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Mouth rot in a large Boa

V

vscampbell

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I am going on a rescue mission in the morning, a 10 foot boa with mites and mouth rot. I'll be taking the snake right to the vet... but I'm curious.. anybody seen a great cure for Mouth rot? The mites are no problem, I've got the cure for those little beasties!
 
It really depends on how bad it really is, not a fun thing to deal with. If it has just started and is not too far along I have used Listerine mouth wash, the non flavored kind. Good luck with it and I hope it's not that bad and this snake can get to be on the road to recovery really soon!! Shanell.
 
Chances are if it's got mouth rot it'll probably have a RI too. The vet will give you antibiotics and possibly a rinse for it's mouth. You'll want to bump the heat up a little and make sure the cage is clean. I'd suggest not using any bedding other than newspaper to avoid anything getting into it's mouth. Chances are you wouldn't be using bedding anyhow since you'll be treating for mites.
 
As I recall, Fred Frye's Reptile Care book says that ascorbic acid (vitamin C) with antibiotics cured mouth rot faster than antibiotics alone.

I'd raise the temperature a few degrees above normal, too. The elevated temperature seems to act like a fever. It either stimulates the immune system or inhibits the bacteria.

You ought to get the snake checked for flagellate protozoans, too.

Good luck.
 
Antibiotics are great when you get them. I used Centany (I get free samples from work) they did a wonderful job, but before then, I used Betadine an antiseptic/antibiotic available at any SavOn or pharmacy store which really work. I would swab the mouth twice a day with just enough to coat the mouth but not enough to swallow and raise the temperature to 90 degrees no more than that. After two weeks swelling dropped noticably and everything cleared up shortly after that. It did take time because I did not have the antibiotics but it worked. Good luck and let us know how everything turns out.
 
Thanks to those who helped with the mouth rot thread

Thanks for the help with my rescue mission. There is no way that I could really tell you the deplorable condition of these animals and their environment. The temperature was 55f, the substrate was rotting potting soil, compete with decomposing live plants, and it was FILLED with maggots, the smell was putrid and the snakes had no water (but plenty of mites to makeup for it). Their last feeding was a long time ago. The largest boa, about 8-9 feet long, was so sick that we put it down. The mouth rot was extremely involved and it had septicemia, mite infestation, and was dehydrated. The heart rate was so weak that we were pretty challenged to see a successful course of treatment and it would take four - six months and about two thousand dollars.

I made a decision to spend the time and money getting the second animal back in shape. This boa is a female of about 6'. No mouth rot, but it still was mite infested and seriously dehydrated. She has a large number of burn spots along the spine, I believe from direct contact with a heat lamp. We have given it 320cc of ringers (sub Q) in the past three days and it is doing much better. I have been soaking it twice a day in 90F water and working to get rid of a shed that was incomplete (including eye caps). I was able to complete that task yesterday and she is doing much better today. Still hasn't eated but that will probably take a few more days. She is resting in my hospital enclosure and when I checked her with a temp gun this morning her skin temp was 94.3F. That ought to get the old metabolism moving!

I gave her Ivermectin for the mites, ringers under the skin for dehydration, vitamin B for appetite, and twice daily soakings of two hours in 90F water.

Thanks again,

Val Campbell
 
Val, that's awful. I truly hate hearing about stuff like that. For what it is worth, it sounds like you made the right decision about the other boa. Good luck with this one. From the description of the conditions, you may still have a ways to go in treatment/rehab. When feeding time comes, take it slow and easy...don't try to push her. go with a couple of small meals first.
 
lol. she's 6', I was thinking more along the lines of a medium sized rat. Again, I think you are still in for a bit of a project with this one. If the temps were that low, and the conditions that bad, chances are pretty good that there are some health issues that will need to be addressed - aside from the initial rehydration and warming. While you are actively treating her, she may not eat...just from the stress of it all...but you never know. It has been quite awhile so, if there is nothing too major going on, she could start taking food sooner than one would think. Again, good luck with her. Keep us posted.
 
Tough to make decisions like that, though with all the pain the large boa was in I agree that you made a good decision. Good luck with the 6 foot, I truly believe she will be very grateful for you saving her.

I rescued a 6' 5" with mouth rot and RI. He was in a 35 to 40 gallon tank (I was told "he like to come out and be held a lot" YOU THINK!!), 1 inch tall water bowl, rubbed nose to the bone, and burns like yours covering his back (actually I may be posting pictures of him I took today pretty soon, he looks great) He also was fed about every 4-5 weeks, the guy I picked him up from "I don't remember". I feed him weekly. He gets to come out regularly. He even Strikes at the Plexiglas at me if I do not take him out. The RI is going away, slowly but surely, just the remains of semi-closed nostrils that are waiting to shed off. All this was a challenge but soooooo worth it. He is used for education and loves to travel with me to any of my destinations.

The soaking will also help with the mites, I use Reptile Relief to clean the cages of mites and it is safe for the reptiles, it takes a little longer but I find it affective for my reptiles health. Please keep us posted on her and good luck.
 
ok my jcp that i bought from lllreptiles had mouth rot i took him to the vet he had RI to he gave me some batrill to give him orally and told me to give it to him for 2 weeks he was better in 1 week i just only took him out to give him meads and raised his humidity good luck man
i hope your boa gets better
 
A snake from LLL with mouth rot. What a surprise.

After being in their store and knowing so many people who have bought snakes from them, trust me, unless you are looking for supplies or food do not buy reptiles from them. When did you buy your JCP? I bought one in February that did not last long because of how sick it was in their store, his immune system was shot to pieces. The vet left me with a good luck
 
An update for everyone who gave me help:

I had the largest one (with mouth rot) put down because her condition was so bad that she wasn't a god candidate for survival. The mouth rot had closed of the throat, including about 12 inches of the throat, and it had an advanced case of blood poisoning. The heart and lungs were very weak as well, so I decided to focus my efforts on the other rescue boa that was part of the pair. It was a shame because this 8 foot (plus) animal was a beauty at one time.

The smaller one, a female about 6 feet long, is doing very well. She didn't have mouth rot but did have a severe case of dehydration to compliment the mites that she was feeding. I gave her 300cc of ringers over three days and the vet gave her a vitamin B shot and ivermectin for the mites. I also soaked her in water for an hour, twice a day for a week. After a week she ate a small rat and ate a large rat a week after that. She is doing really well and when I get her pumped back up I intend on using her as an outreach animal. She has extensive and severe scarring on her back from a heat lamp and will be a good learning tool for young kids. We have an outreach at the Pacific Science Center in September and I hope she is ready.

I picked up these animals as a result of a call that came to the Pacific Northwest Herp. Society rescue team.

Thanks again for the help,

Val Campbell
 
I am happy to hear about the 6 foot boa, yet I am sorry you had to go through the difficulties of putting down the larger one. As far as the outreach work with the 6 foot, as sad as it is those scars will be the best teaching aid. My 6 foot has a lot of scars on his back from burns and a big hole on his nose from rubbing. Everyone who sees him, I point out those marks to make sure they know that these are animals that have the same healing abilities as humans do. It gets people to understand that these snakes can be hurt just like us. Good luck in your ventures and teachings.
 
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