A male American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida in September 1982.  The animal was 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) in length and was extremely cachectic, weighing only 35 pounds (15.78 kg). Preliminary differential diagnosis included the following conditions 1) gastric obstruction; 2) starvation 3) chronic parasitism; 4) neoplasia; 5) myopathy. Clinical tests included white cell counts, erythrocyte values, serum constituents, radiology endoscopy, and biopsy of gastric mucosa and skeletal muscle.  A diagnosis of starvation was made.  Clinical management consisted of an initial course of antibiotics, parenteral B vitamins, and a force feeding regime which progressed to self-feeding. The animal improved over a 2 month period, gained weight, and was released to a local wildlife rehabilitation center.