Kribby
New member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2011
- Messages
- 197
- Reaction score
- 10
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Nova Scotia
- Country
- Canada
- Display Name
- Kim
I would like to start by saying that I do not have a newt or salamander with this problem, however I do like to be prepared and I have been making myself a little newt first aid book for quick reference. Afterall, the internet is not always available and I can't always remember the specifics of treatment.
I have read on the site and through some forum posts that a good treatment for impacted bowels or constipation is to fridge the animal. Allowing it time to pass the waste/blockage without fear of food rotting in the gut. This seems very reasonable and I have no issue with it. However, I know a few other methods that are commonly used with fish that have the same problem and I was wondering if anyone might have experience with if they are effective with caudates.
The first is feeding the animal deshelled peas. Probably wouldn't work as I am not sure a caudate would eat them, so it is pretty moot.
The second though, I can see no real reason why it couldn't work. In the case of a fish ingesting a object it shouldn't, bowel impaction, constipation - it is a little known trick of the trade that mineral oil can be used as an emergency measure. IE if you need the animal to pass the object quickly and protect the intestine from damage. For example, when someone feeds their fish pelletized fertilizer (don't ask... it really has happened).
The premis of the treatment is fairly simple. You open the animals mouth and force feed a small amount of mineral oil (the amount depends on animal size). The oil acts as a laxative and lubricant to make the passage of the objects easier, is not metabolized, and acts as a temporary protective coating for the gut.
So.... has anyone had experience with this? Or should I leave it out of my caudata first aid book?
I have read on the site and through some forum posts that a good treatment for impacted bowels or constipation is to fridge the animal. Allowing it time to pass the waste/blockage without fear of food rotting in the gut. This seems very reasonable and I have no issue with it. However, I know a few other methods that are commonly used with fish that have the same problem and I was wondering if anyone might have experience with if they are effective with caudates.
The first is feeding the animal deshelled peas. Probably wouldn't work as I am not sure a caudate would eat them, so it is pretty moot.
The second though, I can see no real reason why it couldn't work. In the case of a fish ingesting a object it shouldn't, bowel impaction, constipation - it is a little known trick of the trade that mineral oil can be used as an emergency measure. IE if you need the animal to pass the object quickly and protect the intestine from damage. For example, when someone feeds their fish pelletized fertilizer (don't ask... it really has happened).
The premis of the treatment is fairly simple. You open the animals mouth and force feed a small amount of mineral oil (the amount depends on animal size). The oil acts as a laxative and lubricant to make the passage of the objects easier, is not metabolized, and acts as a temporary protective coating for the gut.
So.... has anyone had experience with this? Or should I leave it out of my caudata first aid book?