"Rescued" Starving/dehydrated baby ball from petco HELP???

I bought baby pinstripe ball python from petco (I would like to make a note that I do NOT normally buy any animals from pet store chains) because it was starving, dehydrated, has possible scale rot or burn on its belly, and full body retained shed. This was 3/26. Soaked in warm water for a bit once home and assist fed f/t very small fuzzy mouse(monday), applied neosporin on belly, hot spot boosted to 90f. Humidity is up, still a bit weak but seems alert and follows movements. I know assist feeding is stressful, but it followed the mouse around without striking like it was interested but too weak to bite it, I only had to put the head in its mouth, the snake did the rest and never tried to spit it out.

As a side note, I also got the healthy bumblebee that was housed with that snake as well, its easily 3x the size. Seems healthy except for the fact that I just found mites on it today. I have provent-a-mite and reptile relief on order, should be here soon. Until then I soaked her. No signs of scale rot, or any OTHER problems. No signs of mites on any other snakes including the pinstripe so far. Both new snakes ARE and have been in quarantine in their own separate tubs. They are both on paper towels (my whole collection is now, in case of mites, even though the new ones are quarantined. Better safe than sorry)

Is there anything else I could or should be doing? Am I doing too much? Too little? The pinstripe I plan on feeding monday so long as it defecates without issue...*crossing my fingers* Urates seem fine, peed on me after each soak and once in tub. I need expert opinion, I have never had to deal with a snake or reptile in such horrid condition before and don't want to over stress it.

http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/105702/...xw7fL6sYoZ.jpg
http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/105702/...1rid1eAZXb.jpg
http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/105702/...UekhaCoSHu.jpg

Previous pics were taken 3/26
This one was taken Today after changing the bedding.
http://www.iherp.com/Gallery/105702/...XZDQkPL25E.jpg

As far as the scale rot issue, I have had success with Chlorhexidine / Betadine solution on a couple different rescues . Diluted of course . It worked quite well for me .

I thought to do that but had someone tell me not to use it on a dehydrated snake....

For future reference after those issues were no more .

Definitely. I have betadine, I'm just waiting to use it. The poor things skull is even sunken in its so starved....I just couldn't leave it there to die. Someone also mentioned crypto but it hasn't shown any signs of it. No regurgitation, or swollen belly.

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Originally Posted by Kiryu

so long as it defecates without issue

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Not a good idea, imo. It took Buggsie 32 days before she finally gave us something other than urine/urates. (You can read about her by clicking the pic in my sig.)

Also, I was under the impression that neosporin wasn't a good idea for long term care?

It's not for long term, just until it's hydrated enough to treat scale rot with betadine/water solution. Well, all my healthy snakes defecate around day 5-6 after feeding, but then, they were regularly fed, so you have a point. I am just worried about over feeding and prolapse on an emaciated animal. I'll just continue to feed weekly. Have rat pinkies, and mouse fuzzies coming in with my hoppers tomorrow. Hopefully I can get it eating on its own and on its way to recovery. I do plan to soak it again in plain warm water before feeding though.

Just making sure. Didn't want an oversight to cause more scale problems before you could get around to treating it.

Best wishes with your rescue rehabilitation.

Yes, I mentioned earlier in the thread that I had betadine ready, just waiting until it's healthy enough for treatment. My main concerns are keeping it hydrated and fed without stressing either the animal or its organs with too much too fast. I don't have any exotic vets in my area and would have to drive hours to find one and with my luck they wouldn't take snakes. I've noticed a visible difference in just the last few days, the snake looks a little brighter and less saggy and dry. Also it's starting to move around a bit more, seems more alert as well. Still weak though. I will also mention that when I fed it, as I set it down I must've jostled the mouse because the second I let go it triggered a response, and the snake attempted to weakly coil around the fuzzy before promptly swallowing.

It's amazing what your doing for the snake. Good to hear its eating. Its a shame that they made you pay for a sick snake just so you could save its life. It doesn't surprise me that it was in that kinda shape after seeing all those videos of Petco and petsmarts suppliers. An employee at my local pet smart showed me those videos and told me that both them and Petco stopped buying from the supplier due to the neglect. Both my local Petco and pet smart have no herps or hamsters except for 2 beardies. They won't be getting anymore for 6-12 months and from a different supplier. Idk if all the stores in the country bought them from the same place but if they do you will soon see a drop in there small animal stock.

Good luck with the rehabilitation.

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Originally Posted by Kiryu

It's not for long term, just until it's hydrated enough to treat scale rot with betadine/water solution.

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You can still treat with a betadine/water solution, just don't soak your snake so there's no chance of it drinking the solution. Instead wipe it onto the affected area with a sterile gauze pad.

Also if the snake eats f/t then offering the feeders wet will help with rehydration.

I have not rehabbed any snakes, but it sounds like your assist feed was very mild, and any stress it might have caused was likely offset by the benefit of getting the food into the poor baby.

People often feed babies every 5 days, is that something to consider with this one?


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I offered another fuzzy one day 6, and with some hesitation and investigation it did in fact strike (missed the first time, struck home on the second) took a while for it to position and realign the mouse properly and swallow it, but it did it on its own!! So happy! I didn't think to apply the solution directly, I'll have to buy gauze pads, all I have now are cotton swabs, that should do right? I'll start that right away. :) thanks for all the advice everyone!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kiryu

I offered another fuzzy one day 6, and with some hesitation and investigation it did in fact strike (missed the first time, struck home on the second) took a while for it to position and realign the mouse properly and swallow it, but it did it on its own!! So happy! I didn't think to apply the solution directly, I'll have to buy gauze pads, all I have now are cotton swabs, that should do right? I'll start that right away. :) thanks for all the advice everyone!

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Yes as long as they are clean cotton balls will work.

I gave it a nice long soak in warm water, seeing as how its eyes have turned blue, hopefully the shed goes smoothly and isn't too much trouble. After drying the snake, I put some diluted betadine on its problem areas, along the ventral scales. It looks like there MAY be some discoloration around the underside of its jaw and behind the head, I carefully applied some there, though I didn't want to get too close to the mouth. I'll keep updating on the progress though! I want to keep this well documented, if I find a vet then I can take everything in to them, or if I want to file a formal complaint against petco (not that I believe that it'll make a difference, but ya never know) then I have proof, and all the pics on my phone have timestamps so they can't accuse me of being at fault.