Loading
SNAKE NOSE RUB/SALIVATING/SUBCUTANEOUS PARASITE
Christian Castille
Some facts you maybe unaware of in snakes
----------------------------
Nose Rub
This is caused by many things. Often its seen in wild captured snakes who are taking longer than average to adapt to captive life. But it does also happen in captive bred snakes as well. Other issues that can cause it are sharp decor items, sloughing , mites and many other reasons.
The first thing to do is treat the nose rub if its bloody or infected. If not then its a case of reducing the snake's need to rub. This can be done by reducing the stress levels, I also find that feeding the snake more often on much smaller prey items will help the time to pass where nose rubbing is present.
----------------------------
Salivating
Alot of people have pmd me and even rang to bring down a snake who they believe has a nasty respitory infection only to find out its nothing more than a natural response from a very annoyed snake.
Snakes get enraged from being annoyed ,angered or simply being defensive and aggressive. When this happens and they get super angry they will begin to salivate in there mouth and even start to leak it from there mouths. This can come out looking like muscus and the foaming of the mouth can look like and even sound like RI. This is why its always important to watch your snake when it is calm as you could very much end up treating a snake when there is no need.
for example.,,,,a healthy mangrove whos salivating.
Salivating
Alot of people have pmd me and even rang to bring down a snake who they believe has a nasty respitory infection only to find out its nothing more than a natural response from a very annoyed snake.
Snakes get enraged from being annoyed ,angered or simply being defensive and aggressive. When this happens and they get super angry they will begin to salivate in there mouth and even start to leak it from there mouths. This can come out looking like muscus and the foaming of the mouth can look like and even sound like RI. This is why its always important to watch your snake when it is calm as you could very much end up treating a snake when there is no need.
for example.,,,,a healthy mangrove whos salivating.
--------------------------------------------
Why blood tests are so important
People seem to neglect blood tests when dealing with wild caught animals ....I keep going on about subcutaneous parasites due to how important they are to get checked. They wont show up most of the time on feacal samples so blood tests are a must as treating intestinal parasites wont kill subcutaneous ones.
So you need a fecal and a blood test done for a full parasitology.
For example most snakes from South Asia come into captivity with alot of parasites. Most of these are motile flagellates and strongyloide species found in the intestinal tract . But you need a blood test done to confirm if the snake has any subcutaneous parasites such as encysted endoparasites...often these will be pleroceracoid larva from spirometra species.
These can be treated effectly with a mixture of metronidazole, praziquantel and ivermectin.
Often if you really really look hard enough on a snake you will see them as the snake slithers.
Why blood tests are so important
People seem to neglect blood tests when dealing with wild caught animals ....I keep going on about subcutaneous parasites due to how important they are to get checked. They wont show up most of the time on feacal samples so blood tests are a must as treating intestinal parasites wont kill subcutaneous ones.
So you need a fecal and a blood test done for a full parasitology.
For example most snakes from South Asia come into captivity with alot of parasites. Most of these are motile flagellates and strongyloide species found in the intestinal tract . But you need a blood test done to confirm if the snake has any subcutaneous parasites such as encysted endoparasites...often these will be pleroceracoid larva from spirometra species.
These can be treated effectly with a mixture of metronidazole, praziquantel and ivermectin.
Often if you really really look hard enough on a snake you will see them as the snake slithers.
Nothing
Nothing
bingo we have a parasite
bingo we have a parasite
