Respiratory Infections - The Basics

I don’t think more than a few days go by without seeing a post or two about respiratory infections in snakes.

A couple of disturbing trends tend to rear their heads with these types of posts.

The first is that owner’s hesitancy to take the animal to a qualified reptile vet for evaluation and treatment. Let’s be clear in that no one on these forums is qualified to diagnose or treat a sick animal over the internet. Respiratory infections need to be diagnosed and treated by a vet, period.

The first thing you should do when you purchase a snake is research and pick a qualified herp vet in your area. New purchases should be cleared during QT with a fecal sample, so waiting for your animal to contract a disease before you research vets in your area is inexcusable. Find one before there is a problem.

Second is the advice that is given. Raise temps, lower temps, raise humidity, lower humidity. Be very careful in both giving and following advice of this nature. The only thing that should be done without consulting a vet is bumping up temps a few degrees which help out the immune system and mobilizes respiratory secretions. Any messing around with humidity should be done with extreme care as excess humidity can actually make problems worse – mainly in the fact that it is a combination of high humidity and poor ventilation that allows harmful bacteria to take a foothold in a micro environment like a snake enclosure. The link between low humidity and RIs has not been proven, no matter what common wisdom claims. Either way, it is always best to provide a micro climate such as a humid hide in lieu of turning the entire enclosure into a Petri dish.

Snakes do not have to be exposed to another sick animal to contract a respiratory infection. Bacterial infections of this type are often caused by nothing more than already present gram negative or positive bacteria that take advantage of an immuno-suppressed host.

Sadly, a lot of the advice that gets bandied about on these forums can lead to stressed snakes. Also a lot of advice can inadvertently also lead to the proliferation of potentially harmful bacteria.

For example, it is not uncommon to “hear” people recommending giving snakes baths or feeding the in separate containers. Both of these recommendations are more often than not completely unnecessary and does nothing more than stress the animal.

We also consistently see people advocating keeping the whole enclosure humid. When we keep these animals in small enclosures with constant misting and poor ventilation, we do nothing but create fertile breeding grounds for potentially harmful bacteria.

Stand alone viral infections in snakes are fairly rare and can lead to respiratory infections only in that the stress of being afflicted with the virus often opens the animal up to secondary bacterial infections. The exception being OPMV, which more often that not targets the respiratory system.

To summarize the list of respiratory infection causes, it all often comes down to nothing more than environment: making sure temperatures are correct, that proper ventilation is provided, that urates/urine/feces are promptly cleaned up and spot sanitized, and that the entire enclosure is kept in as clean a condition as possible.

When a snake contracts a RI, the most common symptoms are nasal discharge, open mouthed breathing (which includes holding the head at an elevated posture), wheezing, etc. These symptoms will be fairly constant as opposed to stressed breathing due to being handled or pieces of shed stuck in the nares which are episodic.

It is also important to stress that when you take you animal to the vet, that you ensure that proper treatment is being administered. Remember that you are the client and that the vet is working for you. As such, unless the animal is at death’s door, the vet should culture the infection in order to determine which antibiotic the causative bacteria is most susceptible to.

Too often we see instances where snakes are prescribed meds without the infection being cultured and then have to endure several rounds of antibiotic therapy while the vet blindly searches for an antibiotic that works. This is unnecessary, expensive and more importantly stressful to the snake. The goal is to quickly and effectively treat the infection and to not subject the animal to under stress (numerous vet visits, injections, etc.)

Due to the stressful nature of undergoing antibiotic treatment, sick animals should not be fed during this time. Most treatments are in two to three day intervals, which narrow the window for feeding and handling without the risk of a regurge/stress induced-vomiting. The last thing the owner and animal need while fending off a RI is dealing with regurges.

Another thing to consider is the administering of the shots. Some people have no issues doing this at home; others need to take their animals in every few days for the injections. The key is to recognize YOU limitations. If you do not feel comfortable injecting your snake, the best course of action is to fork over the extra money and have it done at the vet’s office. Some vets recognize that snakes do not travel well and for a small fee, will make a house visit to administer the shots. This cuts back greatly on the amount of stress on the animal.

The keys here are as follows:

1) Make sure your husbandry is spot on and that you are not facilitating the overgrowth of bacteria in your snake’s environment.

2) If your snake is exhibiting RI symptoms, don’t waste time shopping for advice on a forum, take the animal in to a qualified vet. Be very cautious of any advice you follow from someone who is not a vet. Have a vet on hand before your snake gets sick.

3) Make sure that the vet cultures the causative bacteria before prescribing an antibiotic.

4) Make sure you are comfortable administering antibiotic injections.

There are other things I guess we could cover here, but these are the basics.

After reading your post, I was wondering. Is there any supplement that we can maybe put in their water as to health with their immune system? Kind of like acidophilus for the stomach, but instead just something for overall health?

one thing i would like to point out is at least with my vet who is the most recomended in san antonio. he dosent like to do cultures for $100ish and wait 3-5 days before the results come in , when baytril cost $6 and amicacin cost $12. that being said i did ask for a culture and recived baytril until the results came in and then got amicacin that cleared it up FAST:gj:. that was the drug that the vet originaly wanted to go with

Thanks for this great post - but I do have a question - so I should not be rinsing my snakes off when I get up in the morning to find that they are laying in their own waste??

I usually just rinse them in the sink - use a little baby shampoo - rinse them off and back into their tub they go.

I surely don't want to do anything to harm them - someone please advise.

Thank you

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Originally Posted by Abaddon91

one thing i would like to point out is at least with my vet who is the most recomended in san antonio. he dosent like to do cultures for $100ish and wait 3-5 days before the results come in , when baytril cost $6 and amicacin cost $12. that being said i did ask for a culture and recived baytril until the results came in and then got amicacin that cleared it up FAST:gj:. that was the drug that the vet originaly wanted to go with

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A vet will often give an initial injection while the culture is being processed.

The selection of the antibiotic injected will often be based on infections that the vet has been seeing over the past six months to a year.

That's why selecting a vet that regularly treats herps is so important.

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Originally Posted by L.West

I do have a question - so I should not be rinsing my snakes off when I get up in the morning to find that they are laying in their own waste??

I usually just rinse them in the sink - use a little baby shampoo - rinse them off and back into their tub they go.

I surely don't want to do anything to harm them - someone please advise.

Thank you

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I would recommend using either Hibiclens or diluted chlorhexidine sprayed directly onto the animal while in its cage or in hand, then lightly wiped off.

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Originally Posted by that_dc5

After reading your post, I was wondering. Is there any supplement that we can maybe put in their water as to health with their immune system? Kind of like acidophilus for the stomach, but instead just something for overall health?

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For the immune system - not that I know of.

You can use either Benebac or ReptiBac as a probiotic for reptiles. The former is readily found at Petco - usually in the bird section. The latter is found online and at some specialty stores.

You can sprinkle the powder directly on the prey item.

Skip great post!

Great Post and Helpful

Thank You

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

The link between low humidity and RIs has not been proven, no matter what common wisdom claims.

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I believe that there's definitely a link between low humidity and RIs. Not because someone told me so, but because I've experienced it with my own BP.

long story short - my BP showed symptoms of RI (wheezing and i saw 1 bubble coming out of his nose). I called my vet and set an appointment. For the 3 days leading up to the vet visit, I was misting the tub because it was extremely lower than what i learned it needed, then when vet time came, my bp was fine.. No wheezing, and earned a clean bill of health... I even went back to do a fecal!

I'm not saying that boosting humidity is the fix for RI, but when I noticed my BP is showing signs, I checked the most basic environmental requirements that i learned.. Temps and humidity.. This is proof enough for me personally

Quote:

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Originally Posted by that_dc5

After reading your post, I was wondering. Is there any supplement that we can maybe put in their water as to health with their immune system? Kind of like acidophilus for the stomach, but instead just something for overall health?

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You should be able to go to a pet store or shop online for snake vitamins that you put in the water. I've inherited some really sick snakes over the years, once one needed to have pills put into a mullet and then we put the mullet down the snakes throat. I don't recommend that. It was not fun, and it pissed her off. She did live and became a healthy, plump, beautiful creature. Vets, if you can afford them and if they are absolutely necessary, should be seen first. I do every thing the lead post says except that I put vitamins in the water. I also made friends online (was referred to) with a person who works in some kind of reptile house in another country and he gives me (or at least used to) cheap advice about what I can use to cure some things. He also tells me take it to the Vet in some instances. I try not to bother him if I can help it, and so far, he has never been wrong.

[QUOTE=h00blah;1806741]I believe that there's definitely a link between low humidity and RIs. Not because someone told me so, but because I've experienced it with my own BP.

I have seen it happen with high and low depending upon what the snake's normal habitat should be and what it lives in now. My Malaysian blood got sick in dry air, for example.

I ripped a giant fart in the snake house last week and the snake I farted on came down with a bad RI. Therefore I can personally attest to a firsthand link between stinky flatulence and respiratory infections in snakes.

I cured it by playing the odd numbered tracks of Puscifer's "Conditions of My Parole" for three days straight. Some one eyed hunchback at Rasputin Records who I nod to but don't dare speak to gave me this advice telepathically.

RI does not just go away in a few days. It is the same as phenomena in humans and when a snake is dripping mucus from the lungs in people when that happens you are in the hospital. It will not get to that point and clear up all by its self. There are very very few bacteria that grow in the desert hot dry low humid conditions preserves things (think Egypt the oldest paper in existence is from egyptian tombs) Hot humid conditions grow bacteria fast think rainforest where a leather shoe will rot away in 2 or 3 months. There is no sense to dry conditions causing a bacterial fungal infection they simply do not live in large numbers under these conditions.

my little 5 month old ball python seemed fine with no wheezing or infection, but within 2 days tops...he died...and was stargazing...no control over his head or upper body......I have been investigating Inclusion Body Disease..although it is widely spread in europe, asia and starting in Italy...Canada has not been mentioned...but for the life of me I cannot figure out what happened to him....He was perfectly healthy..or seemed to be......

Well Brian barczyk talks about the reptifogger and applying 5 Ccs of f10 to the bottle and fog a separate tub with the snake in for 20 min then turn it off and leave it for 20 min. I think do it once everyday... I'll have to watch the video again, but does that work

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Originally Posted by shimmyball

my little 5 month old ball python seemed fine with no wheezing or infection, but within 2 days tops...he died...and was stargazing...no control over his head or upper body......I have been investigating Inclusion Body Disease..although it is widely spread in europe, asia and starting in Italy...Canada has not been mentioned...but for the life of me I cannot figure out what happened to him....He was perfectly healthy..or seemed to be......

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I am sorry that your snake died. It is unlikely IBD. The there are very few cases of IBD in pythons. The worlds leading researcher (Dr. Jacobson) has only confirmed 3 cases, I believe, in pythons. It is many times more likely that it was poisoning, common mite treatments can result in similar symptoms.

Do you need a vet specialized in reptiles or is a normal vet sufficient?
:snake:

A reptile vet is important if it is at all possible. It is not always but a vet whom is willing to see snakes and is able to admit they don't know much but will work with you may not be as good but is way better than the ones that just adapt mammalian treatments to a reptile and guess.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

I ripped a giant fart in the snake house last week and the snake I farted on came down with a bad RI. Therefore I can personally attest to a firsthand link between stinky flatulence and respiratory infections in snakes.

I cured it by playing the odd numbered tracks of Puscifer's "Conditions of My Parole" for three days straight. Some one eyed hunchback at Rasputin Records who I nod to but don't dare speak to gave me this advice telepathically.

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Fascinating, what did you have to eat though? I would like to avoid spreading RIs.

So I work with a vet and i need a culture done of my snakes, what type of culture are you recommending? My vet is looking as well, but she really likes getting information from many sources.