Snake Illnesses and Ailments

            Snakes are a wonderful group of animals.  While so many seem problem-free in their lives, it is far from the reality.  I will attempt to go over some Illness and Ailments commonly seen in snakes.  This is in no way a complete list, and in no way am I a veterinarian.  However, I am attempting to make this list as detailed as possible to the ailments and possible solutions.  I will be adding to this list as I learn more, so please stay tuned.

Poor Appetite:

            Improper Temperatures- Not providing proper temperatures can lead to a lack of appetite among other things.  Your best solution in this case would be to learn more about the proper temperatures of your animal and adjust them accordingly.

            Bad Timing- Some snakes have a habit of going off feed at different times of the year.  Some might be in between shed cycles.  Make sure you pay close attention to the signals your snake gives.  This will ultimately help you to know when your snake is ready to eat.

            Overcrowding- Sometimes when snakes are housed together it can be stressful to one another and some snakes may refuse food as a result.  Your best solution here would be to house the animals separately.

            Mouth Infections- Sometimes mouth sores and such can deter an otherwise healthy snake from accepting food.  If you feel that this is a possible culprit, it is best to take your animal to a vet for an evaluation.

            Intestinal and Respiratory Infections- While everything might seem to be fine on the outside, you can’t necessarily see internal problems that are more likely to be much more severe.  Intestinal problems are not as easy to notice, but Respiratory infections can give quite a few signs if you know what you are looking for.  Wheezing, fluid coming from the mouth and nostrils, and decreased activity are all signs of a respiratory infection.  Respiratory infections are typically as a result of improper temperatures and humidity.

            Parasites and Tumors- As mentioned above, you can’t necessarily always see what’s going on inside your snake.  If you have evaluated the issue and made sure that your temperatures and humidity are where they should be, then I would strongly recommend get your snake to a qualified reptile vet.

            Too much handling- Sometimes keepers get their animals out for handling way too much.  This can stress your snake out quite a bit and they may not be inclined to eat when food is offered.  Simply stop handling your snake for a day or two then attempt food.

Blisters, Sores and Bumps:

            Cage too moist- Sometimes your snake might bump or knock over it’s water bowl which soaks it’s bedding.  If this isn’t cleaned immediately and the snake is forced to live in that condition, it can cause water blisters. The best solution for this would be to clean it up and change the bedding.  From time to time, other sores can occur because of rodent bites (from feeding live prey) or thermal burns due to improperly caged heat sources.

            Unsanitary Conditions- When the animals defecate/urinate, a lot of bacteria is released into the enclosure.  If not cleaned up soon thereafter it will help cause infections, blisters, etc.  The good news is that this is very easy to avoid.  All you have to do is simply clean up the messes!

            Parasites- Parasites are annoying and life-threatening.  These are more common in wild-caught specimens, however, captive bred animals housed in the same enclosure with a wild-caught specimen can get parasite infestations as well.  Your best bet is to de-worm the animal or take it to a qualified reptile veterinarian.

            Abscesses- These are rather disgusting looking blobs that can grow on your animal’s body.  You can slice them open and drain them yourself, but instead it would be recommended to take the animal to a qualified reptile veterinarian to perform the process safer.

            Burns- Burns have different severity degrees just like humans.  In the event of a burn it would be best to check the heat source for malfunctions.  Upon doing that it would be recommended to take the snake to a qualified reptile veterinarian.

Constipation:

            Lack of exercise- If an animal (or even human for that matter) does not get appropriate exercise, it can cause constipation which isn’t healthy.  For an animal that has this problem, I would recommend checking it’s enclosure size and increasing it if necessary.

            Overfeeding- Overfeeding is actually pretty common.  You might want to consider having your veterinarian provide you with a proper laxative, and then from that point forward you should re-evaluate your feeding schedule.

            Limited or no access to water- If the animal is unable to get water when necessary, this can contribute to constipation.  Luckily, this is an easy thing to fix, as really all you have to do is be sure to change the water regularly.

Diarrhea:

            Bacterial Infections- Diarrhea can sometimes be as a result of a bacterial infection.  If you feel that this is even a remote possibility, I would recommend taking the snake to a qualified reptile veterinarian.

            Temperatures lower than minimum- Temperatures not being monitored closely and being below the minimum temperature standard for the particular snake you are caring for can cause diarrhea.  Check the temperatures and get them back up where they should be.

Improper Shedding:

            Low humidity- Usually, poor sheds are associated with humidity levels being too low.  Be sure to use a hygrometer and boost humidity as necessary.  In emergency situations a humidity box can be made using an appropriately sized Rubbermaid container with a thick covering of damp sphagnum moss on a warm side of the enclosure.  Also having a water bowl large enough for the snake to soak in if necessary will also help quite a bit.

            Lack of water available- Animals not being able to properly hydrate themselves can cause several problems.  However, for snakes one of the more immediate issues will be poor sheds. Be sure to provide good clean water regularly, and it will be only one more step that you have taken to ensure that you have a healthy snake.

            Mites and Ticks- Usually this is common in wild-caught specimens for obvious reasons.  However, once again housing captive-bred specimens with wild-caught specimens can led to getting even your captive-bred specimens infected.  It would be recommended to consult a qualified reptile veterinarian as to the best course of action for treatment.

Mouth Rot:

            Mouth Injuries- Sometimes if you feed live prey the animals will fight back (understandably) and can cause injuries to the snake’s mouth.  Also, snakes from time to time have the tendency to strike at the glass on the cage. This can also cause trauma to the snake’s mouth.  If the cut goes untreated and bacteria sets in this can cause mouth rot where a thick, “foam-like” substances forms inside their mouths.   

Sources:

Rossi, John D.V.M., M.A.  What’s wrong with my snake?  The Herpetocultural Library, 1993