A Russell’s viper that was suffering from infectious stomatitis, referred to as mouth rot, was successfully treated at the Forest Veterinary Unit of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) at Karachikorai, near Sathyamangalam, here on Monday.
S. Surendaran of Nethaji Snake Trust in Coimbatore rescued the snake from under the slate in the area and came to the veterinary hospital for its treatment.
K. Ashokan, wildlife veterinarian of STR, found the snake to be weak and was suffering from the disorder. A course of antibiotics, cleaning of the reptile’s mouth with an antiseptic and a surgery to remove the badly damaged oral tissues were done.
Mr. Ashokan told The Hindu that the mouth rot was a very common disorder that could affect lizards, snakes, and turtles. “If left untreated, the infection can spread from the mouth to the rest of the digestive tract or into the lungs, causing pneumonia,” he added.