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I have a very sick snake, any point taking him to the vet?
I just rescued a snake two days ago from a house that wasn't taking very good care of him, and he was very stubborn when it came to eating. He hasn't been feed for awhile. I don't really know how long but he hasn't eaten anything this winter, from what the owner told me. It seems maybe longer though. He is very little compared to my other 5 ft ball python, and by little I mean skinny. When you hold him you can feel his ribs and his spine protruding. He also has scale rot which I am treating now with a disinfecting wash and antibiotic ointment (recommended by my vet). I have been trying to get him to eat but he just won't budge. I know ball pythons do this but I feel like he is on the verge of life and death. I tried frozen, nothing, and when I tried live I tried a little smaller just to make sure he can eat it, and he actually did strike it and killed it but now won't eat it, just keep it in his mouth. I put a towel over the front, I know some snakes won't eat with people right there. His spurs have fallen off to, I have never seen that happen to a snake. I love animals and I want to see him live, but how long is to long. I know he is in bad shape and if he doesn't eat he can't last that much longer. If I take him to the vet can they euthanize him, or should I just let him die in peace in a cage?
5 Answers
- RAWRLv 51 decade agoFavorite Answer
I would attempt to force feed him and the only way to cure skin rot is by an oral medicine or injections. No ointment will get rid of it, all that will do is slow it down. You can have your vet show you how to force feed. You just pry open their mouth (feed them something really small like a pinkie) and hold its mouth shut for a couple seconds and then it should eat it. Consult your vet and see if force feeding is even worth the try or if it would be better to just euthanize it
- 1 decade ago
Ok first off do not force feed your animal, ball pythons don't eat because something is usually wrong. if you got him with scale rot and other problems take him to the vet. He probably has parasites or worms or a multiple other problems. The treatments for these are relatively cheap for reptiles and shouldn't be a problem for a reptile vet.
The scale rot will come off when the animal sheds just keep the environment as clean and normal as possible and the animal will get better.
Also try Mice instead of rats sometimes that will get a picky ball to eat.
Good luck
Source(s): Owner of 3 Ball pythons - Anonymous1 decade ago
He might last quite a bit longer without food, even if he looks terrible. It would be kinder to take him to a vet and have him euthanized. Consult with the vet and see if they recommend force feeding or tube feeding. It's a last resort, but it could work. You would need the vet to show you how to do this.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
It depends on whether your vet is trained in reptilian diseases. It might be possible to help the snake pull through. The vet would know better than I.
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- AnnieLv 71 decade ago
We had a sick snake and herb vet was able to help him. He lived for several years after this.
