Need some help with a rescue

[AngelOtter]

So I went to pick up a cage today from craigslist, and they had a ball python that was in really bad shape. They had it in the cage I was buying, which was in no way acceptable for a ball, plus they had other animals in with it as well (an anole which I also took, a bearded dragon baby with mbd, two hermit crabs, and this snake). I just had to take it and try to help, I'm going to re-home it if it does get better. Anyway, I was wondering if you guys had any advise? It's very skinny, and the girl said it was blind, but i'm not sure if it is or if it's just retaining eyecaps. I soaked it and tried to give it a mouse, but it wouldn't take it. She also said it likes live, that's going to be annoying since I feed F/T and finding live around here is difficult, but it really needs to eat, so if it doesn't take a f/t in the next day or so I'm going to go find live.
Also there is something up with it's cloaca, not sure if it's a prolapse or what?
Sorry for the bad pictures:




I have it set up correctly now, so hopefully it will improve =/

[Valley]

You should report whomever you got her from. That's neglect, cruelty, etc.. Some people should be limited to taking care of themselves, and even that's scary with some.

[norwegn113]

That snake needs medical attention. I give you credit for taking it from the person who abused it so badly but I have to say that by doing that you have now accepted responsibility for that animal and right now it should be seen by a vet and given proper medical treatment. If you are unable for whatever reason to provide it with medical assistance then I would highly recommend finding a local rescue to turn it over to so this poor creature can at least have a fighting chance at a good recovery and happy life.

[Peoples]

From the look of things the BP looks dehydrated - First item of order is a vet visit, then get him/her nursed back to prime condition.

Good luck with the rescue.

[Neotetro]

Looks like severe dehydration and lack of humidity. Make sure to let that snake have a lot of water and pump up the humidity. Give it a few days, and go from there.

[liv]

I would keep her on moist paper towels so that the cloaca region doesn't dry out- it looks awful.

[AngelOtter]

Unfortunately the person I got it from said they got it from someone else and blah blah blah.

It's in such terrible condition it breaks my heart, it's a very sweet snake. I have been soaking it, and keeping the cage really humid. I called the vet but they didn't have anything until Friday. Someone messaged me and said they could possibly take it, so if we can work that out that's what I'm going to do. I don't mind taking it to the vet, but I'm not sure I have the experience with Balls to help as much as this animal needs.

[skirtinthedirt]

Hi guys,

Update: I met Angel and picked this little guy up yesterday. Here's what I already know before the vet appointment happens:

He's severely dehydrated and has several layers of stuck shed. He's tiny, neonate sized, so I'm not sure if this baby has ever shed. His eyes are particularly concerning and I'm not sure once the retained eye caps are removed her will be able to see. The right eye looks phthisical (shrunken/shriveled/dead), however he maneuvers alright so maybe he is partially visual from the left.

The reason he doesn't look teeny and looks like he is in good body condition is because his entire body is edematous. He feels like a little water balloon and his skin is very fragile. There's no sign of any skin wounds or infection so as of right now I'm assuming it's because he is severely malnourished. Under the edema, he has no muscle mass at all, so my unofficial diagonals is hypoproteinemia, which causes this type of edema. If that's the case, it means this little guy is already in kidney/liver failure and is unlikely to survive. I am going to attempt tube feeding him tonight (in order to give him a calorie source that will be absorbed more rapidly than whole prey) and see how it goes.

Despite all of this, he is incredibly active and interested in life, so there's a glimmer of hope there......

I will keep you posted. It's pretty sad that most of his issues come down to basic neglect.

[Pythonfriend]

you write it in the update, and its the first thing i noticed in the puctures: he skipped a few sheds, full-body. almost looks as if the shed skin is constricting him, the first picture shows it very well. i dont think he will eat normal until he managed to shed.


good luck.

just one suggestion: maybe give him some UV light, one of the thing that can crush reptiles organs and bone structure is lack of vitamin D, normaly snakes dont need UV light because the livers of rhodents contain it. But snakes can still produce it with UV light. or, if you tube feed anyway, most likely you already did add a vitamin supplement to that.

EDIT: if he survives but goes blind im sure you can still find a new home for him and that he will live a good life, blind BPs have a reputation of still doing well because heat pits and sense of smell are so well-developed.

[Willie76]

Please keep us posted. People that do this to defenseless animals should be shot...IMO