Reptile wound care

Question 1

Common types of wounds for reptile

Answer 1

Eaten by their own meal
Glue traps, sticky stuff
Burns (1st-3rd degree from heat lamps, hot rocks, chemical)
Other reptiles
Tail autonomy

Question 2

Etiologies of wounds

Answer 2

Often due to husbandry - Fill out husbandry sheet !!

Look for heating sources vs where the lesions are (ventral vs dorsal)
Type of prey fed (live vs freshly stunned/killed, frozen/thawed)
Housing with other reptile

Question 3

Pain control in reptile

Answer 3

They can feel pain but they cannot vocalize it
mu opioid receptor agonist is the best pin control

Question 4

Healing principle in reptile

Answer 4

Same process of mammal but longer
Reptile are great healer
Healing occurs during shed cycles minimal healing between sheds in between shed need a proper wound management
surgical wounds may take > 8 weeks to heal

Question 5

How to treat the wound

Answer 5

• flush, debride
• Antibiotic; Not all wound need antibiotic, 3rd generation cephalosporin, topical SSD or mupirocin
  Fluid 20 mL/kg/day
  Heat

Question 6

How to suture a wound in reptile

Answer 6

Focuses on epidermis
suture pattern : Horizontal (everting) mattress (skin like to roll in)
Leave suture at least until next shed up to 6 weeks

Healing will get better with each shed

Question 7

How to choose to close

Answer 7

Primary closure: Not contaminated and less than 12hrs

Delayed closure: > 12 hrs +/- contaminated

Question 8

Tail autonomy treatment

Answer 8

Don’t suture tails on lizards

Question 9

What is the appropriate suture pattern and how long would you leave the suture in

Answer 9

Horizontal mattress
until fall off with shed