Intro to Avian and Reptile Repro Issues Flashcards
describe obtaining a repro clinical history for reptiles
- often repro in spring and summer
-presenting with eggs in december is an abnormality - previous copulation- don’t need males to make eggs!
- digging/restless
- eggs in vivarium
- prolapse
- enlarged girth/coelomic distension if large number of eggs
- anorexia and lethargy
describe physical exam for reptiles repro
confirm sex and age first!!! if can’t refer
males:
-prolapse is most common, secondary to tenesmus, often traumatized
–differentiate from cloaca, colon, bladder
-hemipenal enlargement (abscess)
-coelomic enlargement in males is uncommon: if so, testicular mass, abscess, or neoplasm
females:
-coelomic enlargement IS common: enlarged ovaries or retained eggs
-prolapse is also common: secondary to coelomic mass effect (tenesmus), of oviduct, cloaca, colon, bladder
how to begin to determine normal versus abnormal?
if spring-summer and no abnormalities, then husbandry improvements may be sufficient
-provide basking areas, nesting areas, quiet seclusion, and appropriate nutrition first if not doing already!
why does conservative treatment often fail?
- animals presenting late in disease
- large number of infertile eggs
- metabolic derangements
- infection, disease
describe diagnostic eval
- assessment of husbandry and nutrition: corrective measures often too late to be effective tho
- hemotology and biochem: metabolic disturbances in females? infection?
- diagnostic imaging: rads, US
-post-ov egg stasis (dystocia)
-pre-ov follicular stasis
-neoplasia
-hemipenal swelling/mass
describe venipuncture
- jugular, caudal/coccygeal, cardiac
- hematology:
-heparin for chelonians, EDTA for squamates
-leukocytosis, heterophilia, monocytosis (azurophilia) - biochem:
-ionized and total calcium, phosphorous, cholesterol, triglycerides
describe what you can see on rads
lizards:
-post ov egg stasis: eggs within oviducts or shell glands
-pre-ov follicular stasis: unshelled ova, spherical, within large ovaries
snakes:
-post ov egg/fetal stasis: shelled eggs, obvious fetuses within oviducts or shell glands
-pre ov follicular stasis: unshelled ova within enlarged ovaries
chelonians:
post-ov egg stasis: obviously calcified eggs in oviduct (most common), bladder (rare), or free in coelom (rare)
-pre-ov follicular stasis more difficult to determine using plain rads (CT or US requried)
describe use of ultrasonography
- useful to determine between soft tissues
- ID and stage egg/fetal development
-healthy vs degenerating ova
-eggs
-live vs dead fetuses
describe medical therapy
- appropriate environment, nutrition, and fluid support
-temp and nest sites
-check Ca and P; DO NOT GIVE INJECTABLE Ca routinely!!! only if hypocalcemic, tetany, etc. - induction of egg laying:
-contraindicated if obstruction
-ineffective if hypocalcemic or non-receptive (if due to lay eggs in April, will not be receptive to oxytocin in december)
-chelonia: oxytocin, dilute with saline and give SQ for SLOW absorption!
-lizards/snakes:
-oxytocin alone not as effective
-pretreat with prostaglandin E and F2a then give oxytocin slow with saline and SQ
describe prolapse treatment
- cloaca: replace or resect
- phallus: replace or amputate
- hemipenes: replace or amputate
- oviduct: resection + coeliotomy
- bladder: replace or resection + coeliotomy
- colon: replace + coeliotomy
keep moist! antibiotic cream wrapped in clear cling food wrap
reduce swelling: hyperosmotics
describe cloacal prolapse replacement
- do NOT use purse string sutures
- transcutaneous cloacopexy:
-large Qtip insert into cloaca and tented against ventrolateral body wall
-place 2-3 full thickness suture through cotton tip (ensures entered lumen); use PDS to last months and suture through Qtip
-leave long, exteriorize Qtip, free sutures, pull ends to internalize loops, and tie - coeliotomy may also be required
describe egg manipulation in snakes
- general anesthesia
- try to manipulate egg(s) out through cloaca
- may need to collapse/aspirate egg contents through vent
describe percutaneous aspiration in snakes
if egg is further up in cloaca and can’t reach to collapse
- aspiration:
-sterile prep
-isolate against lateral body wall
-18-20G needle between lateral scales - often pass collapsed eggs within 12-24 hrs
- long term retained eggs may not aspirate (inspissated)
- post-op coelomitis is a risk
describe history in birds with repro issues
- chronic egg laying
- often cockatiels
- high caloric diets (seed)
- long photoperiods (esp if live in a house)
- mate interaction:
-male bird
-overly affectionate owner
describe physical exam of birds with repro issues
may see
- poor body condition
- debilitated
- soft doughy feel to caudal coelom, may feel egg
describe diagnostic imaging of birds
radiography:
1. shelled eggs are obvious
- hyperostosis common (increased calcium deposition in bones due to constant repro drive)
- osteoporosis (rare)
- increase in soft tissue present in region of repro tract (caudodorsal coelom)
ultrasound: often limited unless air sacs compressed
-ovary: enlarged, hypertrophied, or cystic tract
describe clinicopathology of birds
- hematology:
-leukocytosis and monocytosis if infected/inflamed
-maybe anemia or chronic disease - biochemistry:
-hyper or hypo calcemia (increased TCa, normal iCa)
-hyperglobulinemia
-hypo or hyperalbuminemia
-increased AST, increased CPK
describe treatment of birds with repro issues
- improvements in husbandry and nutrition
-decrease photoperiod to 8 hours
-convert from seed to formulated diet (foraging)
-remove/decrease mate/owner interactions: NO touching below the neck!
-remove favorite toys, nest sites
-rotate cage furniture and cage location
-do not remove laid eggs (use false egg?) - medical control
-suprelorin (deslorelin) implants: GnRH analogue
-persistently high GnRH leads to receptor down regulation leading to a decrease in FSH/LH and drop in egg production
-inject SQ between shoulder and repeat early every spring - surgery
-permanent; often better to try GnRH first
-oophorectomy: very high hemorrhage risk!! last resort!!
-salpingohysterectomy: prevents egg production but not ovarian activity/ovulation; unlikely to resolve behavioral issues, still need to instigate management changes post-op to reduce repro drive in the future
describe dystocia in birds (history and physical exam)
history:
-difficulty in egg laying: lack of nest site, unsuitable environment, malnutrition, metabolic derangement, repro disease
-may have a history of repeated egg laying
-many have no repro history (owners thought was a boy)
physical exam:
-most present as emergencies!
-dyspnea, tachypnea
-fluffed appearance, depressed
-unable to perch, lameness (neuropraxis)
-preoxygenate first if visibly unwell!
-will see normal to poor BCS, coelomic distension, egg may be palpable, dehydrated and depressed
describe imaging for dystocia in birds
- radiography:
-single or multiple shelled eggs: may appear normal, grossly abnormal, or broken!
-osteoporosis or hyperostosis - ultrasound:
-generally possible due to severe compression of airsacs
-enlargement of soft tissues
-free abdominal fluid
-useful to detect non-calcified eggs
-eval ovarian activity
describe clinicopathology of bird dystocia
1, blood collection from jugular: beware of volume
- hematology: leukocytosis and heterophilia +/- monocytosis
- biochem:
-hypercolesteremia, lipemia, hyperglobuinemia
-increased AST and CPK
-increased TCa, normal iCa
describe treatment of bird dystocia
- initial stabilization prior to diagnostics
- incubator:
-oxygen support if dyspneic
-temp 85-88 to reduce caloric demands
-humidity 80-100%
-quiet with low perches, or soft towel nest site - therapy:
-analgesics: meloxicam, butorphenol - medical: assist egg laying assuming no obstruction
-cloacal lubrication
-injectable calcium rarely indicated!
-prostaglandins
-PGE2 gel topically into cloaca, PGF2a by injection, oxytocin slow diluted IV or SQ - surgical:
-episotomy: to assist deliver or large egg at vagina-vent border
-puncture egg with large needle, aspirate and then collapse
-exploratory coeliotomy: salpingotomy, salpingohysterectomy, oophrectomy (RARELY)
