolerated that once before, and that also includes calcium.
My vet did offer me a urethral catheter, but it was so thin I'm not sure even egg would have gone through it. Maybe human catheters are wider? I shall investigate that and maybe check the hospital.
Our night time temperatures are dropping now as we head into southern hemisphere winter. Currently nighttime sitting 23 - 24oC (73 - 74oF), daytime 28oC (82oF). He does feel cold to the touch, and I certainly don't want him to start brumating now, so I've added a hot spot to his tank. I made these myself when we had neonates - they are kind of McGyver'd but effective and don't get hot enough to burn. I took electrical heaters that we use to vapourise mosquito repellent tablets at night, and used bathroom sealant to seal them into small ceramic souffle ramekins. I put one into his tub and he was curled up onto it within 15 minutes, so maybe it will help a bit. I'll get a photo of him on it for the next post.
It's eggy time again tonight, will be adding calcium vits, fingers crossed....
Here are my McGyvery hot rock ingredients.....