Exotics Top Topics - Top 10 Reptile Diseases Part 1 Flashcards
bent iguana is another name for what disease of reptiles?
metabolic bone disease
what is the classic case presentation of metabolic bone disease in reptiles?
bent iguana with pathologic fractures
progressive weakness in a young reptile
swollen limbs from fibrous osteodystrophy
history of a deficient diet (unsupplemented lettuce, ground meat, mealworms, crickets)
how is metabolic bone disease diagnosed?
on physical exam - distorted, rubbery mandible
rads - poor mineralization & green stick fractures
low plasma 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol
later, will see hyperphosphatemia & hypocalcemia
how is metabolic bone disease of reptiles treated?
CRITICAL - correct diet & lighting!!!!
dietary Ca:P = 1.5-2.1 & unfiltered sunlight or full spectrum (UVB) needed for vitamin D3
gut load whole prey (prey supplemented with calcium or calcium/vitamin D)
calcitonin only if normocalcemic
what is the prognosis of metabolic bone disease of reptiles?
fair to good if caught early but poor if hypocalcemia & bone loss is present
what can happen secondarily to metabolic bone disease of reptiles in older animals?
renal secondary hyperparathyroidism in older animals with end stage renal disease - animal presents with an inability to move & muscle fasciculations
what is the classic case presentation of salmonellosis in reptiles?
reptiles & amphibians are often carriers shedding bacteria in feces - may see septicemia, osteomyelitis, & abscesses
how is salmonellosis in reptiles diagnosed?
culture (abscess or blood), biopsies
rads - vertebral infection in snakes
what is seen on necropsy of a reptile with salmonellosis?
acute enteritis or necrotizing fibrinous enteritis
how is salmonellosis in reptiles treated?
debridement, systemic antibiotics if septicemic (may increase emergence of resistant strains), supportive care (fluids & NSAIDS)
with salmonellosis of reptiles being zoonotic, what are some requirements put in place to prevent zoonotic risk?
red eared slider turtles are illegal to sell if under 4 inches of shell length because a child could fit it in their mouth
how is the zoonotic risk from salmonellosis from reptiles prevented?
good hygiene after handling reptiles, amphibians, enclosures, & their food
children under 5, the elderly, & immunocompromised people are at high risk of infection
what is the etiology of salmonellosis in reptiles?
s. bongori or s. enterica
what is another name for retained shed in reptiles?
dysecdysis
what is the classic case of retained shed in snakes? lizards?
snakes - retained or partially shed skin
lizards - seen over feet/toes & can constrict distal toes & tail tip
how is retained shed diagnosed?
physical exam & rule out other underlying disease
how is retained shed treated?
soak animal prior to assisting with shed - be careful with retained spectacles because it can damage the cornea
treat underlying disease
T/F: in reptiles with retained shed, sub-spectacular abscesses can occur between the cornea & spectacle
true
what is an exuvium?
shedded whole skin in snakes
T/F: lizards shed their skin in pieces
true
how can the environment result in a retained shed in reptiles? what about nutrition?
can be too dry or the nutrition may be poor
what is the classic case of visceral gout in reptiles? what are the differences between primary & secondary?
obtunded, weak, & dehydrated
primary - caused by excess dietary protein
secondary - due to dehydration or renal disease
what is the classic case presentation of the articular form of gout in reptiles?
swellings, white nodular tophi (urate-centered granulomas) around appendicular joints & painful
T/F: it is rare to have both types of gout in one animal
true
how is gout in reptiles diagnosed?
increased blood uric acid levels
rads - mineralized tophi in organs/joints
FNA of joints - needle-shaped crystals
what treatment is used for primary visceral gout? what about secondary? what supportive care is used for all cases?
primary - decrease dietary protein, try to approximate diet of reptile’s natural habitat
secondary - treat underlying disease
supportive - rehydration/abundant access to water, vitamin supplementation, & analgesics
why is medical treatment of gout in reptiles challenging? what are some drugs that may be used?
poorly understood & takes cues from human protocols
allopurinol - may decrease uric acid production
probenecid - promote urate excretion
colchicine/corticosteroids - manage acute gout arthritis attacks
what type of gout happens in turtles?
pseudogout - mineral deposition (not urate) seen in & around feed
what is the prognosis of gout in reptiles?
poor prognosis
what is the classic case presentation of hemipenal & phallic prolapses in reptiles?
prolapsed structure that the animal is unable to retract - vulnerable to trauma during mating
how is hemipenal/phallic prolapse diagnosed? how is it treated?
physical exam
hypertonic topicals/lubricants, & reduction
surgical amputation - phallus & hemipenes have no urethra
what reptiles have a single phallus?
crocodilians & chelonians
what reptiles have paired hemipenes?
lizards & snakes
what type of prolapse can happen in female reptiles trying to pass eggs?
oviduct prolapse - very serious & bad
why can you surgically amputate hemipenes/phalluses of reptiles as a treatment for prolapse?
they have no urethra
