Nutrition and Nutritional Diseases Flashcards
herbivores
tortoise, iguana, shield tailed lizards, chuckwalla, some skinks
carnivores
most snakes, monitors, freshwater turtle
insectivores
gecko, chameleon, juvenile bearded dragon, some snakes
omnivores
box turtle, tegu adult bearded dragon some skinks, red footed tortoise
what should you never leave in a carnivore or insectivores enclosure?
live uneaten prey -> severs bite injuries possible
what should you never feed carnivores?
a diet of only meat, whole prey animals must be given balances and complete rations
T/F: you should feed wild caught insects
F, they may have been exposed to pesticides or parasites, etc.
Nutritional Metabolic Bone Disease/Nutritional Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Causes: low dietary calcium, high dietary phosphorus, Low vitamin D3, Lack of UV-B light, Improper temp, anything that disrupts the intestines
This is most common in ominovores, insectivores and herbivores and is typically diagnosed based on PE, Hx and rads showing skeletal deformities, fx’s and soft flexible long bones
Treat these animals with supportive care and correcting calcium. For prevention correct the causes and outdoor animals just need calcium not vit D3
Hypovitaminosis A
swollen eyelids and nasal discharge
Low levels lead to thickening of epithelial tissues which is common in aquatic turtles, box turtles, and insectivore lizards but not those that eat whole prey. Tx by correcting the low vitamin A levels, diet and underlying disease.
Prevent by supplementing with multivitamin ever 2 weeks and giving whole prey, dark leafy greens, etc.
hypervitaminosis A and D
usually iatrogenic, vitamin D can cause dystrophic calcificiation and A can cause blister, bullae, and epidermal sloughing
Steatitis
fat soponification (hardening) inflammation or necrosis that occurs from diets high in polyunsaturated fats or rancid fats and low in vitamin E and selenium (items in freezer >6 months). There is no treatment to reverse it and its usually a post mortem diagnosis
Hepatic Lipidosis
savannah monitors, leopard geckos and bearded dragons with high fat and carb diets with lack of exercise. Leopard geckos may have pale liver with small dark fall bladder.
Diagnostic signs are anemia hypoalbuminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypocalcemia, elevated liver enzymes.
Treat with long term nutritional support -> lactulose with milk thistle and Vit K supplementation
Obesity
common in monitors, bearded dragons, sliders and snakes
Gout/Pseudogout
Overproduction or under excretion of uric acid that accumulates in or around joints and organs.
Dx by rads and FNA of the joint
Tx by correcting hydration and diet, allopurinol, aluminum hydroxide
what should you make sure an animal is before assisting feeding?
Hydrated! (20ml/kg/day maintenance)
frozen fish and frozen vegetable diets may cause neuro abnormalities because of what?
thiamine deficiency
