For Snake Experts-Young Male Striped er Cornsnake?

This question is for snake experts-I have a young couple months old male striped er cornsnake. He just shed today but I noticed in the skin that he took off it was his lower body and his eyes there was no sign of nose caps. My husband thinks because he took down three pinkies that the nose caps are off but he was making noises. My question is that if a snake has a respiratory problem will they eat. He hasn't been doing any open mouth breathing either.