Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,
I'm currently trying to rescue a boa in dire straits. He has severe mouth rot, a laceration on his tail, and very odd behaviors. He balls up his tail to the point that when trying to pull himself through, he won't be able to pull his head through, he'll just "strangle" himself. His skin is loose all over and he won't gain weight (parasites?). The previous owner went months between feedings. I've cared for him for a couple weeks very meticulously but his condition hasn't changed. He obviously needs a vet and continous care. I cannot keep him, I have enough of my own, my plan was to get him back to health and find someone to care for him (not very likely, i know). Now, if money was no option, which it always is, at what point do i say that i cant rescue him? My head is in all sorts on this and i guess i really just don't know what to do. I don't have any "snake-loving" friends so you all are the only people i can talk to. Any help or advice is greatly apprectiated.
Thanks,
Brian

Sounds like the boa is in pretty rough shape. At some point it's humane to have him put down. Only you can decide what that point is for you. If you do decide to try to bring him back, sounds like he will incur some vet bills, likely substantial. The odd behaviors IMO is the worst. Mouth rot and the laceration can be healed. If there is some sort of neurological problem, it likely can't be healed.

Again, sometimes the most humane thing is to put it out of it's misery. I'm not there. I can't see the extent of the injuries/illness. I'm not a doctor. Only tossing in my $0.02

Good luck with whatever you decide!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

i appreciate your comments greatly. i know i dont want to sustain an animal that is in pain i cant treat or nevertheless diagnose, and its obvious hes sustained trauma. i guess im just looking for something to help me sleep easier. which is probably giving him everything i can, maybe he'll survive maybe he won't.

what i would do if i was you would be to bring him to the humane sociaty for animals in which they will care for him.

Have you tried soaking him in warm water 20-30 mins at a time for several consecutive days ? He sounds possibly dehydrated.With possible Neuro problems arising maybe from dehydration. Put triple antibiotic ointment on the tail laceration .The laceration maybe painful and or infection starting.Your also right that he could have parasites.Although if he has been nearly starved for months it will literally take months to get the meat back on his bones,two weeks is not along period really. I steer away from such Boas anymore too much to loose here.I used to try and help 1 here and there. I'm certainly not extremely experienced with such situations, so my advice is very limited.
It is a hard decision to make once again only you can make it.
. . . . Lar M
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Boas By Klevitz
Boas By Klevitz

1. He's itchy and trying to get the dead skin off, soak him everyday, and give him a rock to scrape against -->He balls up his tail to the point that when trying to pull himself through, he won't be able to pull his head through, he'll just "strangle" himself. His skin is loose all overand he won't gain weight (parasites?).
3. So it will take months for him to recoup. A boa can starve for a long while too, before they actually die of it-->The previous owner went months between feedings. I've cared for him for a couple weeks very meticulously but his condition hasn't changed. He obviously needs a vet and continous care.
4. Mouth Rot is a bacterial infection. Up your temps a couple of degrees. Check to see if he's got an RI too, like labored breathing etc. You can use Listerine (the unflavored stuff) in the mouth 3 times a day, by dropper. But this will not work for an RI, just for mouth rot. Pick any pieces of aspen out of his mouth you might see. Use newspapers for substrate so pieces of aspen don't make his mouth worse.
5. You started with you're trying to rescue him, then you say -->I cannot keep him, I have enough of my own, my plan was to get him back to health and find someone to care for him (not very likely, i know). Now, if money was no option, which it always is, at what point do i say that i cant rescue him? My head is in all sorts on this and i guess i really just don't know what to do.
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Caden Chapman
slithering.serpents@gmail.com
http://slitheringserpents.com

Start with treating him by soaking and pointing ointment on the tail wound.

While you are going through this, do a short search. Not sure where you are located but contact your local herp society and zoo to locate a reptile rescue near you. Getting him started on these treatments will help whomever finishes the job. Be honest of his story at all times. You can also check with local humane societies to see who they use. Few shelters are prepared to handle reptiles, even for euthanasia.

I currently have 3 boas here that are in rough shape and know what you are going through. Two are the size of 6 month old boas and are actually 2 years. One well the stories are off but once again the boa is definitely undersized. None have been properly fed. Turning boas around is a hard trick. I have noticed in comparision to balls and burms, they really dont flip as well. They take a lot longer to recoup. The daily soaking will help as well as the ointment. But get him on the road to TLC to give the next person a nice head start.

If you can get him into a vet that would be best. If the tail injury is from a rodent bite, this guy may be worse off than you realize. Rodent bites go systemic fairly quickly. At that point I agree with Dave.

Start with Rescue Network and work around. You should be able to find someone close to help.
Rescue Network

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Cindy
PHFaust

Email Cindy

Land of the Outcasts!

Make an informed decison with the information and experience you have with the animal and move forward with it.
Its easy to give up, more difficult to succeed.
Make a choice on your own as others here can only show an understanding and sympathy regarding your situation.
Asking for help allows you a respect you may not notice.