Bacterial Infections in Corn Snakes
Reptile · Pantherophis guttatus · typical adult weight 0.20–0.90 kg
9 cited drugs treat Bacterial Infections in corn snakes: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Cefotaxime, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, Oxytetracycline, Piperacillin, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid).
General coverage of susceptible bacterial pathogens. Drug selection turns on the suspected organism's gram-stain, the patient's species (oral β-lactams unsafe in rabbits/guinea pigs), and the infection site (penetration to bone, CSF, or biliary tree).
The overview above describes Bacterial Infections across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to corn snakes — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Amoxicillin(Amoxi-Tabs, Amoxil)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, IM | 5–10 mg/kg | q12-24h | Susceptible bacterial infection | Weak | Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, UK; 2020. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.212 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Ampicillin(Polyflex)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 10–20 mg/kg | q12h | Susceptible bacterial infection | Weak | Hedley J. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary: Exotic Pets, British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, UK; 2020. (co-cited: Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166.) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.212 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Cefotaxime(Claforan)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 20–40 mg/kg | q24h | Susceptible bacterial infection | Weak | Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.213 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Chloramphenicol
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 50 mg/kg | q12h | Susceptible bacterial infection | Weak | Clark CH, Rogers ED and Milton JL (1985) Plasma concentrations of chloramphenicol in snakes. American Journal of Veterinary Research 46(12), 2654-2657 — Source: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th Ed, Part B: Exotic Pets, p.84 — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712 |
Ciprofloxacin(Cipro, Baytril)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 10 mg/kg | q48h | Susceptible bacterial infection | Weak | Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.215 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Metronidazole(Flagyl)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 20 mg/kg | q48h x >=7 days | Anaerobic bacterial infection | Weak | Funk RS, Diethelm G. Reptile formulary. In: Mader DR, eds. Reptile Medicine and Surgey, 2nd ed., Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2006:1119-1139. — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929; Mader's Reptile and Amphibian Medicine and Surgery (Divers & Stahl) — ISBN 9780323482530, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323482530 |
Oxytetracycline(Terramycin, Liquamycin)
Antibiotic| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO, IM, IV | 6–10 mg/kg | q24h | Susceptible bacterial infection | Weak | Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. (co-cited: Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166.) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Piperacillin
Uncategorized| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 50–100 mg/kg | q24h | Broad-spectrum bacterial infection | Weak | Divers SJ. Empirical doses of antimicrobial drugs commonly used in reptiles. Exot DVM. 1998;1:23. (co-cited: Klaphake E, Gibbons PM, Sladky KK, et al. Reptiles. In: Carpenter JW, eds. Exotic Animal Formulary, 5th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2018:81-166.) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.218 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.1 (Antimicrobial Agents Used in Reptiles.a,b). Located 2026-08-05: the only table covering this species in which the drug's own row prints this dose. The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Supplement| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC, IM | 10–20 mg/kg | q24h | Hypovitaminosis C; stomatitis; skin slough in snakes; supportive therapy for bacterial infections | Weak | Fraser MA, Girling SJ. Dermatology. In: Girling SJ, Raiti P, eds. BSAVA Manual of Reptiles, 2nd ed., British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Quedgeley, UK; 2004:184-198. (co-cited: Mehlhorn H, Schmahl G, Mevissen I. Efficacy of a combination of imidacloprid and moxidectin against parasites of reptiles and rodents: case reports. Parasitol Res. 2005;97(Suppl 1):S97-S101.) — Source: Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.268 — Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 4.9 (Nutritional/Mineral/Fluid Support Used in Reptiles.a). The copy held is an ebook conversion with no printed page numbers, so the table — not the page — is the citable location. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part A — Canine and Feline — ISBN 9781910443705, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443705; Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary — ISBN 9780323833929, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9780323833929 |
Other conditions in Corn Snakes
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.