Ball Python Mouth Rot

In reptiles and particularly in snakes, mouth rot is one of the most severe diseases. If not treated, it can lead your Ball Python to quickly die from this disease, this disease also known as stomatitis.

If you have a Ball Python with a rotten mouth, you will notice that the mouth is red and inflamed, and in severe cases, the tissue may have ulceration and blood may be evident in the mouth.

Your Ball Python might stop eating and drinking if it has mouth rot. Poor husbandry is the main cause of mouth rot in Ball Pythons. If you are able to treat your Ball Python who is suffering from mouth rot as soon as possible, you will be able to prevent death. Pet owners should read this article in order to learn the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Ball Python mouth rot.

What is Mouth Rot?

Mouth rot is a disease that affects the tissues of the mouth and throat in reptiles, specifically snakes, and it is a painful and potentially deadly disease. This is also known as oral septicemia or ulcerative stomatitis, and it is caused by bacteria and fungal growth.

The mouth of your Ball Python becomes inflamed when he or she is exposed to this disease. The condition usually occurs when the Ball Python is infected with bacteria or food gets stuck between its teeth. If the Ball Python is treated early with this disease, it can be treated. Otherwise, it will cause your Ball Python to die.

What are the symptoms of mouth rot in Ball Python?

Having an understanding of the symptoms of Ball Python mouth rot is very important for Ball Python owners so that they can treat them in an early stage. They should ensure that they know the symptoms and that they monitor their Ball Python on a routine basis in order to assess the symptoms of the disease. Below are some of the symptoms of Ball Python mouth rot.

Redness in the mouth,
Having a sluggish or depressed attitude,
Thickened saliva is forming,
Weight loss,
Their mouths smell foul,
Open mouth breathing,
The discharge of pus from the mouth,
It is impossible for them to close their mouth,
Refusal to consume food and drink,
In and around the mouth, yellow cheese-like pus may be present,
The mouth may also be open while it rests,
No tongue Flicking,
Loss of appetite,
Gum swelling,
A decrease in drooling.

Is there a cause for mouth rot in Ball Pythons?

YES, mouth rot in Ball Pythons has been associated with different causes described in the following paragraphs.

There is a possibility that the Ball Python can suffer from mouth rot if he lives in poor husbandry. This is because of the uncleanness of its habitat, which causes it to build bacteria and fungi and eventually leads to infection.
It is possible for your Ball Python to strike its nose on the glass of the tank and this can lead to damage to the nose which can cause an infection in the nose and lead to mouth rot as a consequence.
The wrong setup of the Ball Python tank, such as incorrect humidity and temperature, can cause these animals to develop illnesses and reduce their immune systems.
There is a possibility that if your Ball Python is stressed, it might develop mouth rot.
A lack of nutrition can also weaken your Ball Python's immune system, which will lead to mouth rot in them.
Whenever the Ball Python's mouth is cut or scraped in any way and it is left untreated, it can then result in mouth rot which can cause the snake's death.

Is it possible to cure Ball Python mouth rot at home? If so, how?

If a Ball Python mouth rot has a mild case then Ball Python mouth rot can be treated at home. However, when it has mild mouth rot, there are ways to cure it.

In order to cure Ball Python mouth rot, one needs to clean their mouths, change their habitats, and change their diet. If Ball Pythons are displaying yellow pus in their mouths, clean the pus with a cotton swab, or you can give antibiotics for two weeks to treat them.

Is there a way to prevent mouth rot in Ball Pythons?

There are many ways that pet owners can prevent Mouth Rot in a Ball Python, some of which are included below, so you need to follow those tips.

Ensure that your Ball Python enclosure is clean in order to avoid a risk of mites and bacteria growing in the enclosure.
It is important to maintain a proper humidity level in the Ball Python enclosure between 50 and 60%.
Keep the temperature of your Ball Pythons at an ideal level by providing them with cool, warm, and basking sides in their cages.
As a Ball Python owner, you should check the teeth of the snake on a regular basis and clean them if the teeth need to be cleaned.
As a precaution, you should schedule an appointment with your vet at least once a year to check on the health of your Ball Python.
In order to prevent your Ball Python from contracting diseases, it is essential to provide it with a nutritional and healthy diet.

When should I take my Ball Python to the vet for mouth rot treatment and how can the vet help?

If your Ball Python is suffering from a severe case of mouth rot, then you should take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible to find out what is going on with him.

A veterinarian will first examine your Ball Python's mouth rot if the situation is under control then the vet will give your Ball Python some antibiotics and clean the mouth rot area with antiseptic, but if the situation is not under control then the vet will perform a surgery to remove the dead tissue from the mouth rot area.

In order to restore the immune system of your Ball Python, the vet recommends some multivitamin supplements to be given to your Ball Python during the course of their treatment. Furthermore, your vet should recommend keeping your Ball Python hydrated and keeping the Ball Python in a warm habitat during their recovery time.

Note- A Ball Python that is able to eat food during a mouth rot condition should be given fluid therapy and nutrition support in order to help it recover.