Snake Mouth Rot: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Snake mouth rot, also known as infectious stomatitis, is a serious condition that can affect snakes of all species. It can cause pain, swelling, and difficulty eating.

If left untreated, snake mouth rot can be fatal. However, most snakes can fully recover from mouth rot with proper care and treatment. 

What Is Snake Mouth Rot?

Stomatitis, or mouth rot, in snakes is an infection of the mouth caused by bacteria. Other names for mouth rot include ulcerative stomatitis and necrotic stomatitis.

Bacteria can enter the mouth through small cuts or abrasions, or they can overgrow when a snake's immune system is weakened. The infection can affect the gums, teeth, tongue, and even jaw bones. 

Mouth rot is relatively common in snakes, especially those kept in poor conditions. Due to their warm, humid environments, certain species, such as pythons and boas, may be more susceptible to mouth rot.

It's important to seek veterinary attention as soon as you notice any signs of mouth rot in your snake. Depending on the underlying cause and steps taken for correction, mouth rot may become a chronic condition or even recur.

Mouth rot is an emergency if it progresses into pneumonia or other respiratory tract issues. If your snake is having difficulty breathing, have them examined by a reptile veterinarian as soon as possible. Snakes in respiratory distress often exhibit open-mouthed breathing and may hold their heads in an elevated position.

Symptoms of Snake Mouth Rot

Like most diseases, pet parents may notice more subtle signs of issues early in the disease process. As mouth rot progresses, signs become more obvious and are generally more serious.

Early signs of snake mouth rot may include:

• Loss of appetite

• Excessive salivation or drooling

• Redness or swelling around the mouth

• Blisters or sores in the mouth

• Asymmetry of the mouth and face

• Red spots or hemorrhages in the mouth

Advanced signs of snake mouth rot include:

• Difficulty opening the mouth

• Tooth loss

• Pus, blood, or discharge from the mouth

• Difficulty or open-mouth breathing

• Lethargy

• Weight loss

Causes of Snake Mouth Rot

Several factors can contribute to the development of snake mouth rot, including:

• Poor hygiene: Dirty enclosures or contaminated water bowls can harbor bacteria that cause mouth rot.

• Stress: Stress can weaken a snake's immune system, making them more susceptible to infections. Improper temperature, humidity, poor diet, and overcrowding can all cause snakes stress.

• Injury: Cuts or abrasions in the mouth can provide an entry point for bacteria. Males often injure themselves during breeding seasons after repeated attempts to escape the cage. Difficult sheds can also cause trauma along the lip margins.

• Underlying health conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as parasites or nutritional deficiencies like vitamin A deficiency, can make reptiles more prone to mouth rot. 

• Unsuitable environment: Low humidity, improper temperatures, or inadequate hiding places can stress a snake and compromise their immune system.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Snake Mouth Rot

If you suspect your snake has mouth rot, take them to a veterinarian specializing in reptile care.

The vet will perform a physical exam and may take samples of the discharge from your snake’s mouth for further analysis. This analysis includes a cytology to look at the cells and organisms under a microscope as well as taking samples for culture.

Vets may also recommend X-rays and blood work to assess the extent of the infection and other possible medical conditions.

Fecal parasite testing is also typically performed, as many reptiles carry parasites that  can add to their immunosuppression (weakened immune system).

Be prepared to provide information about your snake's diet, environment, and any recent changes in behavior. This information can help the vet determine the underlying cause of the mouth rot.

Other possible diseases to rule out before diagnosing your snake for mouth rot may include:

• Respiratory tract issues

• Neoplasia (cancer)

• Dehydration

• Gout

• Metabolic bone disease

How To Treat Mouth Rot in Snakes

Mouth rot is a serious condition that can become life-threatening if left untreated. Most mild cases only require outpatient care, while more severe cases may require hospitalization and intensive care.

To help your snake immediately, it’s important to resolve any underlying care issues to reduce stress and provide the most natural habitat for your snake. Make sure to talk to your veterinarian about proper care practices—including temperatures, humidity, and lighting. Each species of snake is unique with different requirements.

Treatment of infectious stomatitis in snakes typically involves a treatment plan combining:  

Antibiotics

Your vet will likely prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria causing the infection. These may be given orally, injected, or applied topically. The most common topical antibiotic therapy is silver sulfadiazine cream. More moderate and severe cases require longer-term antibiotics.

Cleaning and Debridement

Your vet may need to clean the snake's mouth and remove any dead tissue, a process  known as debridement. Because this is a painful procedure, it is generally done under sedation or anesthesia.

The most severe cases of mouth rot may require debridement of the bone if the infection spreads into the jaw.

Many veterinarians use a dilute chlorhexidine solution to rinse the mouth and inflamed tissues. Vets often send this mixture home for continued treatment, and it’s important to always properly dilute this solution. Your vet can help to explain this process before the mixture is sent home.

Pet parents should use caution when flushing or treating with any substance to prevent the snake from ingesting it, as nonfood items can cause gastrointestinal issues.

Always wear gloves and potentially protective eye gear when medicating a pet snake to decrease their exposure to harmful bacteria.

Supportive Care

Supportive care for snakes may include:

• Fluid therapy by either syringe feeding water or injected under the skin

• Heat support to help maintain proper temperature ranges—each species has different requirements, but may include upgrading to light bulbs with proper spectrum, including UVA, UVB, and heat support

• Nutritional support may involve force-feeding or syringe feeding critical care diets

• Pain management may include injectable or oral medications such as meloxicam

Recovery and Management of Snake Mouth Rot

Recovery from mouth rot can take several weeks. During this time, following your vet's instructions carefully and provide your snake with a clean and stress-free environment.

More complicated cases of mouth rot may take months for recovery, with recurrence more likely. Snakes can often get infections in the jawbone or abscesses as secondary problems, or the infection can progress to pneumonia if untreated. This can happen a few ways:

1. Bacteria can easily travel from the mouth, through the glottis (opening of the trachea), then into the lungs to cause infection.

2. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream and land in the lungs, causing infection.

3. In their diseased state, snakes could potentially aspirate (breathe in) food and bacteria, leading to infection.

Monitor your snake’s appetite and weight closely. If your snake is not eating, your vet may recommend feeding them with a syringe or a feeding tube.

The survival rate for snakes with mouth rot is generally good with prompt and appropriate treatment. However, severe cases or those with underlying health conditions have a less favorable prognosis.

Severe mouth rot can cause secondary issues with the jaw bones, eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. Depending on the underlying cause, some cases may recur or even become chronic.

Snake Mouth Rot Prevention

Preventing mouth rot is crucial for maintaining your snake's health. Here are some tips to help prevent mouth rot:

• Maintain good hygiene: Clean your snake's enclosure regularly and disinfect water bowls frequently. Reptile cage cleaners like Absolutely Clean and Zilla are often vet-recommended for snakes (including for garter snakes and corn snakes), but check with your vet to ensure you're using an appropriate cleaner.

• Provide a healthy environment: Ensure proper humidity (a humidity gauge can help) and temperature levels and offer plenty of hiding places to reduce stress. 

• Offer a balanced diet: Feed your snake a variety of appropriate prey items to ensure they receive all the necessary nutrients. Make sure to talk to your veterinarian about how to properly feed a particular species.

• Handle your snake gently: Avoid causing any injuries to the mouth.

• Schedule regular vet checkups: This can help detect early signs of illness, including mouth rot.