Baby Boa problem! Please help!

[T&KBrouse]

We have one baby boa we held back from this last season. (Born 6-12-07)
Heres the problem; He's regurged his last two meals. The first one was within the first day of being fed. We chalked that one up to giving him food too big. (Tried him on a rat pup)
I gave him 2 mice 6 days ago and yesterday, he threw up again. The mice should have been well digested after 6 days, which makes me think it may be liver failure. I had 2 other babies from this same litter do this and they both rolled within a week. He has a strange "wrinkled" look and he's lethargic, just like the other 2.
We already have 3 kids going to the vet this week (2 rescues and one of our own). Is there anything we can do for this guy until we can get him to the vet next week?
Any tips would be well appreciated!

Thanks,
T

PS-
We have Ultraclear stress-pack and liver maintenance medication for tube feeding, but wouldn't have any idea on the dosage for such a small baby.

 

[David Loftin]

Hmm.. Well, I would recommend giving him a soak. Dehyrdration is the most likely cause of his skin being wrinkled. I would also recommend not holding or bothering him at all until you can get him to the vet. How long in between feedings did you wait? I would generally recommend to attempt feeding 2 weeks after the date of regurgitation. The meal you would feed at that time should be at least 1/2 the size of the widest part of his body. If he was to hold that down then feeding him slightly bigger each week until he is back up to normal would be fine.

The other question is what Temperatures are you keeping them at? That can be another issue. It is starting to get cold. Unless you have your heating elements on Thermomstat.. You may need to turn up the rheostat/get a stronger bulb.

I am totally unfamiliar with "Ultraclear stress-pack".. I wouldn't recommend using it unless your vet says its ok.

 

[Sunshine State Exotics]

I agree with David, give him a good soak in warm water and double check his temps. You want an ambient of about 80 degrees and a hot spot of about 90 degrees. Make sure the humidity in his cage is 50-60%. You may need to spray him down daily to maintain this depending on your cage and if the heat in your house is on.

When a boa regurgitates, it's best not to feed them for two weeks. When you do feed, make sure the meal is small. Like David said, 1/2 the size of the largest part of his body would be good. I would get him to the vet as soon as you can.

I hope he is OK!

 

[robin]

you may want to try some nutribac sprinkled on his next meal to help restore the gut flora back to normal. also could there be any chance of parasites?

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

also could there be any chance of parasites?

Sounds to me like some very classic late stage symptoms of parasites. :main_yes:

 

[T&KBrouse]

I agree with David, give him a good soak in warm water and double check his temps. You want an ambient of about 80 degrees and a hot spot of about 90 degrees. Make sure the humidity in his cage is 50-60%. You may need to spray him down daily to maintain this depending on your cage and if the heat in your house is on.

When a boa regurgitates, it's best not to feed them for two weeks. When you do feed, make sure the meal is small. Like David said, 1/2 the size of the largest part of his body would be good. I would get him to the vet as soon as you can.

I hope he is OK!

His enclosure condition is almost exactly what you described.
Tim, against my recommendations, gave him a rat pup 13 days ago. He regurged that within a couple hours. (The little guy is only four and a half months old and I told him the pup was too big, but hey... what do I know??!)
He gave him a mouse last Sunday. He ate that with no problem, so my loving bone-head husband gave him a second one!
I could have killed him...
I knew this would happen. I told him not to give him that pup, and I told him to wait to feed him another week.
The Stress Pack powder is prescribed by our vet. Since we get in alot of rescues that aren't in good condition, we usually will tube feed them if they won't eat. Stress Pack is pretty much a complete diet, light on the protein. One or two feedings combined with a liver maintenance (if needed) capsule and, most of the time, the animal is eating on its own after that.
We never self-diagnose. Any medicating or tube feeding thats done is done after the vet has given his diagnosis and thats the recommendation for treatment.

Thanks for the advise, folks. I'll keep the little guy warm and soaking.
And not let Tim near him... ever...

 

[T&KBrouse]

Sounds to me like some very classic late stage symptoms of parasites. :main_yes:

Sorry... I'm a double posting FIEND!
He's going to the vet next Thursday. Can Panacur be used on such a small animal?

 

[GoGo]

We use panacur with our leo's so you could probably use it with your baby boa but youd have to get the dosage from someone else hwo uses it or form yoru vet.

 

[Sunrise Reptile]

Sorry... I'm a double posting FIEND!
He's going to the vet next Thursday. Can Panacur be used on such a small animal?

I've heard of Panacur being used on just about ever popular type of snake pet species. Boas, Pythons, even Corn Snakes I've read having been given Panacur before. But definitely seek a Vet's advice regarding dosage. Good Luck!

 

[robin]

Sorry... I'm a double posting FIEND!
He's going to the vet next Thursday. Can Panacur be used on such a small animal?

it can be but there are many other types of parasite that require other medications and those medication while can work can be dangerous if not dosed and prescribed well. well any medication for that fact.

 

[T&KBrouse]

pictures of our little guy

Well, so far so good for this little guy!
He's a little lean right now, but he's doing very well. He's scheduled to eat on the 26th, so I'm hoooking him up with a fuzzy mouse. Keep your fingers crossed it stays down!

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Thanks so much for the advice and support, folks!
K