As a pet snake owner, you want to provide the best possible care for your scaly friend. So when you hear odd noises coming from their enclosure, it’s natural to be concerned One of the most puzzling sounds is a hacking or coughing noise. But can snakes even cough?
The short answer is no. Unlike humans, snakes do not have a diaphragm, which is the muscle that contracts to force air out of our lungs when we cough. Without this anatomical ability, snakes cannot cough in the way we understand coughing.
However snakes can make sounds that may sound similar to coughing. Let’s explore the possible causes behind these odd noises and what you can do if your snake is making them.
What Causes Snake Coughing Noises?
There are two main reasons a pet snake may make sounds resembling coughs
1. Throat Irritation
Snakes don’t actually have vocal cords. But they can forcefully blow air out through their glottis, the opening between their mouth and trachea.
This allows them to make various hisses, but they may also quickly blow air out if something is irritating their throat. It can sound similar to a cough or sneeze.
Small particles of dust or substrate can get kicked up into the air in a snake enclosure. If inhaled, these may tickle or irritate the lining of a snake’s trachea. The snake may then forcefully blow out the irritant.
Dry conditions may also cause a scratchy throat. Just like our mouth and nasal passages get dry and irritated in arid climates or heated rooms, a snake’s throat can also get dried out. Forcing air out harshly can provide momentary relief.
2. Respiratory Infection
The most concerning reason for coughing noises in pet snakes is a respiratory infection. Snakes commonly develop these infections for a few reasons:
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Bacterial growth: Respiratory infections are usually caused by bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The warm, humid environment of a snake enclosure allows these bacteria to thrive if conditions aren’t properly sanitized.
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Stress: Stress can weaken a snake’s immune system and make it harder for their body to fight off pathogens. Common stressors include overcrowding, improper temperatures, and excessive handling.
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Poor husbandry: Issues like low temperatures, high humidity, and dirty enclosures tax a snake’s health and allow bacterial growth.
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Pre-existing conditions: Snakes with health conditions like parasites, mites, or a compromised immune system are at higher risk for respiratory infections.
The symptoms of a respiratory infection include:
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Noisy breathing, gurgling, or coughing sounds
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Bubbles or discharge from the mouth or nose
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Lethargy, loss of appetite
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Wheezing
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Keeping the mouth open to aid breathing
As the infection worsens, the lungs become filled with mucus and bacteria. The snake struggles to clear out this fluid because they can’t cough it up. This leads to severe breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and even death if not treated.
How to Treat a Snake Cough
If your snake is making coughing noises, gurgling, wheezing, or showing any other signs of a respiratory infection, it’s crucial to get veterinary care immediately. Snakes can deteriorate rapidly once a respiratory infection sets in.
Your vet will likely prescribe antibiotic injections or oral medication to fight the infection. Supportive care like hydration therapy may also be used.
Closely follow any at-home care instructions from your vet, like giving medications, adjusting temperatures, and assisting with hydration. Get follow-up vet appointments until your snake fully recovers.
With aggressive treatment at the first signs of illness, most snakes will make a full recovery from a respiratory infection. But delaying treatment can have fatal consequences.
How to Prevent Snake Coughing
While occasional throat irritation can’t always be avoided, there are steps you can take to minimize respiratory infections in your snake:
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Keep the enclosure clean: Spot clean messes daily and do a full substrate change at least once a month to control bacteria. Disinfect decor when needed.
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Choose substrate wisely: Avoid super dusty substrates, and don’t let cypress, aspen, or coconut fiber get too dry. These can kick up irritants. Opt for paper towels or reptile carpets to reduce this risk.
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Check humidity and temps: Use hygrometers and thermometers to ensure your snake’s enclosure meets the ideal temperature and humidity range. This prevents respiratory infections from environmental causes.
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Limit stress: Give your snake plenty of hides, limit handling to 30 minutes max per session, and house them separately if you have multiple snakes. Reduce environmental stress as much as possible.
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Quarantine new snakes: Check any new snake for signs of illness and keep them isolated for at least 30-45 days before introducing them to other snakes. This prevents spreading infections.
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See a vet annually: Wellness exams help catch potential issues early. Ask your vet to listen to your snake’s lungs for any abnormal sounds.
By taking preventative measures, you can help your snake live a long and healthy life without respiratory issues.
When to See the Vet
Schedule a veterinary visit right away if your snake shows any of these symptoms:
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Coughing, gurgling, or wheezing
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Bubbles around the mouth
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Labored breathing with an open mouth
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Lethargy and loss of appetite
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Discharge from the mouth or nose
Snakes hide illness well, so subtle signs of an infection shouldn’t be ignored. It’s always better to have a vet examine your snake if anything seems off. Prompt treatment can make all the difference in recovery.
FAQs About Snake Coughing Noises
Can snakes clear their own lungs?
No. Without a diaphragm, snakes cannot cough up or eliminate mucus from their lungs like humans can. This makes respiratory infections very dangerous since the mucus stays stuck in their lungs.
What if my snake substrate is causing coughing?
Switch to a non-dusty substrate like reptile carpet or paper towels to eliminate excess particles. Also check that cypress mulch or coconut fiber isn’t too dry, as this also creates dust. Spot clean the enclosure to remove any current irritants.
My snake is gaping its mouth, is this coughing?
Gaping or holding the mouth open is a sign of respiratory distress, not coughing. It indicates your snake is having trouble getting enough oxygen and is trying to maximize air intake. This symptom needs immediate vet attention.
Can snakes recover from respiratory infections on their own?
No. Respiratory infections require antibiotic treatment, often combined with other supportive therapies. Left untreated, the infection will continue worsening until it’s eventually fatal. Always seek prompt vet care.
How can I tell the difference between coughing and throat irritation?
Listen closely to the noise. Throat irritation causes a quick, forceful outward breath that may sound similar to a sneeze. Coughing from respiratory disease features deeper, harsher gurgling and wheezing. Usually, other symptoms help confirm the cause. When in doubt, see your vet.
The Takeaway
Coughing noises coming from your snake enclosure are always cause for concern. While snakes can’t cough in the true sense, they can forcefully blow out air if their throat is irritated. More seriously, coughing can stem from a life-threatening respiratory infection. It’s crucial to discern the cause and seek prompt treatment. With attentive care and quick vet visits when needed, you can keep your snake happy and healthy for years to come.
What are some of the common diseases of pet snakes?
The following are common conditions of pet snakes: infectious stomatitis (mouth rot), intestinal and skin parasites, skin infections, respiratory disease, septicemia, and viral diseases such as inclusion body disease.
What are the signs of these diseases?
The signs of these diseases are
Infectious stomatitis (“mouth rot)” is an infection of the mouth that appears as pinpoints to patches of hemorrhage on the gums, or as an excessive amount of thick mucus that often contains blood and/or cheesy accumulations of pus. There will often be a very sour odor noticeable around the snake’s hea
In severe cases, the snake has a severely swollen mouth, is open-mouth breathing, and is not eating. This problem may be secondary to a viral disease, an injury to the mouth, or issues such as poor nutrition, inadequate cage cleaning, overcrowding, or improper environmental temperature or humidity. (Photo at right shows a green anaconda; photo courtesy of Gregory Rich, DVM.)
Many types of internal parasites (various helminths, protozoal parasites, and species of coccidia) and external parasites (ticks and mites) are common in pet snakes.
Intestinal parasites often do not cause obvious signs but are detected in an annual physical examination and microscopic analysis of fresh feces. However, they may cause diarrhea, breathing difficulties, regurgitation, gas distension of the intestines, anemia, and weight loss.
Cryptosporidiosis is a protozoal parasite that can infect snakes. It causes thickening of the stomach muscles, which appears as a round, mid-body swelling, as well as impaired digestion, vomiting, and weight loss. Some snakes are infected but show no signs and shed this contagious parasite in their stool, exposing other susceptible snakes to infection. Helminths (worm-type parasites) and motile protozoa can cause poor digestion and weight loss.
External parasites such as Ophionyssus mites can carry disease-causing bacteria or viruses. Both mites and ticks suck blood from your snake and, if present in high enough numbers, can cause severe anemia.
Skin infection (dermatitis) is often seen in snakes and other reptiles kept in environments that are too moist and/or dirty. Snakes may have red, inflamed skin with numerous small, blister-like lesions on the underside of the snake, making them easy to miss. These fluid-filled blisters may become infected with bacteria and, if not treated promptly, may progress to severe skin damage, septicemia (a bacterial invasion of the bloodstream), and death.
Snakes kept in conditions that are too dry, without adequate humidity, may retain skin when they shed and develop bacterial infections of the skin from debris building up under the retained skin pieces. (Photo at right shows a pet ball phython; photo courtesy of Gregory Rich, DVM.)
Snakes have a unique respiratory tract. Most snakes have only one functional, simple lung. The right lung is the predominant lung. The left lung is generally reduced in size or completely absent. Boas and pythons are the exception, as they have both right and left lungs. Snakes do not have a diaphragm, so there is no muscle separating their chest cavity from their abdominal cavity. They use the muscles associated with their ribs and body wall to pump air in and out of the lungs. The lung can occupy much of the snakes body between the heart and the hind end.
Most respiratory infections in snakes are caused by bacteria and may occur in conjunction with stomatitis. Viruses, fungi, and parasites can also factor into respiratory disease, as these infections can decrease the snake’s immune response to bacterial invasion of the respiratory tract. Snakes with respiratory infections may have excess mucus in their mouths, nasal discharge, lethargy, loss of appetite, wheezing, and may make “gurgling” sounds or breathe with an open mouth.
Septicemia is a condition in which bacteria, and the toxins they produce, proliferate in the blood stream and other body organs. Snakes with septicemia are critically ill and are often near death. They exhibit lethargy, lack of appetite, open-mouth breathing, and often have a red discoloration to the scales of their bellies.
Inclusion body disease (IBD) is a serious viral disease of pythons and boas caused by a reptarenavirus. While pythons commonly show signs of infection, boas may carry this virus for more than a year without showing obvious signs of infection. The signs vary widely. This disease may affect the respiratory or digestive tract, but it is generally associated with the nervous system.
Affected snakes cannot right themselves when placed on their backs, may appear to be “star gazing”, or in severe cases, may be paralyzed. IBD is contagious from snake to snake and is typically fatal. Several other viral diseases such as nidovirus and paramyxovirus have been shown to cause serious disease in constrictor-type snakes. In most cases, these viruses cause damage to the snake’s immune system, making them susceptible to bacterial infections.