Laurie Hess, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice)
Reptiles do everything slowly: they move slowly, eat slowly, digest slowly, and get sick slowly. And when they do get sick, it can take a long time, weeks or even months, for signs of illness to show up, so it can be very difficult for snake owners to realize their pet is sick until the disease has progressed.
How can pet snake owners tell if their pet is sick? Of course, the signs a sick snake will show will depend on the nature of the illness, but there are some general signs that many sick snakes will show, regardless of the type of illness.
Common signs of illness in snakes
Sick snakes are lethargic and inactive, and often hide or burrow underground. Most sick snakes show little or no interest in food, no matter what prey is offered, or even if it is dead. Snakes that have not eaten for long periods (weeks to months) will appear dehydrated, with sunken eyes, patches of skin remaining from incomplete shedding, and a buildup of dry, sticky saliva in the mouth. They will lose weight, as the superficial muscles of the upper body weaken and bone spurs become more prominent on the spine.
Snakes with septicemia (bacterial infection in the bloodstream) often have pink or reddish skin on the underside of their body. Healthy snakes will stick their tongue out multiple times to sample the surrounding area, but sick snakes may be too weak to do this at all. Also, healthy snakes will usually try to move away from people by curling up tightly, but a sick and weak snake may just lie limp.
All of the symptoms we’ve discussed so far are signs of common illnesses in snakes. However, there are also more specific symptoms that pet snakes may exhibit that indicate certain common illnesses. For example, snakes with bacterial or viral pneumonia will often foam at the mouth and nose and breathe with their mouths open. Snakes exhibiting these signs should be taken to the vet immediately.
Signs of Skin Disease in Snakes
Another problem pet owners often encounter with their snakes is the problem of shedding. This is usually called hypo-shedding. Snakes with this problem will not only have patches of dry, flaking skin all over their body, but they will also have stringy saliva in their mouths and the surface of one or both eyes will be cloudy and opaque. This indicates that the snake still has spectacles (eye caps or transparent scales that cover and protect the cornea, as snakes do not have eyelids). The spectacles will usually fall off along with the rest of the snake’s skin, but if the snake lives in an environment that is too dry and becomes dehydrated, both the skin and the spectacles may remain. Snakes that still have skin and spectacles should be soaked in warm water and misted frequently to encourage further shedding and rehydration. Any spectacles that remain may become secondarily infected with bacteria and will no longer shed as easily. If your snake’s eyelids are persistently shedding, you may need to see a veterinarian and treat them with lubricating eye drops. Under no circumstances should you attempt to remove flaking eyelids at home. Doing so can damage the cornea underneath the eyelid.
One of the most common symptoms in snakes is skin infections caused by mites. Mites appear as small red or black spots (depending on the type of mite) around the snake’s eyes, mouth, and mandibles, where they suck blood and eventually make the snake weak and anemic. Snakes infested with mites will bathe more frequently, and it is common to see tiny parasites floating in their water bowls. Mites can also burrow under the scales of the skin and cause raised swellings that may appear on the snake’s hands after handling. Infested snakes may lose their appetite and become irritable from discomfort. Mites are generally a sign of poor hygiene and can transmit bacterial, viral, and other parasitic infections. Weak and infested snakes should be treated with anti-parasitic medication by a snake-savvy veterinarian, and the snake’s cage should be thoroughly disinfected and all porous elements (such as wood) that cannot be thoroughly cleaned should be removed.
Other Symptoms of a Sick Snake and How to Help Them
Pet snakes can also suffer from stomatitis, an inflammation/infection of the mouth. Low humidity and living in poor hygienic conditions can also cause this condition. Snakes with stomatitis will often not eat and will have visibly red, swollen gums. As the condition progresses, the infection may spread to the jawbone, which may appear irregular, bumpy and swollen. Snakes with these conditions should also be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible for treatment with antibiotics and, if necessary, surgery to remove infected or dead bone.
Finally, another common condition seen in snakes is egg impaction (a condition in which a female snake is unable to expel eggs formed in her reproductive tract). Snakes with this condition will frequently stop eating and will have one or more swellings on the lower third of their body. They may become lethargic and spend their time hiding. Snakes with these signs should also be examined by a veterinarian, who can determine if treatment is necessary.
The best way to deal with diseases in snakes is to prevent them by having them examined when you first get them and then annually by a reptile-trained veterinarian and making sure your snake’s care and nutrition are ideal. Preventive medicine is the key to having a healthy and happy pet snake.
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