So, you were wondering if snakes can both cough and sneeze. I was wondering this myself and decided to do some research online. What I’ve found was interesting and I’ll share my found answers right here, in this article. After I’ve given you the full answer to this question I’ll answer a few more related questions so make sure you keep reading!
Can snakes cough and sneeze? Snakes cannot cough and sneeze. They lack a diaphragm which makes them unable to cough and they don’t sneeze in the way that we think of sneezing. What they sometimes do is rapidly exhaling to clear mucus, moisture, or other unwanted debris from their mouth, or sinuses.
Coughing sounds can mean something else
You know by now that a snake cannot cough like we humans can because they don’t have a diaphragm. But the sounds that snakes make that we link to coughs can sometimes mean something else. It can, for example, be the case that the snake’s lungs are filled with fluid which can result in the snake making cough-like sounds and it can also be that your pet snake is breathing heavily. If you notice that your pet snake is breathing heavily and that the heavy breathing doesn’t seem to be going away then I’d recommend you see a veterinarian as these symptoms can be linked to your pet snake having a respiratory infection or to other diseases.
Is it normal if my pet snake is rapidly exhaling?
It is normal if the snake does rapidly exhale from time to time to clear mucus, moisture, or unwanted debris from their mouth or sinuses. It is, however, not normal if you see or hear them doing this constantly or a lot during the day. This could mean that it has a respiratory infection.
A respiratory infection can be lethal to snakes, so if your pet snake is constantly rapidly exhaling then you should take him to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Only the veterinarian can tell you what exactly is wrong with the snake and the snake will then receive the appropriate treatment to get it healed fast. Also, you should keep in mind that the sooner you’ll take your pet snake to the veterinarian, the more chance it will have to survive if it happens to have a respiratory infection.
Can ball pythons cough?
Just like any other snake species on this earth can the ball python not cough either. It can, however, be that the snake is showing signs of a respiratory infection which may look like coughing to you.
If the behavior of the snake stays unusual then I’d recommend you contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Other signs that could lead to a respiratory infection are if the snake is drooling out of its mouth (unintentional saliva flowing out of its mouth), if there is extra mucus around its mouth, or if the snake is making any popping sounds.
If you can’t get enough of learning about snakes then I encourage you to check out the “Snakes Category Page” which consists of various articles that give answers to snake-related questions.
What common diseases can be linked to cough and sneeze sounds in snakes?
The most common disease that can be linked to a snake making coughing and sneezing sounds is a respiratory infection. Examples of other diseases that can be linked to these symptoms are mouth rot, internal parasites, or external parasites.
Now you know that there are a bunch of different diseases that snakes can have that could be linked to the snake making coughing or sneezing sounds. Now let’s take a look at the symptoms for each disease so that you’ll know what to look out for if your snake is making coughing or sneezing sounds.
What are the signs in snakes of a respiratory infection?
Signs of respiratory infection in snakes are making gurgling sounds, breathing with their mouths open, losing their appetite, having excess mucus in their mouths, having a lack of energy, making a high-pitched whistling sound while breathing, or even having mucus coming out of their noses.
A respiratory infection can be lethal to snakes and has to be taken care of quickly so don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian when you’re seeing these kinds of signs in your pet snake.
Check out the video below which explains the signs very well as well.
What are the signs in snakes of mouth rot?
There are a bunch of signs that you’ll be able to see in your pet snake like a lack of interest in food, thickening of its saliva, a decreased water intake, yellow pus around its mouth, swelling of its gums and oral tissue, swelling of its face and head, or yellow plaques in its soft oral tissue.
The signs of its face and head being swollen are the ones you want to see the least as these can mean that the mouth rot disease is already in a late stage.
What are the signs in snakes of internal parasites?
Common signs of a snake having internal parasites are a loss of appetite, diarrhea, abnormal appearing stools, if it is vomiting occasionally, or if the snake has lost a lot of weight. Make sure you see a veterinarian as soon as possible if you see these signs in your pet snake.
Internal parasites are a rough disease for your pet snake to have and most of the time this disease will be lethal for your snake. But never give up hope because your veterinarian might be able to cure your snake.
What are the signs in snakes of external parasites?
The following signs are common to see when snakes have external parasites: They can have difficulties with breathing normally, swollen internal organs, irritated skin, a mouth infection, have lost a lot of weight, have diarrhea, have anemia, or they might vomit a lot.
If you see one or more of these signs in your pet snake and you don’t trust it then make sure you see a veterinarian as soon as possible as external parasites can also be lethal to snakes.
Related questions
How do you treat a respiratory infection in snakes?
Your veterinarian is the person that can give you the best advice as every snake’s situation will be different. A few things you can do are making sure that the temperature and humidity levels of its enclosure are on point and feeding the snake with products that contain ginseng or echinacea.
How do you treat mouth rot in snakes?
Once your veterinarian has confirmed that your snake indeed has mouth rot then he/she will advise you to give your snake a certain treatment of antibiotics and an appointment will likely have to be made for thoroughly cleaning the mouth of your pet snake.
Is my pet snake sick if it breathes with its mouth slightly open?
It’s never a good sign when a snake is breathing with its mouth open because they naturally breathe through their nostrils and pretty much never through their mouths. Many illnesses can be linked to open mouth breathing. Common ones are a respiratory infection or a gastrointestinal disease.
Conclusion
Now you know that snakes cannot cough or sneeze as we humans do. It can, however, be the case that the snake in question is making cough-like or sneeze-like sounds that can be linked to potential diseases in snakes like, for example, a respiratory infection. So, if you don’t trust it and if the coughing and sneezing sounds don’t seem to be stopping then make sure you see a veterinarian.