How to Treat Mouth Rot in Pet Snakes

Mouth rot in pet snakes is an infection in the mouth that can elevate to a very serious condition that affects deep tissue and even bone. If you feel your snake has mouth rot, you must treat him immediately, or your snake could die.

Things You'll Need

• Anti fungal medication for mouth rot
• Eyedropper or medicine dropper

Instructions

1. Look inside your snake's mouth to check for signs of mouth rot. These include thick mucous, holding the mouth open, pus, bleeding, cheesy discharge and excessive saliva.

2. Treat the mouth rot if it is a mild case using an anti fungal medication from a pet store or veterinarian. The bottle should indicate that it's intended to cure mouth rot. The medication will probably be in a powder form, which you need to dilute with water. Using an eyedropper or medicine dropper, wash out the snake's mouth. Follow the package instructions.

3. Take your snake to the veterinarian if the mouth rot seems to be a severe case or is not getting better after you treated it with the anti fungal medication. Your snake likely needs further care. The veterinarian will take a sample from the snake's mouth and possibly a sample of blood to test for the severity of the infection.

4. Realize that if the infection is extremely severe, your snake may have to undergo surgery to have affected tissues removed. Injected medications may also be necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel at all uncomfortable in treating your snake, or if you aren't sure how to open her mouth without hurting her, go ahead and take her to the veterinarian. Tell him that you need him to instruct you how to do these things.

• Don't feed your pet snake live prey. They can often bite or scratch the inside of the snake's mouth, which can lead to a mouth rot infection in captive animals. The live prey will also cause more pain and stress for the snake when he tries to kill and eat it.