Snake Medical Information & Health Guide

Maintaining snake health largely depends on providing the correct environment (temperature, humidity, security) and proper feeding practices. Like many reptiles, snakes often hide signs of illness until advanced stages. Vigilant observation is key. This guide provides general information and is NOT a substitute for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified reptile veterinarian. Always seek professional help for health concerns.

Common Snake Health Issues

Being familiar with common problems can aid in early recognition.

• Respiratory Infections (RI): Frequently caused by incorrect temperatures (especially too cold or fluctuating), improper humidity (often too low, but sometimes too high/stagnant), stress, or poor cage hygiene.
  • Symptoms: Open-mouth breathing, audible wheezing or clicking, nasal discharge, bubbly saliva/mucus in mouth, lethargy, refusing food, keeping head elevated.
  • Prevention: Maintain stable and correct temperature gradients (basking, cool side, night temps), appropriate humidity levels for the species, good ventilation, clean enclosure, minimize stress.
  • Note: Requires prompt veterinary diagnosis and usually antibiotic treatment. Highly contagious between snakes.
• Dysecdysis (Shedding Problems): Difficulty shedding skin completely, usually due to insufficient humidity. Retained eye caps and stuck shed rings (especially on tail tips) are common.
  • Symptoms: Patchy shed, dull appearance long after shed should complete, retained eye caps (cloudy/dimpled eyes post-shed), constrictions from old skin.
  • Prevention: Provide appropriate humidity levels, especially leading up to and during shed (use humid hides, misting), ensure adequate hydration (clean water dish).
  • Treatment: Increase humidity, soak snake in lukewarm water, gently assist with moist cloth *after* soaking. Never pull dry shed. Retained eye caps may need vet assistance.
• Scale Rot (Infectious Dermatitis): Bacterial or fungal infection of the skin/scales, often caused by prolonged exposure to damp, dirty substrate.
  • Symptoms: Blisters (vesicular dermatitis), discolored scales (brownish/reddish), lesions, ulcers, belly scales peeling or looking “raw.”
  • Prevention: Keep substrate clean and appropriately dry (avoid constant dampness unless species requires it, ensure good drainage/ventilation), use correct substrate type.
  • Note: Requires veterinary diagnosis and treatment (topical/systemic antibiotics or antifungals). Address husbandry immediately.
• Stomatitis (Mouth Rot): Infection and inflammation of the mouth lining, often secondary to injury, stress, poor nutrition, or RI.
  • Symptoms: Redness or swelling around the mouth/gums, thick mucus or cheesy pus-like discharge inside mouth, loss of appetite, reluctance to strike/eat.
  • Prevention: Maintain optimal husbandry, minimize stress, ensure proper feeding technique (avoid mouth injuries).
  • Note: Requires veterinary cleaning, flushing, and antibiotics.
• Parasites (External & Internal): Mites (Ophionyssus natricis) are common external parasites. Internal parasites include various worms and protozoa.
  • Symptoms (External – Mites): Tiny moving specks (black, red, white) on snake, often around eyes, chin groove, heat pits; snake soaking excessively; shed skin may show mites.
  • Symptoms (Internal): Weight loss, lethargy, regurgitation, abnormal/runny feces, anorexia.
  • Prevention: Strict quarantine of new snakes (60-90 days MINIMUM), maintain excellent hygiene, buy from reputable sources.
  • Note: Requires vet diagnosis (visual for mites, fecal exam for internal) and specific treatments (mite sprays/predators, dewormers). Thorough enclosure cleaning/disinfection is crucial for mites.
• Impaction / Constipation: Blockage in the digestive tract, often from ingesting substrate, oversized prey, dehydration, or low temperatures hindering digestion.
  • Symptoms: Lack of defecation, lethargy, refusing food, swollen abdomen, straining.
  • Prevention: Use safe substrates, feed appropriately sized prey, ensure proper hydration and digestive temperatures.
  • Treatment: Warm soaks can help. Persistent issues require vet check for cause (possible laxatives, enemas needed).
• Inclusion Body Disease (IBD): A serious, often fatal viral disease primarily affecting boas and pythons. Transmission routes aren’t fully understood but linked to mites and direct contact.
  • Symptoms: Neurological signs (“stargazing,” lack of coordination, inability to right itself), chronic regurgitation, respiratory infections, weight loss.
  • Prevention: Strict quarantine, mite prevention/treatment, avoid mixing collections, buy from tested/reputable sources.
  • Note: No cure currently exists. Diagnosis is complex (biopsy). Euthanasia is often recommended due to poor prognosis and risk to other snakes.

Preventative Care is Your Best Tool

Good husbandry is the cornerstone of snake health.

• Correct Environment: Provide accurate temperature gradients (basking/warm side, cool side) and appropriate humidity levels for the specific species. Use thermostats for all heat sources.
• Secure Hides: Offer at least two snug hides (one warm, one cool) to reduce stress.
• Appropriate Substrate: Use a substrate suitable for the species that is easy to clean and doesn’t pose an impaction risk.
• Cleanliness: Spot clean daily/as needed, provide fresh water daily, and perform regular full enclosure cleanings.
• Proper Feeding: Offer appropriately sized prey items on a suitable schedule. Avoid handling for 48 hours after feeding. Use frozen/thawed prey to avoid injury/parasites from live feeders.
• Quarantine: Isolate ALL new snakes in a separate room with separate equipment for at least 60-90 days.
• Careful Observation: Regularly monitor your snake’s behavior, appetite, shedding cycle, and feces.

General Signs of Illness in Snakes

Be alert for these potential indicators that your snake requires veterinary evaluation:

• Refusal of food (especially if unusual for that snake/species/time of year)
• Regurgitation (vomiting undigested prey, often 24-72hrs post-meal)
• Weight loss, thin appearance (visible spine)
• Lethargy, inactivity, unusual hiding patterns
• Wheezing, clicking, open-mouth breathing, nasal discharge
• Excess mucus in mouth, swollen mouth/gums
• Incomplete sheds, retained eye caps
• Skin lesions, blisters, discolored scales
• Visible parasites (mites)
• Neurological signs (stargazing, corkscrewing, poor coordination)
• Swelling anywhere on the body
• Abnormal feces or lack of defecation

Finding a Reptile Veterinarian

It’s crucial to locate a veterinarian experienced with snakes *before* you need one.

• Look for Reptile Specialization: General small animal vets may lack the specific knowledge needed. Search for vets advertising reptile or exotic animal services.
• Ask Experienced Keepers: Local herpetological societies or long-time snake keepers can often provide good referrals.
• Use Online Directories: ARAV.org has a ‘Find a Vet’ tool, though availability varies.
• Inquire About Experience: When contacting a clinic, ask specifically about their experience with snakes, common snake issues (like RI, mites, IBD), and diagnostic capabilities (fecal exams, blood work).
• Schedule a Wellness Check: Establishing a baseline with a vet when the snake is healthy is highly recommended.