Mouth Rot Or Respiratory Infection? How Do You Treat Them?

Please help!!!

I just got an adult Ball Python about 2 weeks ago. The last few days I've notice him hiding alot where as before he was being very active. Today when I handled him I noticed he was twitching and spit bubbles were poping from one side of his mouth. I've owned snakes for about 2 years now and have a decent size collection of Ball Pythons and I've never experienced any infections. I've done research for a few hours and I've found some websites that say it's mouth rot others that say it's a respiratory infection. Are they the same? What causes the infection? How do I treat them? Can my new baby die? I rescued him from his previous owner who took very little care of him. He fed him only once every 2 months and barely every cleaned his tank. He also had him in a 15 gallon tank (he's a bout 3 feet long) upstairs with no heat besides a regular lamp he had lying around during winter time. The water bowl I got from him was covered in fifth till the point I had to buy a new one. The guy charged me 300 for a regular morph so after that buying mice and bedding I don't have enough money for about a mouth to take him to the vet. Only enough to feed all my colubrids and pythons for the next few weeks. But it was all worth to try and save my new buddy frizz. Anyways and answer to my questions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks mates.

1st off, hope you quarantined this animal...... If you didn't your whole collection should now be quarantined an is at risk.

2nd you need a culture done by a vet so you know what you are dealing with. I would bet URI but still need a vet.

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Are they the same?

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No, however if not properly treated mouth rot can lead to other infections (Repiratory and GI)

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What causes the infection?

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RI is an infection of the respiratory system (often the results of improper husbandry and stress)

Mouth rot is an infection of the oral cavity.

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How do I treat them?

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By going to a vet that specialized in exotics, reptiles in particular.

Mouth rot will often require irrigation with antiseptics, and or antibiotics.

RI will require a course of injectable anti-biotics for a minimal duration of 30 days

In both cases culture is a must it will help determine appropriate treatment (type of anti-biotics used) based on the results.

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Can my new baby die?

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YES

Food for the though if you take a rescue you should only take it if you are willing and able (financially) to provide for the animal's needs that means a vet.

Your options are to ask the vet for a payment plan or surrender the animal.

Alright thanks you mates so much. I really appreciate the answers. I'm going to try everything in my power to help this snake survive even if I have to get rid of it.

How much will it cost to take him to the vet?

And can still be in the same room but in serpent tanks

Its vet time and time to keep the sick animal away from your others and deal with them last after you have changed water and spot cleaned your healthy snakes first as to not spread the problem.

As for vet prices, it depends on the vet. When I had to take my beardie in for slight RI, the bill was around $270. What you are probably looking at is the office visit, a culture, a wide spectrum antibiotic to start with until the culture comes back, then possibly switching antibiotics depending if the germ is sensitive to the first antibiotic.

As for keeping in the same room, I kept my beardie in the snakes room even when she had slight RI. I did deal with her last though and always scrubbed my hands down with F10 and soap between all animals. Never use the same utensils or anything between a sick animal and the rest of your collection. I'm kind of OCD though and I always wipe down tables and everything with F10.

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Originally Posted by Griz/Rosco B.Pythons

And can still be in the same room but in serpent tanks

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Nope should never have been in the same room to start with. Quarentine is a MUST

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Alright mates thank you. I have the money now and the appointment is tomorrow. He's by himself in a separate room.

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Originally Posted by Griz/Rosco B.Pythons

He's by himself in a separate room.

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Now or always has been?