Reptile Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 CITES appendices?

A

1: critically endangered
- all commercial trade prohibited
- scientific trade allowed with permits

2: look-alike species
3: under watch by certain countries

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2
Q

PE: What should be observed on the ‘hands off’ exam?

A

General disposition, attitude, behavior
Musculoskeletal problems
Obvious respiratory / GI problems

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3
Q

PE: How is BCS measured?

A

Body weight (gram scale)
-serial weights are good indicators of hydration status
Morphometric measurements
-combined with BW can help in identifying nutritional problems

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4
Q

PE: What should be watched for in regards to abnormal respiration?

A

Limb pumping

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5
Q

PE: Where can temperature be measured?

A
o	Deep cloacal
o	Surface (taken at inguinal space) – digital, distant laser, thermal monitor device
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6
Q

PE: How are HR and rhythm assessed?

A

o Stethoscope
o Pulse oximeter cloacal probe
o Doppler probe placed in the region of the thoracic inlet between the distal cervical region and the proximal front leg (chelonians)

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7
Q

PE: What should be observed at the nares?

A

Look for discharge, symmetry, discoloration, abrasions / trauma

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8
Q

PE: What is unique about reptilian eyes?

A

o Moveable eyelids (most reptiles)
o Brille / ‘spectacle’ (snakes) – opacifies prior to ectdysis
o Iris controlled by skeletal muscle, no consensual PLR

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9
Q

PE: How do the tongues of reptiles differ?

A

♣ Squamates – well-developed, fleshy tongue
♣ Lizards – cranial component prey acquisition, caudal aids in swallowing
♣ Snakes – chemosensory
• Jacobson’s organ opens directly into mouth, tongue inserted into organ when mouth closed
♣ Chelonians – fleshy but tightly attached

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10
Q

PE: How do the teeth of reptiles differ?

A

♣ Lizards and snakes: acrodont and pleurodont
• Venemous snakes have two rows of teeth upper and lower / non-venemous have 4
♣ Crocodilians: thecodont
♣ Chelonians: no sharp teeth, sharp tomia

♣Thecodont: tooth sockets
♣Pleurodont: longer roots with weak attachments to the mandible and no sockets
♣Acrodont: shorter roots, firmer attachments, fused with bone

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11
Q

PE: What is assessed in the integument exam?

A

o Examine skin (scales) for sloughing, abnormal shedding, swellings, edema, abscesses, ulceration, exudate, malodor, epibiota and external parasites

o Examine carapace and plastron for scute quality (hemorrhages), abnormal keratinzation, hardness and pliability, fractures, ulceration, malodor, external parasites or epibionts

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12
Q

PE: What is assessed using digital palpation?

A

o Caudal coelomic cavity – eggs, cystic calculi, organ enlargement, masses, fluid

o Cloaca – aid in assessing gravidity, colonic and cloacal tone, cystic calculi, or space occupying lesions
♣ Coprodeum – fecal materal from colon
♣ Urodeum – ureters from bladder, reproductive system
♣ Proctodeum – urine and feces mix
♣ Vent

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13
Q

PE: describe the female reproductive system

A

Paired ovaries: Oviducts have an albumin-secreting function and shell-secreting function
• Empty directly into cloaca through genital papillae

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14
Q

PE: describe the male reproductive system

A

♣ Paired testicles: Dorsomedially within coelomic cavity; right cranial to left

♣ Copulatory organ
• Chelonians – single median penis originating from CV aspect of cloaca
• Lizards and snakes – pair of hemipenes located laterally in cloaca and inverting into base of tail by retractor muscle

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15
Q

How should snakes be restrained?

A

Index finger and thumb around mandible

Support body – hand every 3 feet

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16
Q

How should small lizards be restrained?

A

Grasp head with index finger and thumb
Hold front and back legs against body and hold body in cup of hand
Do not grab tail

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17
Q

How should crocodilians be restrained?

A

Tape mouth shut

(If small enough) hold neck region and tail at base

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18
Q

How should chelonians be restrained?

A

Juveniles
-Grasp lateral margins of the carapace / just caudal to the head and behind the rear flippers

Adults

  • Numerous personnel needed
  • Watch head and flippers!
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19
Q

What are the husbandry requirements regarding temperature?

A

Temperate: day 80-90F, night 70-75
Desert: day 85-95, night 70-75

20
Q

What are the husbandry requirements regarding lighting?

A

Full spectrum
♣UVA – behavior
♣UVB – necessary for production of vitamin D3 within skin

Position
♣Within 18” of animal
♣Not through glass (deflects UVB)
♣14 hours in summer and 12 in winter

21
Q

What are the two types of ectotherms?

A

Stenothermal – regulation within a small range

Eurythermal – can regulate in a wider range (aquatic animals)

22
Q

What general steps are involved in the initial diagnostic workup?

A
  1. PE
  2. Bloodwork (CBC, Chem)
  3. Rads
  4. Fecal
23
Q

What is uric acid? What does it indicate?

A

Catabolic end product for nitrogen elimination

Indicates dietary intake, dehydration, renal dz

24
Q

What is the normal Ca:P ratio?
What ratio occurs in renal dz?
What might cause physiologic hyperCa?

A

2:1 normal
1:2 renal dz
HyperCa in reproductively active females

25
Q

What do changes in Na+ indicate?

A

Elevated – dehydration, dietary intake

Decrease – malnutrition

26
Q

What do changes in Cl- indicate?

A

Elevated – dehydration, dietary intake

Decrease – malnutrition

27
Q

What do changes in K+ indicate?

A

Elevated – renal disease

Decrease – re-feeding syndrome

28
Q

What do changes in plasma TP indicate?

A

Hypoproteinemia – debilitation, malnutrition

Hyperalbuminemia – dehydration, reproductive

Hyperglobulinemia – infectious disease

29
Q

What do changes in bile acids indicate?

A

Liver disease

Greater than 60 µmol/L

30
Q

What methods of analyzing feces are most helpful?

A

Flotation most common method

Sedimentation useful for trematode eggs

31
Q

What venipuncture sites may be used in turtles, tortoises, and terrapins?

A
o	Jugular
o	Coccygeal
o	Brachial
o	Subcarapacial
o	Interdigital vein – leatherbacks
o	Dorsal cervical sinus
32
Q

What venipuncture sites may be used in snakes?

A
o	Caudal (ventral tail) vein
-Caudal to cloaca, 25-50% down tail, 45-60º angle on ventral midline
o	Heart (with sedation)
-Located 22-33% from snout to vent, advance needle 45º in craniodorsal direction into apex
33
Q

What venipuncture sites may be used in lizards?

A
o	Caudal (tail) vein
-Ventral midline, 20-80% down tail, advance at 45-90º
o	Ventral abdominal vein
o	Jugular vein
34
Q

What venipuncture sites may be used in crocodilians?

A
o	Caudal (ventral tail) for small to medium
o	Suprevertebral in medium to large
35
Q

How much blood can safely be collected from reptilian patients?

A

0.5 mL / 100 g BW

36
Q

What is the anticoagulant of choice for reptiles?

A

Lithium and sodium heparin

-EDTA causes RBC lysis in chelonians

37
Q

What are the three standard radiographic views for chelonians?

A

DV
Lateral
Craniocaudal

38
Q

What fluid types are common in reptiles?

A
  1. Reptile ringer’s (1 part LRS + 2 parts 2.5% dextrose and 0.45% NaCl)
  2. Normasol-R
  3. LRS
39
Q

What routes of fluid administration are available for reptiles and what are the considerations with each?

A
1. Severely compromised chelonians – IV or IO (rapid rehydration)
o Greater than 5% dextrose okay
o Jugular vein
o Cervical sinus (sea turtles)
♣	Used for bolus IV therapy
2. Maintenance therapy – intracoelomic (IC)
o Up to 5% dextrose
o Injected through…
♣	Chelonians – inguinal fossa
♣	Lizards – right side of lower abdomen
♣	Snakes – lower third of body
  1. Subcutaneous at any available skin fold
    o Only 2.5% dextrose or less
  2. Oral
    o For mild/moderate dehydration, maintenance
    o Stomach volume (chelonians) = 2% BW or 20ml/kg
  3. Soaking
    o 24 hours rehydration / reduction of epibiota
  4. Intra-cloacal
40
Q

How much fluid can safely be administered?

What is normal maintenance?

A

No more than 2-3% BW per day

Maintenance = 15 ml/kg/day

41
Q

What anesthetics are used for non-invasive, short procedures?

A
  1. Medetomidine + ketamine (IM or IV)
    o Advantages
    ♣ Medetomidine reversible with atipamazole
    ♣ Low dose ketamine is synergistic with medetomidine
    o Disadvantages
    ♣ Bradycardia, hypotension, hypercapnia, hypoxemia
    ♣ Contraindicated with impaired renal or liver function
  2. Propofol
    o Dilute with 2 parts saline to 1 part propofol, administer IV over 2 minutes
    o Rapid induction
    o Watch for respiratory depression
42
Q

What anesthetic protocol is appropriate for invasive, longer procedures?

A
  1. Inhalants: isoflurane / sevoflurane
  2. Monitoring and support
    o Thermoregulatory support
    o Monitor HR: Doppler, pulse ox, ECG
    o Dry dock 24 hours post-anesthesia
  3. Analgesia
    a. NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, flunixin meglimine)
    ♣ MUST have adequate renal function! Duration of admin should not exceed 3 days
    ♣ Long acting, decreases endotoxin production in septic patients
    b. Opioids (butorphanol, buprenorphine)
    ♣ Short acting
    ♣ Do not use with head trauma
43
Q

What signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment is consistent with secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism?

A

Lizards and aquatic turtles – juveniles / reproductively active females

CS:
o Muscular tremors, fasiculations, tetany
o Skeletal – fibrous osteodystropy (thickening and swelling), pathologic fractures, tooth loss

Dx:
o History – deficiency in Ca (excess phosphorus) or vitamin D (inadequate exposure to UV light)
o Blood work
o Radiographs – loss of cortical density, fractures

Tx:
o	Correct diet and environment
♣	Calcium glubionate / calcinonin (given 50 IU/kg every 7 days x2, monitor blood Ca closely)
♣	Vitamin D therapy
o	Fluid therapy, 10-30 ml/kg/day
44
Q

What signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment is consistent with hypovitaminosis A?

A

Young, fast growing chelonians

CS:
o	Bilateral blepharoedema – squamous metaplasia
o	Nasal and ocular discharge
o	Lethargy
o	Anorexia
o	Weight loss
o	Pneumonia
o	Diarrhea
o	Abscesses 

Dx:
o History – diet lacks adequate vitamin A (green plants)
o Vitamin A assay of liver (normal 500-1000 IU/g) or vitamin A testing of blood
o Culture and sensitivity to r/o infection
o Radiographs to dx pneumonia

Tx:
o	Vitamin A
♣	Oral supplements preferred (vitamin A products, liver)
♣	SQ injection
♣	*Beware overdose – epidermal sloughing
45
Q

What signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment is consistent with gout?

A

Deposition of uric acid and urate salts within visceral tissues and on articular surfaces
o Primary – overproduction
o Secondary – chronic disease or drug

CS:
o Similar to renal disease
o Reduced mobility

Dx:
o History – adult, water deprived, high protein diets
o Hyperuricemia
o Rads – lytic lesions around or near joints, gouti tophi
o Definitive dx – biopsy demonstration of urate crystals within joints of affected patients or within tophi

Tx:
1. Correct husbandry
♣	Low purine diet
♣	High moisture foods
♣	Mist and regular access to water
2. Fluid therapy – prevent secondary renal dz
3. Probenecid – increase secretion
4. Allopurinol – reduce hepatic production
5. Manage inflammation - corticosteroids
46
Q

What signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment is consistent with thiamine deficiency?

A

Adult, piscivorous reptiles on frozen fish diet
CS: Neurological signs
Dx: Response to therapy
Tx: Vitamin B1 (thiamine) 25/mg/kg/day IM