New pickup near dead...

I need help! I have a rescue that is near dead. It is literally a skeleton. I picked it up last Thursday. It's 2 1/2 years old and over 3 feet long but the pet store closed that these people were buying rats from and it hasn't been fed since July 2011. Not only that but it was caged in a ten gallon tank with an IR heat lamp and a heat rock in the cage. Basically it has exhausted near all of its resources. I need to bring this girl back to health. She has several layers of stuck shed to top it off. If there is any experienced rescuers who have dealt with a snake like this please advise. Thanks.

You need a vet visit ASAP.

Vet. like- Yesterday.
In the meantime - smallish tub, up the humidity as close to 100% as you can get, and get temps as perfect as possible (92 hot 87 cool).

food - start with something small, about half the size she would eat if she was in the right conditions.
But get that lady to a vet. ASAP.

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Originally Posted by jinx667

You need a vet visit ASAP.

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I'm in farm country and I think it would be a death sentence to take her to someone who doesn't work with reptiles. I do not want to stress her to death. I'm 2.5 hours away from any city that might have a good exotic pet vet. The road trip will kill her.

Have you tried to feed her?

Call the vets that are in your area, see if anybody there even has a slight clue what they are doing with reps. My old livestock vet did reptile work too - its hit or miss, but you might find somebody.

Also - give her a gatoraide bath. VERY gently. it can be stressful, so work very very carefully and gently. But if you get pediasure, gatoraide, poweraide, something with tons of electrolytes, it will help.

Yes, upon getting her Thursday I nebulized for an hour and fed her 3 30 - 45 gram rats. Bad Idea, I know! She regurged all three 2 days later. She was fed another 30 gram rat the same day she regurged. Then I fed her another on Tuesday. She has not regurged any yet. I know red flags are popping up in everyones minds but seriously I think her only chance for survival given the conditions is to get the food in her.

I agree its not a good idea - but given the circumstances, it may be the only way. Do you have any pictures of her?

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Originally Posted by Xotik

Call the vets that are in your area, see if anybody there even has a slight clue what they are doing with reps. My old livestock vet did reptile work too - its hit or miss, but you might find somebody.

Also - give her a gatoraide bath. VERY gently. it can be stressful, so work very very carefully and gently. But if you get pediasure, gatoraide, poweraide, something with tons of electrolytes, it will help.

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I will call vets and see. Also, where she has eaten and is still digesting these rats I will wait for the gatorade bath until she has digested a little or regurged. I think moving her around will cause her to regurge again.

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Originally Posted by coolballsdave

I will call vets and see. Also, where she has eaten and is still digesting these rats I will wait for the gatorade bath until she has digested a little or regurged. I think moving her around will cause her to regurge again.

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Yup- you left out that she had been fed, so I was running blind with that.

But pics.