New pickup near dead...

[coolballsdave]

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.

[Royal Hijinx]

You need a vet visit ASAP.

[Xotik]

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.

[coolballsdave]

You need a vet visit ASAP.

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.

[Royal Hijinx]

Have you tried to feed her?

[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.

[coolballsdave]

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.

[Xotik]

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

[coolballsdave]

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.

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.

[Xotik]

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.

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

But pics.