OK, so the new red tailed boa we got just regurged his meal, or vomitted it because it looks black on the head like it was beind digested, it ate it this time yesterday and it looks pretty freshly thrown up.

I had taken it to the vet on Wednesday and he said it looks dehydrated and skinny. I'm thinking that parasites are the cause of this but haven't gotten a fecal because I'm waiting for him to poo.

I know that I have to wait a week before feeding him again, that I understand, but he is already dehydrated and skinny and I really don't want him to die. (Man I wish my husband would have listened to me and not bought him) Does anyone have any other advice oh how to help him recover? I'll probably be making another trip to the vet with him.

Does it sound like a bad parasite infection to you? Is it possible to treat it even if it's not confirmed? Anything would help.

Thanks

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http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

Sounds like he may have parasites to me since hes thin, good luck with him and I hope hes ohk

The only advice I have is to soak him in a luke warm bath to rehydrate him some...
I hope he makes it for you...

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Some think they can. Some wish they could. Some do.

Beth, I wish you the best of luck with him and hopefully he will come around

Just leave him alone and try not to check in on him too much. Make sure he has fresh water every day and get the fecal in as soon as he defecates. There's no point in treating him for internal parasites until you know what he has.
The regurgitation is probably just because he's in a new place and stressed out.
Wait at least a week to 10 days before feeding again. Was the mouse/rat too big? It should be about as big around as the widest part of your snake. If he's really underweight, you might try offering him smaller prey size once a week or so. But again wait until his system has settled. Regurgitation is VERY hard on a snake's system and it really needs time to recover.

Also when you feed, try not to handle or disturb him afterwards. Make sure the warm side of his tank is in the high range for him and that there is a good dark hide box on that side. The snake will digest faster and better in warm temps. But there should be a good hide on each side so he doesn't have to choose between temp and security.
Good luck, let us know what the fecal sample shows when you get it.

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Andrea

I second BlackJack, relocation is very stressful on most animals and I usually recommend not feeding for at least a week after bringing a snake home.

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LOL, if only my husband listened to me at the time when I told him it was too early to feed him. Well he'll listen to me now. I had already planned on holding off on feeding for at least a week and have been pushing liquids into him via the vet's advice. The mouse was the right size but maybe it was too much for him to deal with in his condition anyways so next time I might try something more like a hopper.

He did deficate, I just have to wait till monday for the vet to open then we can go ahead and see what he has and treat.

I was also wondering, is it alright to treat an animal for parasites if they are so dehydrated?

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http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

I think you may have to wait for him to become more hydrated, If Im not mistaken the parasite treatment may dehydrate him more...but Im not sure lol

Beth,

I think that your vet will have the best advice!

Steve