Exotics Top Topics - Top 10 Reptile Diseases Part 1

Question 1

bent iguana is another name for what disease of reptiles?

Answer 1

metabolic bone disease

Question 2

what is the classic case presentation of metabolic bone disease in reptiles?

Answer 2

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)

Question 3

how is metabolic bone disease diagnosed?

Answer 3

on physical exam - distorted, rubbery mandible

rads - poor mineralization & green stick fractures

low plasma 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol

later, will see hyperphosphatemia & hypocalcemia

Question 4

how is metabolic bone disease of reptiles treated?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

what is the prognosis of metabolic bone disease of reptiles?

Answer 5

fair to good if caught early but poor if hypocalcemia & bone loss is present

Question 6

what can happen secondarily to metabolic bone disease of reptiles in older animals?

Answer 6

renal secondary hyperparathyroidism in older animals with end stage renal disease - animal presents with an inability to move & muscle fasciculations

Question 7

what is the classic case presentation of salmonellosis in reptiles?

Answer 7

reptiles & amphibians are often carriers shedding bacteria in feces - may see septicemia, osteomyelitis, & abscesses

Question 8

how is salmonellosis in reptiles diagnosed?

Answer 8

culture (abscess or blood), biopsies

rads - vertebral infection in snakes

Question 9

what is seen on necropsy of a reptile with salmonellosis?

Answer 9

acute enteritis or necrotizing fibrinous enteritis

Question 10

how is salmonellosis in reptiles treated?

Answer 10

debridement, systemic antibiotics if septicemic (may increase emergence of resistant strains), supportive care (fluids & NSAIDS)

Question 11

with salmonellosis of reptiles being zoonotic, what are some requirements put in place to prevent zoonotic risk?

Answer 11

red eared slider turtles are illegal to sell if under 4 inches of shell length because a child could fit it in their mouth

Question 12

how is the zoonotic risk from salmonellosis from reptiles prevented?

Answer 12

good hygiene after handling reptiles, amphibians, enclosures, & their food

children under 5, the elderly, & immunocompromised people are at high risk of infection

Question 13

what is the etiology of salmonellosis in reptiles?

Answer 13

s. bongori or s. enterica

Question 14

what is another name for retained shed in reptiles?

Answer 14

dysecdysis

Question 15

what is the classic case of retained shed in snakes? lizards?

Answer 15

snakes - retained or partially shed skin

lizards - seen over feet/toes & can constrict distal toes & tail tip

Question 16

how is retained shed diagnosed?

Answer 16

physical exam & rule out other underlying disease

Question 17

how is retained shed treated?

Answer 17

soak animal prior to assisting with shed - be careful with retained spectacles because it can damage the cornea

treat underlying disease

Question 18

T/F: in reptiles with retained shed, sub-spectacular abscesses can occur between the cornea & spectacle

Answer 18

true

Question 19

what is an exuvium?

Answer 19

shedded whole skin in snakes

Question 20

T/F: lizards shed their skin in pieces

Answer 20

true

Question 21

how can the environment result in a retained shed in reptiles? what about nutrition?

Answer 21

can be too dry or the nutrition may be poor

Question 22

what is the classic case of visceral gout in reptiles? what are the differences between primary & secondary?

Answer 22

obtunded, weak, & dehydrated

primary - caused by excess dietary protein

secondary - due to dehydration or renal disease

Question 23

what is the classic case presentation of the articular form of gout in reptiles?

Answer 23

swellings, white nodular tophi (urate-centered granulomas) around appendicular joints & painful

Question 24

T/F: it is rare to have both types of gout in one animal

Answer 24

true

Question 25

how is gout in reptiles diagnosed?

Answer 25

increased blood uric acid levels

rads - mineralized tophi in organs/joints

FNA of joints - needle-shaped crystals

Question 26

what treatment is used for primary visceral gout? what about secondary? what supportive care is used for all cases?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

why is medical treatment of gout in reptiles challenging? what are some drugs that may be used?

Answer 27

poorly understood & takes cues from human protocols

allopurinol - may decrease uric acid production

probenecid - promote urate excretion

colchicine/corticosteroids - manage acute gout arthritis attacks

Question 28

what type of gout happens in turtles?

Answer 28

pseudogout - mineral deposition (not urate) seen in & around feed

Question 29

what is the prognosis of gout in reptiles?

Answer 29

poor prognosis

Question 30

what is the classic case presentation of hemipenal & phallic prolapses in reptiles?

Answer 30

prolapsed structure that the animal is unable to retract - vulnerable to trauma during mating

Question 31

how is hemipenal/phallic prolapse diagnosed? how is it treated?

Answer 31

physical exam

hypertonic topicals/lubricants, & reduction

surgical amputation - phallus & hemipenes have no urethra

Question 32

what reptiles have a single phallus?

Answer 32

crocodilians & chelonians

Question 33

what reptiles have paired hemipenes?

Answer 33

lizards & snakes

Question 34

what type of prolapse can happen in female reptiles trying to pass eggs?

Answer 34

oviduct prolapse - very serious & bad

Question 35

why can you surgically amputate hemipenes/phalluses of reptiles as a treatment for prolapse?

Answer 35

they have no urethra