Avian/Reptile Med Flashcards
What percentage of reptilian medical cases are due to improper husbandry?
90%
Major habitat vs. microhabitat
Major: desert vs. tropical
Micro: optimal temp., circadian activity, terrain use, water use, diet
Arboreal species require __?__ cages while snakes require cages __?__ times their length.
taller cages; 1.5x length
What is proper substrate imperative for the health of the animal?
Improper substrate (i.e., particle substrate like corncob, wood shavings/chips, sand) can get stuck in mouth and lead to stomatitis or mouth rot. They can also cause skin irritation or intestinal obstructions.
What is the “P.O.T.Z.”?
A reptile’s Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone, where their metabolism runs most efficiently. The POTZ is a RANGE, not one singular temperature!
For every 5 degrees outside the P.O.T.Z., a reptile’s immune function decreases by __?__%?
50%
How should heat be provided for basking animals (most reptiles)?
Focal, radiant heat from above
Why should all reptile cages have a thermal gradient?
It is imperative that the cage is NOT uniformly the same temperature, but is different temps in different areas (so that the reptile can choose its own temp suited to its needs at a given moment).
What part of a reptile’s body is most temperature-sensitive?
Head (greater surface-to-volume ratio, so it cools faster)
What species is providing UV/full-spectrum light most necessary?
Basking lizards and turtles
True of false: sunlight and artificial light through glass or plexiglass will provide adequate UV light for light, warmth, and vitamin D3/calcium metabolism.
FALSE - sunlight through glass/plexiglass will only provide light and warmth. Artificial lights cannot be obstructed, making screen lids the norm.
What are the 3 categories of artificial light bulbs? What are the replacement time frames of each?
1. Mercury Vapor: provides all 3 elements, daylight/heat/UV-full spectrum light; replace q12-24 months.
2. Metal Halide: provides UV-B and bright light; replace once burned out.
3. Fluorescent: UV-B and white light; replace q6months.
How can captive reptiles get sunburns?
From heat produced by UV-B radiation exposure + excess UV-B exposure
Normal environmental UV-B radiation
exposure causes neither sunburn nor immune-suppression in reptiles. However, the heat produced can still burn the reptile, & excess UV-B can sunburn the animal!!
What is the overall cage humidity for…
1. Desert habitat
2. Temperate habitat
3. Tropical habitat
- Desert = 40-60%
- Temperate = 60-70%
- Tropical = 70-80%
How can owners help reptiles stay hydrated during periods of disease or ecdysis (shedding)?
Weekly or daily lukewarm water soaks of 10-15min duration
No matter what, all habitats must be __?__. Why?
Ventilated. Humidity w/out ventilation = diseased animals.
What are the 5 basic requirements for successful captive reptile care?
- Housing (including substrate)
- Temperature
- Lighting
- Humidity
- Water
What is the spectacle (brille) that is present in all snakes and some lizards?
Layer of transparent scale that serves to protect the underlying cornea. Vasculature typically only visible when inflamed.
True or false: open-mouthed breathing can be normal in a reptile.
False - it is NEVER normal
A decreased or absent tongue flick rate is indicative of what in reptiles?
Oral cavity lesions, generalized weakness, or neuro disease
Where do snake mites like to hide?
heat pits (boas, pythons, pit vipers), around eyes/spectacles, in groove of chin, underneath scales
Snake mites require pressure on their backs to feed
How many chambers does the heart of turtles/snakes/lizards/tuataras have?
3 chambers
Normal HR for adult reptiles and how is it obtained
40-80 bpm; obtained via doppler
juvenile: 120-130bpm
Turtles and crocodilians have __?__ tracheal rings. Snakes and lizards have __?__ tracheal rings.
turtles/crocodilians: complete
snakes/lizards: C-shaped w/ connecting lig. at dorsal aspect
Unicameral lungs
one main chamber (tuatars; most snakes and lizards)
Paucicameral (transitional) lungs
few simple divisions/lung chambers (iguanas, agamid lizards, chameleons)
Multicameral lungs
extensively chambered (crocodilians, turtles, monitor lizards, Gila monsters, beaded lizards, blind snakes, file snakes)
What is unique about all reptile lungs?
They have faveoli rather than alveoli. Falveoli = membranous compartments that open off a central lumen (rather than a highly branched tracheal system).
What is unique about turtle ventilation?
Ribs are immobile (b/c fused to the shell scutes), hampering ventilation. They use mvmt. of their limbs to to contract and expand their lungs.
True or false: respiration can continue normally even if the coelom is punctured in turtles.
True
The coelom is the very thin tissue that houses the organs and coelomic fluid within the shell.
What is the righting reflex? What reptilian species should always have it?
Ability to right themselves up when placed upside down. All lizards, snakes, and crocodilians should have it.
Temperature-seeking behavior
Sick reptiles will seek out and stay in specific areas of their cages, going to the hottest or coolest parts.
How to sex snakes
Probing (enter thru lateral aspect of cloaca and direct it caudally)
- Females = < 2-3 ventral scales
- Males = > 5 ventral scales
How to sex lizards
Femoral pores - larger in males
How to sex turtles
Males have larger & longer tails w/ cloacal opening past the edge of the carapace
Blood sample volumes should be no more than __?__ % of BW
0.5-1%
How to obtain blood sample in snakes
- Caudal ventral tail vein (small volumes; safest)
- Cardiocentesis (best collection site but risks)
How to obtain blood sample lizards
Caudal ventral tail vein
can be approached from the ventral midline, or the lateral midline (better in
chameleons or large animals) ~ 25-50% of the distance from the cloaca to the tail tip; insert the needle under a scale an ~ 45-60 degree angle in a cranio-dorsal direction if from the ventral midline, or a cranio-medial direction if from the lateral midline. Aim for the ventral aspect of the caudal/coccygeal vertebrae, & maintain slight negative pressure
How to obtain blood sample in turtles
- Right jugular vein (minimal lymphatic or cerebrospinal fluid contamination)
- Subcarapacial sinus (often heavily contaminated w/ lymphatic fluid)
- Dorsal coccygeal vein (species w/ large tails like snapping turtles)
Gram-negative bacillus bacteria that is intermittently shed in all reptiles’ feces
Salmonella spp.
Suspect pathogen in chronic, non-healing wounds or granulomatous disease, esp. in aquatic reptiles
Mycobacterium spp.
Can be underlying cause of SCUD if lesions not healing
How can Chlamydia disease present in reptiles?
Granulomatous disease w/ associated respiratory signs, weight loss, regurg, or generalized ADR
How long should the quarantine period be for all reptiles?
90 days for snakes, 30-45 for all others
Dysecdysis- define + most common causes
Abnormal or impaired shedding of the outer layer of the epidermis.
- improper husbandry (humidity)
- illness
- external parasites
- thyroid disease
What is a predilection site for dysecdysis?
Spectacles/the eyes
Dysecdysis refers to an abnormal shedding of the dead outer skin of a reptile, often characterized by retained skin. Snake mites directly damage the skin, cause irritation, etc.
all snakes, all geckos (except eyelid gecko groups), and some lizards
Clinical signs of mite infestation
Erythema, obvious skin lesions, hyperactivity, poor body condition, increased shedding, dyscdysis, spending additional time in water bowl
Treatment of mites and ticks (4)
1. Soak the animal in lukewarm water for 10-15mins
2. Ivermectin until cleared (ivermectin is TOXIC to ALL chelonians, skinks, and indigo snakes!! NEVER use in these spp.)
3. Clean the cage and let completely dry
4. Treat environemnt w/ Provent-a-Mite 0.001% or 0.5%
What is SCUD
Septicemic Cutaneous Ulcerative Disease
- “Shell rot”
- A systemic disease in chelonians that leads to pitting shell lesions
- Can start with externally with shell lesions or internally with pneumonia
Primary fungal pathogens
Orginally coined “Yellow fungus disease”, but lesions can be of any color. Disease causes abnormally colored & proliferative skin lesions -> osteomyelitis & systemic infection
Order Onygenales: Ophidiomyces, Nannizziopsis, Paranannizziopsis, & Emydomyces
How to best dx primary fungal pathogen
- Biopsy (ID fungus but not sp.)
- Culture (not all grow)
- PCR or Nextgen Seq.
Why is it important to always try to open the mouth and examine the oral cavity in reptiles?
To assess for stomatitis (mouth rot). Can spread and cause resp. disease, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, psuedobuphthalmos, sub-spectacular abscesses, and glossitis.
Which teeth are susceptible to periodontal disease in reptiles?
Acrodont teeth (ankylosed directly to jawbone with no PDL)
Agamids (incl. bearded dragons), chameleons, tuataras
Common clinical signs of periodontal disease
hyporexia/anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, jaw swelling, oral bleeding, etc.
What is unique about ranavirus?
Ranavirus is enveloped, but it can still infect a host if the envelope is lost -> VERY PERSISTENT in environment (up to 4 weeks)
Both Herpesvirus and Iridovirus/Ranavirus cause what similar lesions?
Severe necrotic mouth and throat infections, plaques in oral cavity
How frequently do reptilian herbivores/omnivores defecate?
every 1-2days
How frequently do carnivorus reptiles defecate?
every 3-5days after a meal
What are the first diagnostics that should be considered for a constipated reptile?
Imaging and fecal exam for parasites
What are the components of a reptile fecal exam ALWAYS?
- Fecal float
- Direct smear of fresh sample
Entamoeba invadens is what type of GI parasite? What does it cause/where can it spread to?
An amoeba that causes bloody stool and can migrate to the liver and/or CNS
Tortoise Intranuclear Coccidiosis (TINC)
Eimeria-like coccidia that causes rare but severe/fatal disease in tortoises
Cryptosporidium infects what two species of reptiles and what are their predilection sites?
- Snakes- stomachs (C. serpentis)
- Leopard geckos- small intestine (C. varanii)
True or False: Cryptosporidum has no cure
True!
Only ammonia (>5% concentration) or formalin (>10% concentration) can kill cysts in the environment
Fenbendazole is used to treat what GI parasites?
Nematodes
Praziquantel is used to treat what GI parasites?
Tapeworms & flukes
Ponazuril or TMP-S are used to treat what GI parasites?
Coccidia
Metronidazole is used to treat what GI parasites?
Flagellated & ciliated protozoa; Amoebae
