Ball Python: Anemic, Anorexic, Severely Dehydrated, Pneumonia

[Dracoluna]

I started tube feeding him last night after getting back from the vet and letting him relax a bit. The first time was at 9:30pm with just water, the second time at 4:00am with just water, and the third time at 9:30am with the carnivore care that was extremely diluted. His next one is planned for 4pm with just water. I have soaked him twice and steamed the bathroom for him to sit in. He reacted very well to the tube feedings and he is already more active. He usually just sits in a ball in one place and won't move for hours (12+) and now he is exploring a little and doesn't constantly lay in the same spot. He is actually out right now on his branches. The pedialyte does sound like a good idea. It will probably help getting his digestion going without stressing it too much. I have just been told so many different things that I am just trying to sort everything out. I don't want to stress him or cause him any further illness or pain!

So you can use pedialyte as a subcutaneous injection? How many CCs?

After everything he has gone through he is still so calm and easy going! That may be because he is sick, but I like to think it is because he is so good natured. He has come out of his shell a lot, too. When I first got him he HATED being handled. He was jerky and all over the place if you were able to get him out of his ball at all, and now he moves around slowly and calmly checking everything out and doesn't flinch at every movement. He is a really great boy.

Thanks to everyone for the best wishes and for the advice! I love hearing what everyone has to say!

No, pedialyte would be for tube feeding only. Only sterilized ringers solution for sub-q. And I understand it's hard when you're told a million different things and honestly, people out there will do things differently. For a cat with issues, I'd be tube feeding food 3-4 times a day. Because snakes have a much slower metabolism though, you need to scale that back. Just go to your basic rehab knowledge and you'll be fine. Warmth and water first. Once stable, calories come into play. I would also double check the antibiotics with your vet. Because of the slower metabolism, it takes it longer to take effect. Injections seem to work best on snakes but the antibiotics also need to be tailored to the type of infection. I would recommend a culture if your vet is able to do that so that you can on the right antibiotic for the job. Is he tongue flicking while exploring and seem alert? If so, he's doing better but I'd still let him rest as much as possible.