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Zoological medicine > Reptile conditions > Flashcards

Reptile conditions Flashcards

1
Q

metabolic bone disease (MBD)

A

can take months to treat, damage is irreversible

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2
Q

what should the Ca+:Phosphorus ratio be like in a healthy reptile?

A

calcium should be a higher content in their diet than phosphorus

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3
Q

cause of MBD

A

Ca+:Phos ratio imbalance - too low calcium to too high phosphorus
calcium deficiency is worsened by vitamin D3 deficiency (make sure you are supplementing the correct type of vitamin D)

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4
Q

MBD treatment

A

increased UVB exposure and calcium supplementation

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5
Q

MBD CS

A

symmetrical bilateral swelling of mandible, spondylosis (degenerative condition of vertebrae)

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6
Q

what can cause regurgitation?

A

stress, handling after eating, too large a prey, cold snake

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7
Q

are abscesses common in reptiles?

A

yes
increased incidence can occur in juveniles due to: growth demands requiring better husbandry, developing immune system, pair/group housing resulting in cagemate aggression/stress

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8
Q

which types of abscesses are common in males?

A

hemipane or copulatory organ abscesses

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9
Q

what conditions can predispose reptiles to developing abscesses?

A

active or highly stressed reptiles that don’t acclimate to captive life

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10
Q

risk factors leading to development of abscesses

A

poor husbandry/stress and trauma

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11
Q

stomatitis

A

“mouth rot”

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12
Q

stomatitis causes

A

stress and poor husbandry

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13
Q

stomatitis CS

A

petechia, swelling, exudate

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14
Q

paraphimosis

A

prolapse
variety: cloacal, hemipenile, phallus

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15
Q

causes of paraphimosis

A

dystocia, trauma, parasitic infection, probing, MBD

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16
Q

what can we do for dystocia in a gravid female?

A

try to change the temperature or housing/birthing nest
can also use manual manipulation to help remove eggs

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17
Q

how is dystocia diagnosed?

A

radiographs
all female chelonians not doing well should get radiographs

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18
Q

treatment for dystocia

A

oxytocin injections or surgery

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19
Q

dystocia CS

A

anorexia, excessive digging, wear to hindlegs and plastron, straining, weakness

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20
Q

gout

A

accumulation of excess urates in joints and causes them to become swollen
associated with poor nutrition and dehydration

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21
Q

what are factors of a reptile’s ability to excrete excess uric acid?

A

it depends on the amount of protein they are fed, frequency of the protein being fed, and hydration status
if uric acid is not excreted properly, it accumulates in the joints, kidneys, or around organs (liver, spleen, heart, lungs)
it can also accumulate in the mucus membranes in the mouth

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22
Q

how is gout classified?

A

articular gout: accumulation in the joints
visceral gout: accumulation in/around the organs
gout trophi: accumulation in the gingiva

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23
Q

what factors can predispose a reptile to gout?

A

diets too high in protein or diets containing inappropriate proteins, dehydration, altered kidney function

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24
Q

articular gout CS

A

raised cream-colored masses on joints of toes, ankles, or wrists; trouble moving due to joint pain and edema

25
Q

sign of gout trophi

A

mucous membranes in oral cavity have raised whitish spherical swellings

26
Q

gout treatment

A

fluids, supportive care, surgery is an option to improve pain and mobility (uric acid crystal buildup is scraped out of joints)

27
Q

pyramiding

A

shell condition
caused by husbandry, can be a form of MBD, increased protein in diet, increased fat in diet, low humidity

28
Q

shell rot

A

shell condition
soft or deformed shell, abnormal scute growth

29
Q

SCUD

A

septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease
can become a generalized illness

30
Q

SCUD treatment

A

wound debridement, systemic antibiotics
prevent through good sanitation

31
Q

what are the methods of shell repair for trauma?

A

superficial cracks can be repaired with fiberglass cloth impregnated with resin or dental acrylic
extensive fractures need to be wire closed first, aid with supportive care while shell slowly heals

32
Q

vitamin A deficiency CS

A

conjunctivitis, blepharitis (swollen eyelids), nasal d/c, dyspnea, ear abscesses

33
Q

vitamin A deficiency treatment

A

correct the deficiency and supplement
beware of over-supplementation which can cause dry flaky skin and skin sloughing which can lead to secondary infection

34
Q

respiratory infections

A

common in turtles since they can’t clear discharge easily by coughing since they don’t have a diaphragm

35
Q

respiratory infections CS

A

ocular and nasal d/c, dyspnea, sunken eyes, generalized dull coloration, aquatic turtles may lose buoyancy

36
Q

which type of reptile is more prone to developing pneumonia?

A

snakes with mouth, sinus, or eye infections because of their glottis location (on floor of the mouth)

37
Q

pneumonia pathology

A

gram-negative pathology

38
Q

pneumonia CS

A

cyanosis, bubbles from nares/glottis, wheezing, crackling on auscultation, petechia of oral cavity

39
Q

what factors predispose a reptile to contracting pneumonia?

A

poor husbandry conditions: low cage temperature, inadequate nutrition

40
Q

beak deformities

A

occur with nutritional osteodystrophy
can overgrow and need to be trimmed
trauma can cause deformities

41
Q

pinworm parasites

A

don’t usually cause disease in low numbers
may support gut health in herbivorous lizards
no CS or change in feces seen

42
Q

what can be used as a treatment for a high number of pinworms that is causing infection?

A

Fenbendazole and clean environment
Fenbendazole can cause toxicity so we only use if necessary

43
Q

mite check

A

mites appear as black/gray/red tiny spots
may look like scales but are a different color

44
Q

vesicular dermatitis

A

snake condition
“blister disease”

45
Q

what does a white substance around the nares indicate?

A

normal excretion of sodium electrolytes

46
Q

vesicular dermatitis causes

A

poor hygiene: dirty/humid

47
Q

vesicular dermatitis CS

A

blisters filled with bacteria that cause septicemia and death

48
Q

paramyxovirus

A

snake respiratory disease
mostly seen in vipers
no treatment, just supportive care

49
Q

inclusion body disease (IBD)

A

snake condition
viral infection in boids
unknown route of transmission but probably arthropods
slow progression to neurologic signs: head tremors, disorientation, loss of righting reflex
no treatment, all animals eventually die

50
Q

cryptosporidia

A

snake condition
protozoan
no safe/effective treatment

51
Q

cryptosporidia infection CS

A

midbody swelling (prevents proper absorption of food because parasite can live in small intestine), weight loss, regurgitation

52
Q

which type of stain is used to diagnose a cryptosporidia infection?

A

acid fast stain because the oocytes are very small (< 4 microns)

53
Q

brumation

A

hibernation

54
Q

what functions does brumation affect?

A

affects life expectancy (allows them to reach full life expectancy), maintains normal hormonal activity, affects reproductive hormone stimulation/synchronization

55
Q

signs of imminent hibernation

A

declining appetite, declining activity, burrowing, hiding

56
Q

what is the single most important factor in most reptiles for stimulating ovulation/spermatogenesis?

A

temperature drop

57
Q

should reptiles be allowed to hibernate?

A

yes, healthy adults should be allowed to if they have the urge to hibernate
semi-hibernation is damaging though

58
Q

what care should be provided during hibernation?

A

proper humidity with ventilation, dark cool environment, feed balanced diet with vitamin supplement, pull food 10 days prior, soak 2-3x a week, remove heat source for a week, temperature should be 50-55 F for 3-4 months, monitor, weigh every 3 weeks

Zoological medicine (13 decks)

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