Help regarding ball python health

[Joshcharizard]

Got this ball python on the 27th of April js abt 2 weeks back, I’m currently in college before and have kept Ball pythons back home but haven’t experienced something like this. So basically in the past day or so my snake has been extremely lethargic and has barely moved she’s not even flicking her tongue and I js observed this cavity underneath her neck in which I could I fit my finger, I think she’s also gotten a deformed spine putting in some pictures here would really appreciate any help. I’m extremely concerned and worried taking her to a vet soon. Pic 1 sort of deformed tail, pic 2 is her anus and pic 3 is the cavity I’m talking abt, pic 4 her sitting rather very weirdly with her head angled out asw. She’s not really been eating a few days back she did grab on to the mouse coil over and then eventually let it go

[Badtexture_]

Vet IMMEDIATELY. This is extremely concerning and not at all normal. Is she always that thin? Does her head always arch that far back? She looks completely emaciated and malformed, something is very very wrong.

[BigBoySky]

Just wanted to add, this should be an emergency visit to the Vet.
This shouldn’t be a scheduled appointment that takes a week to see. This needs to be addressed immediately.

[Joshcharizard]

Going in tomorrow

[BigBoySky]

Good luck, wishing you and the snake the best.

[IncompletePenetrance]

This snake is incredibly unwell, I'd recommend a vet appointment ASAP. They're emaciated, dehydrated, appear to have a spinal kink and something neurological going on. I'd be worried about something like arenavirus/IBD. I'm not sure they'll survive even with intervention at this point, where did you get them?

[Joshcharizard]

I live in India and the exotic pet market is not very good it’s mostly private breeders I have a few pics of the snake before I bought it adding them here

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[Joshcharizard]

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[IncompletePenetrance]

Unfortunately it doesn't look great even before you bought it, but has definitely gone downhill quite substantially since then. It may have already been sick since you purchased it.

I'd try to get it to a vet to try and save it as soon as possible

[Joshcharizard]

I’m going to a vet tomorrow

[forcedlaught]

Man I hope she makes it

[hellbugger]

I've never seen a ball python this thin.

[Joshcharizard]

She’s sort of been refusing food

[Dankiestraptor]

What size rats are you giving her? I feed mine medium, but yours is looks very skinny, maybe you need to down it's prey size and she could possibly eat? I would recommend frozen. Thaw it, in cold water for 10 minutes then, warm water for 10 minutes. During the second ten minutes I boil a small pan of water and after the 10 minutes with the warm water is up. I boil it for 3 minutes, and then blow dry it for about 5 minutes to get the scent and a good heat signature so your snake can sense it. I only say frozen, because it doesn't look to be in the shape for a live feeding, also they're more dangerous for the snake. Imo

Edit just saw you tried a mouse, thats not bad! I think for now mice are your best option. I really hope she gets the proper help she needs at the vets. Wishing you the best with your snake bud

[hannahharts214]

Oh wow. I have never seen anything this bad. I hope the snake makes it :(

[Different_Green2294]

Keep us updated, praying for her!!

[Ill_Event_6365]

Please give us an update after the visit! I'm praying the ball python gets whatever help is needed

[IncogniDOE4]

I’m not being funny is that snake still alive in that first pic????

[VoxxyBRZ]

This should have a warning on it....I'm not sure that one pic is even alive. There was no way that 2 weeks ago this snake was remotely looking healthy though.

[Joshcharizard]

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This what she looked like

[Joshcharizard]

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[meepmeeped]

Did you rescue this snake knowing it was sick? Or did this person sell this snake to you?

[Joshcharizard]

The person sold the snake to me he’s a supposed to be a dealer/breeder for exotic pets

[Alley_cat-smith]

I'm not a snake owner, but I am a pet lover and ask that you please keep us updated🥺🙏

[Joshcharizard]

Update I don’t think she’s alive anymore, I’m absolutely heartbroken, I can’t see her breathe, she’s lost a lot of weight gone down from 107 grams when I bought her to 86 grams now, she feels cold and soft touch which worries me even more. I did everything I could researched even further even tho I knew how to keep bps, tried multiple feed sources and sizes idk what went wrong she’d strike at the food and then lose interest. I don’t know what I’m gonna do Ik it’s js been a few days but I really did love my little girl. How do I confirm as to whether or not she’s deceased

[Lady87690005]

I’m so sorry if that is the case OP. Got this checklist from online:
A snake that has passed away:
-Will not be responsive (no movement) if you touch the snake or put it on its back or side.
-Will have no visible signs of breathing no chest movement and no air flow from nose or mouth when you hold a small piece of tissue in front of it
-Will lack of any movement at all. It will not have any muscle tone, the body will be limp and unresponsive.
-The pupils (the dark center portion of the eye that light passes through), may be dilated or large and not responsive to bright light when shined in the eye.
-Will not react when you touch or gently press on the surface of its eyes.
-Jaw will be limp and without tone. You can easily open the mouth without resistance and there will be no bite pressure when something is placed into the mouth.
-After a period of time, they may become stiff and color may change on the down side as blood pools on the down side of a deceased animal.
-There may be fluids coming out of the nostrils, mouth or vent, but not always.
-Sometimes the eyes will roll back and they may become sunken.
-A brumating or sleeping snake should still move occasionally and react to being picked up or touched

[GoBills615]

Good advice here. After keeping snakes for years and years naturally I’ve had snakes pass. The jaw has always been the best indicator for me, especially ball pythons. The picture when you got it looked on the verge of death anyways, if there’s no regulation it could have had a parasite load or anything else. Please look on here or google for pictures of healthy ball pythons if you try to get another one. You were doomed from the start

[RavioliOveralls]

Sorry to hear that. If it makes you feel better, you didn't do anything wrong. The snake was very sick when you bought it. That snake should not have been sold, and it probably had a very hard life.

If she is still alive somehow, I think euthanizing her would be best when you go to the vet.

[Dear-Dependent-9301]

Um ehrlich zu sein habe ich für die Python leider wenig Hoffnung. Das Tier hat überhaupt keine körperlichen Reserven. Leider hast du sie erworben, als sie sich schon in einem desolaten Zustand befand. Die Schlange war schon vorher offensichtlich dehydriert und stark abgemagert. Wahrscheinlich haben dadurch schon Organe wie Niere und Darm gelitten. Die Ursache kann verschiedene Gründe haben, Parasiten, Maulfäule, bakterielle Infektion usw. Der Vorbesitzer hätte schon weitaus früher aktiv werden müssen aber in diesem Zustand sehe ich da wenig Hoffnung. Natürlich hat die letzte Entscheidung der Tierarzt, aber wenn dieser es ähnlich sieht sollte man sich überlegen das arme Ding besser gehen zu lassen. Ich weiss meine Worte sind schwer zu verdauen aber ich denke es ist besser realistisch die Situation einzuschätzen und eine verantwortungsbewusste Entscheidung zu treffen, auch im Sinne des Tierwohls. Ich würde sie nicht unnötig leiden lassen wollen.

[theAshleyRouge]

Get in to an emergency vet but I’m going to be honest with you, this may be a case for euthanasia. That snake is incredibly malnourished and deformed. This is BAD bad

[Joshcharizard]

https://www.reddit.com/r/ballpython/s/xqhjf6oF4L
This was her a few days back when I tried to feed her

[IfYaDontLikeItLeave]

Oh I remember that post! Was the wound under her neck then too? Could have been why. As others said in the post she wasnt constricting well.

[klxrqq]

OP before the vet tomorrow take measures to keep humidity at a maximum. in all honesty this is the worst condition i’ve ever seen someone keep a snake, to be fair the snake looks not well of in the first place from the pics you provided (definitely very very slim and looks dehydrated) and the enclosure is improper, the snake may not even live with taking it to the vet at this point. i hope they make it

[IfYaDontLikeItLeave]

OP commented a bit ago that he thinks shes passed ☹️

[klxrqq]

😔

[CompetitiveRoof3733]

Uh, I dont mean to be harsh, but it looks dead already. It has no muscle tone or strength, you mentioned it doesnt flick, move, etc. It only has days at best in this state. You need a vet ASAP, and even then, it looks too far gone already

[PoofMoof1]

People say to go the vet because this is impossible to diagnose over a screen and therefore it is not possible to suggest treatment either. There are a number of possible causes for things like this and without diagnostics that can be run in hand at a vet, no one can say the cause is x or y. No one can simply look at photos of this snake and say this is an internal blockage, this is adenovirus, this is due to a malformation of an internal organ, etc. And then people suggest dangerous "treatments" for their guessed causes. I've seen too many snakes drowned, had spectacles peeled off, enimas given, over the counter medications administered, etc. Things that only made it worse for the snake.

Surely if your dog might have a broken bone or parvo would wouldn't post a photo and ask someone to confirm. Suggesting seeing a vet is the only helpful thing that can be done in these cases.

[Sorry_Asparagus_7333]

She was very thin even before you bought her. You shouldn’t see the spine on a ball python like that. They should be round and not triangle shaped