Assist (forced) feeding 4: Special procedures for lizards

When assist feeding large lizards with formidable teeth, the steel feeding tip needs to either be replaced by a softer length of aquarium tube, or slipped skillfully past the teeth so that the lizard bites down only on the soft plastic of the syringe. Another concern for lizards is their bodies should be held with the head elevated while feeding, as otherwise the food may actually "back up" and go back out violently through the nose and mouth. This is uncomfortable for both lizard and handler. Be sure to read all the tips in the assist feeding series carefully before proceding, as you can easily kill or injure a reptile during this difficult activity.