RESPIRATORY DISEASE.
| Respiratory infections are common in all 3 groups of reptiles but are
probably seen most often and most severely in snakes. These animals have only one
functional lung and live frequently in low environments where air quality and ventilation
are poor.
The first signs are often fluid at the nostrils or frothing at the mouth; in tortoises respratory disease is frequently (and helpfully) referred to as "runny nose syndrome". If not spotted and treated early this can frequently progress to a more serious infection frequently involving a dramatic and life-threatening stomatitis often referred to as "mouth rot".
Treatment is with antibiotics; enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin are the most frequently used in reptiles based upon their good activity against gm -ve rods. I also use a lot of ceftazidime ("Fortum") which has a broader spectrum of activity, causes less irritation on injection and needs to be injected only every 3 days instead of 2. Attention should also be given to the environment particularly to temperature (reptile immune system is dependent on being able to maintain an adequate body temperature) and ventilation. |
green tree python- a frequent patient with respiratory disease; note the frothing at the mouth.
|
 gross purulent stomatitis (Mouth rot) in a Fijian Boa. |
 mouth rot in a boa; note the inspissated pus, the haemmorrhage at the back of the mouth and the grossly swollen glottis. |