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Sickbp
So I was given a BP who I was told is a few years old from a lady at work who's fiancé went to prison and this boys seems horrible in my opinion but before I rush him to my vet when open I wanna ask here If in home care is what he needs or more help. So he just shed and his skin is horribly bubbly and so thin that when I picked him up it ripped a little, I read it could be his set up or his feeding. I was told to give him a hopper mouse and so far he hasn't wanted one but every two or three weeks apart. Please any advice and wisdom would be appreciated before I go nuts with worry it's to late to fix what's wrong
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If you can show us some pictures it would help.
downloading the app "tapatalk" on a smartphone is the easiest way to upload pics straight from your phone.
Also, information on his enclosure, setup, heating equipment, etc... would help us help you moving forward.
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Re: Sickbp
HIS things he came with looked nasty and old so I went and bought new water bowl and a new hiding rock. As of now he's in a 10 gallon tank with heat lamp on top of screen. His temp says 88 on hot side and I spray with a squirt bottle everyday but gonna by something better for misting. Sorry I can get a picture later. He will be getting a 50 gallon tank this weekend
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Re: Sickbp
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan
Just read that tank one gonna use it with his new tank especially since it'll be way larger gotta keep it warm and wet enough. I'll read the other caresheet thanks
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Before you rush into getting a 50 gallons tank which is over killed even for an adult and will be hard to maintain, post some details and pictures.
First thing get a picture of the snake (full body pic on a flat surface, belly pic), second get his weight.
Than go through the current husbandry
Temps, humidity, substrate used, hide used, type of thermometer, thermostat etc.
If you have limited experience do not rush into setting it up the way you think it should be set up, BP are not very forgiven with their husbandry needs and for an animal that need to be rehabbed it is essential that those needs are met.
For example if the snake is only big enough for a hopper a 50 gallons tank would definitely be inadequate.
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborah
Before you rush into getting a 50 gallons tank which is over killed even for an adult and will be hard to maintain, post some details and pictures.
First thing get a picture of the snake, second get his weight.
Than go through the current husbandry
Temps, humidity, substrate used, hide used, type of thermometer, thermostat etc.
If you have limited experience do not rush into setting it up the way you think it should be set up, BP are not very forgiven with their husbandry needs and for an animal that need to be rehabbed it is essential that those needs are met.
For example if the snake is only big enough for a hopper a 50 gallons tank would definitely be inadequate.
Ok thanks for the advice I'll hold onto the tank and see if I can maybe get a 20 gallon or something his 10 just seems a little small not much room to move around at all with water bowl and hide away rock
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That looks like pictures I have seen of slipped skin disease. Please read this thread on the subject so you know what you are dealing with. You are going to need to take the animal to the vet. ASAP
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Based on that picture, I agree with Jodan. I have only seen pictures and have no first hand experience, but if it was an animal in my care I would be finding a qualified exotics vet as soon as I could.
I hope things work out for you and the snake. Good luck!
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Sickbp
Just called my vet got an appointment 9am tomorrow. I'm gonna have a heart attack over all this if it's too bad now [emoji22]
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Re: Sickbp
A sick snake is probably going to feel more secure and in a nice, dark, cozy tub. Feeling secure means less stress, which means the immune system will have one less thing to deal with. Start out with a tub setup, which is pretty easy (and inexpensive), and while the snake's health improves you can think about what you want for a long-term enclosure.
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
Just called my vet got an appointment 9am tomorrow. I'm gonna have a heart attack over all this if it's too bad now [emoji22]
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U are going to need to establish if the vet has any knowledge of this disease. It is not common, the cure rate is low and all vets are not equal. I would suggest pointing the vet at the thread I gave you before you go and make sure he/she can deal with the issue. The previous owner was not good to this animal. What area are you in? Someone on here can maybe recommend a good vet to you.
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Re: Sickbp
So I know he's malnourished and that's a problem but he's not eating hopper mice but every few weeks, should I switch to a smaller mouse and try more often. I have a strong feeling he's just not passing these good
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan
U are going to need to establish if the vet has any knowledge of this disease. It is not common, the cure rate is low and all vets are not equal. I would suggest pointing the vet at the thread I gave you before you go and make sure he/she can deal with the issue. The previous owner was not good to this animal. What area are you in? Someone on here can maybe recommend a good vet to you.
My vet says she sees snakes a lot and she's the best I know around with dogs and other animals so hopefully she will/should know about this
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
So I know he's malnourished and that's a problem but he's not eating hopper mice but every few weeks, should I switch to a smaller mouse and try more often. I have a strong feeling he's just not passing these good
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What you need is to do some research, no you do not want to feed more often the more often you offer the more it leads to a refusal.
YOu want to feed the appropriate size prey based on the glimpse I just had of the pictures this animal is too bog for hopper and may not recognize them as a prey (those are for BP out of the egg)
Again get the weight first and before trying to feed get your husbandry in order, go get a plastic tub based on the snake's size and provide the optimum setup, if the husbandry does not meet your BP's need it will not eat.
And honestly right now based on the diagnoses of the animal eating is not your priority.
Being the best vet with dog sadly means nothing you MUST find an exotic vet, one that has hands on experience with reptiles and that is qualified, otherwise you will end up paying a lot of money and have very little results, because they treat dogs does not mean they are experienced with reptiles, my vet is not and she actually calls me at times when she has a question about snakes, you do not want that.
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Re: Sickbp
When I fed him his last mouse right before this shed he seriously didn't have this bubbly thin skin he seemed fine besides his under weight I'm working on
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
So I know he's malnourished and that's a problem but he's not eating hopper mice but every few weeks, should I switch to a smaller mouse and try more often. I have a strong feeling he's just not passing these good
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The animal should be fed something that is approximately the width of the widest part of the snake. I, however doubt he will eat in that condition and it may not be a good idea anyway until that spilt is closed. There are things that could be done but you do not have the experience right now to do them. I good vet is going to be able to help you and safely get the animal nourished so it can hopefully recover. It is going to take work on your part though. Make sure you are mentally and financially prepared to do what needs done. If not, I hate to say this, but it may be better to euthanize the animal.
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Deborah
What you need is to do some research, no you do not want to feed more often the more often you offer the more it leads to a refusal.
YOu want to feed the appropriate size prey based on the glimpse I just had of the pictures this animal is too bog for hopper and may not recognize them as a prey (those are for BP out of the egg)
Again get the weight first and before trying to feed get your husbandry in order, go get a plastic tub based on the snake's size and provide the optimum setup, if the husbandry does not meet your BP's need it will not eat.
Thank you. Changed all his stuff inside his tank never thought the tank would be a problem but now I see why. What type of tub are we talking about, Walmart one about the size he's in now or something?
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No fish tanks, get one of these - it's cheaper, more secure, and holds humidity better:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Hefty-100-Q...g-Lid/50150118
Add an under-tank heater and a thermostat to create a hot spot of 92*F, newspaper substrate, two hides, and a water bowl.
I agree that looks like slipped skin disease. If the snake isn't eating your vet may prescribe injected vitamins.
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Re: Sickbp
Good question should I feed him cause he needs the nourishment bad or don't cause it'll stretch him too much(why I was thinking smaller mouse)
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
Good question should I feed him cause he needs the nourishment bad or don't cause it'll stretch him too much(why I was thinking smaller mouse)
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Let the vet decide if it should be fed. I am guessing the vet is going to sew it up, inject the animal with vitamins, and possibly force feed a super nutritious formulation to get it hydrated and get its digestive tract working properly.
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Re: Sickbp
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Anyone heard from Nixon? Nixon is the miracle worker for this situation.
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan
Let the vet decide if it should be fed. I am guessing the vet is going to sew it up, inject the animal with vitamins, and possibly force feed a super nutritious formulation to get it hydrated and get its digestive tract working properly.
Tube feeding Carnivore Care thinned out to a slurry would be easier and less stressful than a force feed.
Hopefully this snake isn't sick, just malnourished.
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by bcr229
Tube feeding Carnivore Care thinned out to a slurry would be easier and less stressful than a force feed.
Hopefully this snake isn't sick, just malnourished.
That is what I was getting at. I didn't use the word tube because I didn't want the op thinking it was going to be intravenous. Carnivore Care is great stuff when it is needed. The few times I have used it, I followed it with a rat pup to plug "leakage". I am curious to find out exactly what the vet does.
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Re: Sickbp
If this stuff is good I'll go get it he needs something nourishing! He is so gentle and let's me touch him anywhere including his head he's super calm so I bet I could feed him it easy
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Re: Sickbp
He was moving on his rock when I just checked him and saw a small tear near his tail now so I removed his rock. What can I put as a hide away for him that won't cut him maybe. I also have been putting Neosporin on the first one since I noticed it way worse a few hours ago and he looks better so I put a tiny bit on the new one
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Re: Sickbp
He's scaring me now he's holding his head up at a very weird angle so I picked him up and he still was super crazy and weak should I take him to my vet now and tell them it's an emergency
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
If this stuff is good I'll go get it he needs something nourishing! He is so gentle and let's me touch him anywhere including his head he's super calm so I bet I could feed him it easy
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't tube feed an animal without someone qualified showing you how to feed that species first. While a ball python should be easier than many since you can't really accidentally put it down the glottis, it is still possible to puncture something. The fragility of his skin will make it harder since any wriggling could be dangerous for him and tube feeding is inherently stressful. Just get the snake to the vet as soon as possible.
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kcl
Don't tube feed an animal without someone qualified showing you how to feed that species first. While a ball python should be easier than many since you can't really accidentally put it down the glottis, it is still possible to puncture something. The fragility of his skin will make it harder since any wriggling could be dangerous for him and tube feeding is inherently stressful. Just get the snake to the vet as soon as possible.
^^^^ this
You need to be shown how to do this safely and it is a last resort measure. You are very unlikely to be able to just buy it somewhere anyway. I have always had to order it and it does not really have dosing instructions on the bag. So even knowing how much to give and how to mix it properly would have to be shown to you.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
He's scaring me now he's holding his head up at a very weird angle so I picked him up and he still was super crazy and weak should I take him to my vet now and tell them it's an emergency
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Yes it is an emergency, and you should be messing with it as little as possible.
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Re: Sickbp
Yes, take him to the emergency vet. As sad as it is to say, you should probably prepare yourself to lose him, which will not be your fault if it happens. The fact that he likely has slipped skin disease indicates that he was mistreated for a very long time before you got him. While I very much hope that you can help him get better, he may just not have the resources left that he would need to do so. Nixon's success with his rescued ball python was so remarkable because it is both HARD and rare to save them after that much mistreatment. Also, if at some point you choose to euthanize, even then you have done some good for this snake by saving him quite a bit of suffering. Just get him to a vet so you can make as informed of a decision as possible on how to proceed.
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Re: Sickbp
Damn this upsets me so bad. I thought he was doing better and that last mouse would do him good but that shed right after just went horrible and I was here spraying him and filling his bowl everyday
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
Damn this upsets me so bad. I thought he was doing better and that last mouse would do him good but that shed right after just went horrible and I was here spraying him and filling his bowl everyday
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I'm sure the mouse did help him - food is always good if they're healthy enough to take it. If he doesn't make it, it really won't be because of something you did or didn't do. Slipped skin disease is a sign of severe, extended malnutrition, and extended malnutrition damages the organs. There's no real way to know how he's doing on the inside right now unfortunately.
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Re: Sickbp
Well it's official. My boy has crossed over the big rainbow bridge and has joined his other siblings. I pray I get to see them again someday waiting right next to my loved ones when it's my time. I hope your passing was peaceful and you felt my love I had for you while holding you pass away. Rip snakie and thanks everyone for the advice it was unfortunately too late
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Re: Sickbp
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakie14
Well it's official. My boy has crossed over the big rainbow bridge and has joined his other siblings. I pray I get to see them again someday waiting right next to my loved ones when it's my time. I hope your passing was peaceful and you felt my love I had for you while holding you pass away. Rip snakie and thanks everyone for the advice it was unfortunately too late
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I'm sorry to hear of this sad news. You did a great job trying for this animal, but like you said, it was simply too late.
Please don't let this experience discourage you, you'll be a great snake keeper when/if you decide to get a snake again.
Sending thoughts and warm wishes to you and your snake...
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Re: Sickbp
I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you can find some comfort in the fact that you did give him a better life in the short time you had him. I hope that at some point you can get another snake that is in much better condition so you can have a snake friend for a nice long time.
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Re: Sickbp
How terribly sad for that poor snake to have had such horrible care its whole life. So sorry to hear that he didn't make it. Kudos to you for taking him in and doing your best to try and save him. Sadly, so many animals fall into the wrong hands and suffer for it.
If you intend to get another snake - be sure to disinfect everything that came in contact with the sickly snake. You wouldn't want to risk exposing a new snake to whatever illnesses that one had.
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