Unexpected Rehab

[SnoopySnake]

Well, life got a little crazy this weekend. Our female woma python decided to go on a joyride out of her enclosure for a night (my fault, I was tired and didn't push the rack drawer all the way shut) we panicked and pulled the whole basement apart only for her to come out and find us about an 30 mins after we calmed down and stopped looking. Almost like she wanted to be found :)

Anyway, topic of this thread is this little guy. Summer of 2016, my mom asked me for some advice to give her boyfriends daughter because she wanted a ball python. They decided to go against literallly everything I said, and then come to find out it got out of its enclosure sometime around October to November. The girl lied and told me the snake died and she buried it. Yesterday that snake turned up in her room, and so they brought it to me. I am happy it's in my care now but really frustrated with the whole situation and knew even before it "died" that it would end up being my problem at some point.

The little guy isn't in horrible condition, he is very weak, a little underweight and seems to have a respiratory infection which is my biggest concern. We are also worried he might be too weak to eat on his own, but we will see. Here are the only photos I have, didn't want to bother him much.http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/SnoopySnake/F06A887A-D9EB-49C7-BFBB-0D56672E2899_zpslu1z8dqe.jpg
http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac317/SnoopySnake/75E1B272-B68F-4402-A940-F907434DD012_zpshg0li0tl.jpg

[Tiny Boidae]

Oh poor little guy. He looks like he's more than a little underweight though. I hope you get him back on track again, poor thing :(

[SnoopySnake]

Hes definitely underweight but I'm much more concerned about the RI right now, he was having a hard time flicking his tongue and had some stuff stuck to his face, was gaping and I could hear some crackling. Hoping it mellows out a bit and he gets more energy once he sits on the heat.

I am just frustrated beyond words at the whole situation

[Tiny Boidae]

Oh I definitely understand. Even the mild RI I had to deal with frustrated me beyond belief. It just shocked me when I saw how skinny he was. I don't know how things like this can be considered acceptable when you wouldn't dare treat a cat or dog like this.

[SnoopySnake]

He was a healthy weight before he got out, but he's been out for probably 6 months in less than ideal temps and potentially no food the entire time :( I am just furious that they lied to me after I tried so hard to help. I offered him food because we had other mice thawing and he was out and about, he seemed very interested but I think he was just too weak to do it himself. We are going to try again in probably 4 days. Just in a rush because he is so lethargic and needs to be medicated.

[trailblazer295]

Poor little guy, kids always want pets and parents cave. Seem ball pythons get the worst of it among snakes.

[SnoopySnake]

Yeah, I'd say that ball pythons, corn snakes, Savannah/Nile monitors, iguanas and bearded dragons are treated the worst than any other herp. Makes me so sad and mad. He seems less lethargic after a good soak, so I'm really hoping he comes around. Waiting to medicate him till after he eats somewhat regularly. I never thought I'd have a ball python haha

[trailblazer295]

Yeah knew someone once who had a friend who has a sick bearded dragon they wanted to give me because I kept reptiles. I refused A didn't have the cage/setup for a beardie B didn't want to take on a sick lizard when I have no experience with diurnal lizards. Too much work for me.

[Scubadiver59]

Good luck with your new charge...hoping everything works out for the better!

[Tsubaki]

Ow poor thing, I hope he'll thrive quickly!

[Albert Clark]

Nice pickup. Hope he recovers and does does well for you!

[SnoopySnake]

We ended up giving him some water yesterday via syringe and he seems a bit less lethargic and able to move a bit easier on his own today. Poor little guy has literally no fat on his body and no muscle definition at all. He has been out constantly, just slowly roaming around his tub

[SnoopySnake]

He passed away sometime in the last couple hours....guess he was just too far gone :(

[Scubadiver59]

Sorry to hear that...u did your best!

He passed away sometime in the last couple hours....guess he was just too far gone :(