Sneezing

[Zombina]

Today I've noticed my corn snake is sneezing. Just tiny little gasps through the mouth and blowing through his nose. He'll do it a few times and not at all for a while before he does it again. I picked him up to do a superficial check up around his mouth and nose, and he looks fine. No discharge or goo of any kind, he's not breathing through his mouth, and he's sniffing around as usual. He's behaving perfectly normal aside from the tiny sneezes. I noticed I had some sinus problems the same day. Could it be that we're being irritated by the same thing, whatever it is? What should I watch out for to know if there's a real problem, and not just a little sneezing from dust? Thanks for your help!

[Minkness]

Did you recently turn the heat or ac on after a while of having it off?

Also, what are the temps and humidity?

It may just be that he was irritated by stuff in the air or needs a change in husbandry due to the change in seasons.

Hopefully nothing serious to worry about =)

[chairman]

Are you using aspen as a substrate? The aspen sawdust can cause respiratory issues.

Otherwise I'd check your humidity. Your home's heating system can really suck the moisture out of the air.

[Zombina]

I'm using cypress mulch, not aspen.

It is getting colder, and while the temperature is ok in his tank, it might be getting drier. I always know it's getting drier when I get static when brushing my hair, so it might be humidity. Just in case there was dust or something coming from the mulch bothering him, I sprayed it down earlier. I haven't heard him sneeze since then. Hopefully he just needs more humidity. c:

Thanks guys!

[Zombina]

Update.

He's still sneezing a bit, even when I spray down his tank. He alarmed me a few minutes ago when he was opening half of his mouth just a little bit, and coughing. I took him out and got a good look at his face again, and tried to open his mouth to check it out, but he was struggling so I've decided to try again later. Now that I've put him back, he seems fine, and he's poking around his tank and waggling his tongue like nothing happened.

[Zombina]

Update.

He's still sneezing periodically.. Now when I look at him, sometimes he'll barely open one side of his mouth while flicking his tongue, and he does this repeatedly. He opens it just enough to where I can barely see the pink in his mouth. Does anybody have any idea what this means? I've read that could be due to a sore jaw from eating, and he did eat yesterday, but does anyone know if it could be related to the sneezing?

[chairman]

What are the temperatures on the cold side, warm side, and basking spot? If you allow night drops, how low does the temperature dip?

It is starting to sound like time for a vet visit. The vet can do a swab for a culture to see if there is an infection. Don't let them give you an antibiotic without doing a culture first.

[Albert Clark]

Sounds like a early uri that can quickly become worse if you don't address it adequately. Definitely bump up the ambient temps a few degrees as well as the hot spot or basking area. Make a vet appointment but be prepared to have the vet treat the reptile symptomatically first bc the results of a culture and sensitivity test results don't come back right away. The vet may then prescribe a antibiotic (if needed) until the results come in.

[Zombina]

Alright, thanks for your help guys.

The temperature ended up getting too low at night, so I moved him to the bathroom where it stays an even, warm temperature 24/7 until I get another heat lamp. Damn Colorado cold.

[chairman]

Assuming a glass enclosure, I'd get an under tank heat mat and a thermostat. Should cost about the same as a fixture+bulb+timer and will be much more efficient.