Reptile Flashcards
What are the 3 CITES appendices?
1: critically endangered
- all commercial trade prohibited
- scientific trade allowed with permits
2: look-alike species
3: under watch by certain countries
PE: What should be observed on the ‘hands off’ exam?
General disposition, attitude, behavior
Musculoskeletal problems
Obvious respiratory / GI problems
PE: How is BCS measured?
Body weight (gram scale)
-serial weights are good indicators of hydration status
Morphometric measurements
-combined with BW can help in identifying nutritional problems
PE: What should be watched for in regards to abnormal respiration?
Limb pumping
PE: Where can temperature be measured?
o Deep cloacal o Surface (taken at inguinal space) – digital, distant laser, thermal monitor device
PE: How are HR and rhythm assessed?
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)
PE: What should be observed at the nares?
Look for discharge, symmetry, discoloration, abrasions / trauma
PE: What is unique about reptilian eyes?
o Moveable eyelids (most reptiles)
o Brille / ‘spectacle’ (snakes) – opacifies prior to ectdysis
o Iris controlled by skeletal muscle, no consensual PLR
PE: How do the tongues of reptiles differ?
♣ 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
PE: How do the teeth of reptiles differ?
♣ 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
PE: What is assessed in the integument exam?
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
PE: What is assessed using digital palpation?
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
PE: describe the female reproductive system
Paired ovaries: Oviducts have an albumin-secreting function and shell-secreting function
• Empty directly into cloaca through genital papillae
PE: describe the male reproductive system
♣ 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
How should snakes be restrained?
Index finger and thumb around mandible
Support body – hand every 3 feet
How should small lizards be restrained?
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
How should crocodilians be restrained?
Tape mouth shut
(If small enough) hold neck region and tail at base
How should chelonians be restrained?
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!