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.