Septicemia in Snakes
Among the most popular pets of recent years, snakes are one of the most popular due to their docile nature and ease of care. Many owners are happy with their snakes even though sometimes they may become concerned if the snake suffers from Septicemia.
Septicemia is considered a severe condition when a snake is critically ill and is often near death. Septicemia happens when the body's immune system of a snake becomes infected by bacteria and as a result, the snake shows symptoms such as lethargy, lack of appetite, etc.
In snakes, septicemia is fatal, however, if their owners notice the signs and symptoms of the disease and provide proper treatment to them on time, it is curable. Hence, it is very important for pet owners to be able to see the signs and symptoms of Septicemia at the right time and to prevent their deaths from occurring. For anyone interested in learning more about the signs, root causes, preventions, and treatment options for Septicemia in snakes, you should be sure to read this article carefully and in detail.
What is Septicemia?
Septicemia is one of the most common and deadly illnesses in pet snakes, it is caused by a bacterial infection and occurs when bacteria enter the body of a snake and start to multiply at a rapid rate, which then leads to them entering the bloodstream and damaging the body organs and tissues inside that snake.
The snake has a life-threatening disease called septicemia which has a death rate of 50%, but also a recovery rate of 50%. So, if you notice any signs of your pet becoming sick, such as a loss of appetite, lethargy, weakness, or behavior, you should take them to the vet and provide treatment for that condition because if you do not treat the situation, then it will kill the snake overnight.
Symptoms of Septicemia in Snakes
As snake owners, it is very important for them to know the symptoms of Septicemia in snakes in order to treat them in an early stage so that they may be treated in the most effective manner possible. Below are some signs of Septicemia in snakes that are provided below.
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Uncontrollable convulsions
- Vomiting
- The skin becomes infected
- Lethargy
- Abnormal behavior
- Red patches on the skin or scales.
- Lack of appetite
- Open mouth breathing
- A necrosis occurs.
- The color of the stools changed to green and black.
During the last stage of septicemia symptoms in snakes, the skin and the underbelly of the snake begin to change in color, usually becoming red.
What are the causes of Septicemia in snakes?
We all know that one of the main causes of Septicemia in a snake's body is a bacterial infection that enters his bloodstream. So we are going to explain to you how bacteria enters a snake's body in the way that is described below.
- A snake's body can be infected by bacteria through traumatic injuries or wounds. For example, if the snake receives an injury and the wound is left untreated, then bacteria can enter the wound and then start to spread throughout the snake's body.
- A snake that is sick or stressed can be susceptible to infection.
- When the snake lives in a dirty tank, it is very likely that it will be infected.
- Whenever the temperature of the tank and the humidity of the tank are not correct.
- The development of bacterial infection may be caused by a number of different sources of diseases, such as respiratory diseases, external parasites, and mouth infections.
What can I do to prevent Septicemia in snakes?
Almost all snake owners would like to know what they can do to prevent Septicemia in their snake because they are aware of the fact that Septicemia is a very fatal disease. So If you want to prevent Septicemia in your snake, follow the same precautions that you should follow when preventing other diseases, which are listed below.
- As a snake owner, it is crucial for you to make sure that the environment in which your snake lives is as clean as possible at all times. You must remove any bacteria present in this area very regularly.
- Maintain a proper temperature and humidity level in the snake tank at all times.
- Reduce the stress levels of snakes by avoiding noise in the snake cage or around the snake cage as much as possible.
- You should always feed your snake nutritious food in order to maintain a strong immune system.
- Take your snake to a vet as soon as possible if you notice any wounds in its body or any symptoms of disease.
How can I treat my Snake if it is suffering from Septicemia?
In the event that your snake shows some early signs of septicemia then you should be giving it antibiotics once a week. Please do not inject them and keep them hydrated at all times in order to avoid dehydration.
It is my personal opinion that if you see the early signs of Septicemia in snakes, you should take them to a vet instead of trying to treat them at home because vets are able to treat them far better than you can.
It is the veterinarian's responsibility to treat your snake in a professional manner. The vet can give your snake antibiotics as well as fluid therapy and supportive care. If your snake gets a wound, the veterinarian can clean the wound and apply antiseptic. If your snake is suffering from a severe stage of septicemia, the veterinarian can give them a large dose of antibiotics immediately, as well as an injection.
Your veterinarian may prescribe an oral antibiotic and also advise you to soak your snake in warm water daily and put povidone iodine solution on it, as well as tell you to give your snake an extra bit of care.