Stomatitis is a condition that occurs most frequently in snakes, although turtles and lizards can also be affected.
This disease is commonly seen in snakes because stress caused by poor captive husbandry can suppress the immune system, making reptiles more susceptible to infection.
Additional stressors that may increase the likelihood of stomatitis include:
- Partial sheds in snakes
- Feeding extruded pellet diets (such as dog food or other commercial products) to iguanas
- Internal parasites
- External parasites
Proper husbandry plays an important role in preventing this condition.
Clinical Signs
Reptiles affected by stomatitis may show one or more of the following signs:
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Increased mucus within the mouth
- Purulent discharge (pus) from the mouth
- Inability to completely close the mouth (particularly with incomplete sheds)
- Swelling of the mouth
- Redness of the tissues inside the mouth
If any of these signs are observed, prompt veterinary evaluation is recommended.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on observing the clinical signs and performing diagnostic testing.
Recommended diagnostics include:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Culture of the mucus or pus present within the mouth
These tests help determine the severity of infection and guide appropriate treatment.
Treatment
Treatment generally follows the same approach used for respiratory diseases, along with local treatment of the affected tissues.
If abscesses are present, they should be:
- Lanced
- Flushed using a dilute Betadine solution
At the Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic, affected areas are flushed, cleansed, and packed with Silvadene cream twice daily for a minimum of seven days.
Correcting husbandry deficiencies is considered the most important part of successfully treating stomatitis and reducing the likelihood of recurrence.
