Oh this is just awful *Exciting pic page 7!*

[Paperdaisies]

Our neighbors asked me to look after their ball python while they were gone for a month. No biggie, a mouse a week, easy peasy. I went over today to check on him and all was good. I didn't realize they had left their beardie behind as well. No one told me. He was in terrible shape and I thought he was dead. This was how I found him (the uvb was on the other side, I moved it over him):

Now I've posted before asking for advice on how to approach them about his care. Truly, they aren't bad people. I think they just flat out don't know about the care he needs. The basics even. I'm wondering what they thought would happen to him over a whole month with no food or water??

I tried to fix up his tank a bit with what I had on short notice but he's awful skinny and sick looking. I gave him some fresh greens, cleaned out his water, brought him a hide, and put some non-adhesive shelf liner down so he didn't slip around on the glass. I also burrito'ed him in some fleece before I left to warm him up a bit. His heat lamp wasn't on when I got there and I think it was broken because it wouldn't turn on. So I brought over an extra and put that over him. What else can I do? He's so very very skinny, he feels like paper.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I talked to her tonight and told her he wasn't looking so well. I can't really afford to take him to the vet because I have my own animals to care for. We budget everything even down to vet visits and I have to take our own Dewey into the vets on Tues. I think he is having some upper respiratory issues and needs Baytril. So although I'd love to help with a vet visit I have to make sure my own animals receive the vet care they need. I feel rotten saying that. What can I do for this poor animal?

 

[spyderk]

Shaking head here. How sad. How do people not understand that these are living and helpless creatures with needs?

I don't know much about beardies yet, so no advice on that. But how incredibly sad.

 

[Paperdaisies]

Shaking head here. How sad. How do people not understand that these are living and helpless creatures with needs?

I don't know much about beardies yet, so no advice on that. But how incredibly sad.

It's so very sad. I keep wondering if the poor thing is too far gone. He seems to be suffering. I don't know what I should say to them. I wonder if they just forgot to tell me about him being there? I mean, beardie-sitting is WAY more than what a ball python would need. A beardie would need someone to go over there multiple times a day so I can't see how they just forgot that part.

I don't know, but I'm going to try and help him however I can until they get back. Another thing is, I think I'm just going to have to pay for the ball python's mice and the greens & crix for the beardie. They didn't say anything about it. So I'm assuming they want me to get it???

 

[spyderk]

They really left you in a bad spot. Can you bring the beardie home with you to take care of it there? Maybe call the vet to describe the situation and see what they suggest?

I don't know how you forget a a living creature, and especially since they asked you to care for the snake, how would you forget you have a beardie? Sad. Keep us updated.

 

[Paperdaisies]

They really left you in a bad spot. Can you bring the beardie home with you to take care of it there? Maybe call the vet to describe the situation and see what they suggest?

I don't know how you forget a a living creature, and especially since they asked you to care for the snake, how would you forget you have a beardie? Sad. Keep us updated.

Thanks Sarah. Actually, my husband suggested bringing him over here so we could keep him close and keep a better eye on him and I'm going to ask them if they'd mind. That way at least it'd make it easier to give him daily soaks and things.

I'm thinking I should try syringe feeding him some baby food maybe? If I can get some food in his belly and make sure his lighting is right then maybe he'll perk up some.

 

[Gail]

I would bring him home so you can give watch him closer and give better care. Make sure to keep him hydrated and start on some type of soft food like baby food. Mix vitamins and calcium into to baby food, poor thing need nutrition immediately.
I wouldn't let him eat too much too fast as it can shock his system. If he can keep soft food down for a couple days, then try a couple crickets or soft worms like butters or even a few waxies. No mealies or supers at this point.
Personally, I would keep the dragon. I'd try to talk her into giving it too me but if that didn't work, I'd have no problem bringing the authorities into the situation. If you wouldn't have found him, he would probably be dead in the next week or sooner. Even a stupid person knows that not feeding a animal will make it die.

 

[Paperdaisies]

I would bring him home so you can give watch him closer and give better care. Make sure to keep him hydrated and start on some type of soft food like baby food. Mix vitamins and calcium into to baby food, poor thing need nutrition immediately.
I wouldn't let him eat too much too fast as it can shock his system. If he can keep soft food down for a couple days, then try a couple crickets or soft worms like butters or even a few waxies. No mealies or supers at this point.
Personally, I would keep the dragon. I'd try to talk her into giving it too me but if that didn't work, I'd have no problem bringing the authorities into the situation. If you wouldn't have found him, he would probably be dead in the next week or sooner. Even a stupid person knows that not feeding a animal will make it die.

Oh great idea on mixing in vitamins and calcium, thanks. Any tips on how to get him to open up for a syringe?

I just can't believe he was left like that. They're such nice people and they really aren't stupid, I promise. I'm just baffled on how they left him that way without saying anything??

 

[spyderk]

They really left you in a bad spot. Can you bring the beardie home with you to take care of it there? Maybe call the vet to describe the situation and see what they suggest?

I don't know how you forget a a living creature, and especially since they asked you to care for the snake, how would you forget you have a beardie? Sad. Keep us updated.

Thanks Sarah. Actually, my husband suggested bringing him over here so we could keep him close and keep a better eye on him and I'm going to ask them if they'd mind. That way at least it'd make it easier to give him daily soaks and things.

I'm thinking I should try syringe feeding him some baby food maybe? If I can get some food in his belly and make sure his lighting is right then maybe he'll perk up some.

Yes, ask them, and maybe they won't miss him and you can keep him or find him a GOOD home.

Not sure how the relationship with them is, but what they have done is definitely neglect. I would hate to think of it going back to them.

 

[jeserah]

If you can find a syringe with a longer tip, try getting some warm water into him. I would just open his mouth and pop it in the side and squeeze oh-so-gently. You can tell if they accept the water. It will definitely be a good thing to get him hydrated first. You could probably even use pedialyte (if you can't afford it, try mixing a large glass of water with 2 or so pinches of salt and 2 or so pinches of sugar and mix well).
I hope he pulls thru, poor little thing!

 

[Paperdaisies]

Not sure how the relationship with them is, but what they have done is definitely neglect. I would hate to think of it going back to them.

Our relationship is good and since we're neighbors as well as (new) friends I'd like to keep things nice. I agree it's neglect though. I told them when they come back I'll teach them anything they needed to know and they seemed excited about that. I'll get him over here tomorrow and then go over everything with them when they get home. *sigh*

 

[1537PaperStreet]

Please keep us updated as much as possible. Would love for this to turn into a nice feel good story for the board

 

[Paperdaisies]

Please keep us updated as much as possible. Would love for this to turn into a nice feel good story for the board

I definitely will!

 

[Livey]

Poor little guy :/
I would nurse him back to health, and then perhaps looking on the boards to try and find him a new home?

 

[Paperdaisies]

Poor little guy :/
I would nurse him back to health, and then perhaps looking on the boards to try and find him a new home?

But one of the biggest issues is I don't even think they realize how cruel they're being unintentionally. How do I bring this topic up to them? I've talked to them about proper husbandry, given them a uvb fixture, heat lamp (2 now since that one wouldn't work), a reptisun bulb, etc. I've taken over greens with veggies like squash, peas, beans, etc. and dusted with vitamins and/or calcium in hopes they'd see that those are the things he needs every single day. But they don't seem to be picking up on it?? I'm not sure what else to do except find a tactful way to say, "Look, this animal will die unless he has his basic needs met which are x,y,z. He's not getting that and needs to see a vet. Would you like me to help you so that he can get healthy because I'm sure he's not happy like this."

 

[Paperdaisies]

If you can find a syringe with a longer tip, try getting some warm water into him. I would just open his mouth and pop it in the side and squeeze oh-so-gently. You can tell if they accept the water. It will definitely be a good thing to get him hydrated first. You could probably even use pedialyte (if you can't afford it, try mixing a large glass of water with 2 or so pinches of salt and 2 or so pinches of sugar and mix well).
I hope he pulls thru, poor little thing!

Oh I just saw this! Thanks for that tip. I actually keep some pedialyte on hand for things like this so maybe I could try that with him. Thank you