emaciated rescue

[Mminx]

While perusing in a local pet store a worker asked if I had any pets, I told him about a few of the geckos, the corn snake, but he stopped me after I mentioned I had a Ball Python. He mentioned they had one that hadn't eaten in 5 weeks. I saw the little fellow and couldn't leave him there. I left with what could be considered a long term foster agreement.

He has a vet visit scheduled for Monday, assuming he lasts that long.

He is in terrible shape, 17" long and 55grams after being assist fed a pinky mouse. His undercarrriage is concave, he is extremely weak. When being assist fed the pink, he did latch on to my friends finger and draw blood (go little guy go!), around 6 pm Saturday. While it would be nice to let him settle in for a day or two, the thouht was that he would expire by then. I happened to be up around 4am today and he had moved his head, but his body was in the exact same position. I moved the water bowl closer to him and he did drink, a lot.

As of 8am today, he is chilled (on a working UTH) and has no fight left. He is unresponsive and look like death. He has his head twisted around almost corkscrewed, so looks that much worse.

If he is still alive when I return home tonight, any suggestions as to how to proceed? I'll post pics later this evening. I would love to save the little guy, but if he is beyond saving he may be euthed at the vet tomorrow.

He is in a ten gallon tank right now, as far away from my collection as is possible. He is setup with matching hides on warm and cool side, and a therrmostat on the hot side.

If I do give him a pedialyte bath, where do I find the best instuctions, I've found varying opinons.

Thanks, for any help or healing thoughts that could help the little guy.

[Capray]

Bump

Hope he pulls through for you.
Go slow with him.


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[Mminx]

Thanks, I will. He had a tiny pinky yesterday, maybe 4 grams. Would tonight be to soon to give him a pinky head?

If I come across another in this shape or similar, what is recommended to have on hand for a rehab? I'm thinking pinkies, good disinfectant, spare setup and heat managed enclosure.

When is it appropriate to use Hill's A/D dog food? I've heard of that being used as well. My assumption is that high calorie easy to digest foods are best, with mice being the most natural, but it appears some use other foods.

[Flikky]

I don't have experience with this but hopefully someone else can help.. Hang on little guy

[Archimedes]

Here's another bump for you, I really hope he pulls through. What timing, that you talked to this pet store worker right when the little guy needed someone to care...

That sounds like it must've been more than just 5 weeks, unless he came down with something disastrous...

[nick654377]

on snake bytes tv. i forgot what episode it was. it think it was snake eats my cake or something like that. he talks about problem feeders and he used ferrit food blended up with water.

[Mr Oni]

Bump

goodluck

[Capray]

How is he? Did he make the night?


I think it would be fine to feed him the pinky head. Get a live rat fuzzy and see if he'll kill it, if not try assist feeding it to him prekilled. It would be good to get food in him now but make sure he's keeping his food down.


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[Mminx]

Surprisingly he's still here, though not by much. He's not even holding his head up now. Fingers crossed hrs here tomorrow.

[liv]

Wow, good luck with him. I hope he pulls through for you!!
Hopefully someone with experience can weigh in.. pictures might help them too