Respiratory Disease

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Respiratory infections are common in snakes.  They may be

associated with septicemic (body-wide) illness, viral infections

and mouth rot.  Some respiratory illness may be the consequence

of stress from poor or inadequate husbandry.



Signs include loud respirations, discharge and/or bubbling from

the nostrils and/or mouth, coughing and open-mouth breathing.

Treatment must be aggressive and at the direction of a

veterinarian.  A bacterial culture of the windpipe and subsequent

antibiotic sensitivity testing should be undertaken to identify

the offending bacteria and the appropriate antibiotic(s) to use.

The veterinarian may also recommend collecting a blood sample to

determine the extent of the disease and to see if there has been

serious compromise to internal organs.  Antibiotic therapy should

be by injection and may need to be long-term, especially in

severe and long-standing cases.  Inhalation therapy (vaporization

or nebulization) is frequently employed as part of treatment.