Reptiles Flashcards
Which reptiles are ‘arodonts’?
Arodont = teeth not replaced
Chameleons + agamids
What is the maintenance fluid rate for reptiles?
30ml/kg/day, can only give 1% BW at any one time
What are the routes for giving fluid therapy to reptiles?
Bathing- if mildly debilitated Stomach tubing- more severe, 1% BW 4x/day Parenteral- seriously ill, 1% BW 4x/day: -epicoelomic -intracoelomic -intracystic -intraosseous -intravenous
When should you begin feeding a sick reptile?
Once urination is achieved after 1% BW 4x/day
How can faecal samples be taken from snakes?
Snakes void infrequently- so perform caecal flush using 1% BW warmed saline.
How is coccidiosis treated in bearded dragons and snakes?
Toltrazuril
How are ascarids and oxyurids treated in chelonians and lizards?
Fenbendazole
What are the clinical signs of cryptosporidium in i) lizards and ii) snakes.
Lizards: SI disease - wasting
Snakes: hyperplasia of stomach mucus glands + hypertrophy of stomach = large mid-body swelling, regurgitation, emaciation
Which species should ivermectin not be administered to?
Chelonians- enters CNS + causes flaccid paralysis.
Where can blood samples be taken from chelonians?
Jugular or carotid artery: lymph dilution poss, haematoma risk
Subcarapacial sinus: spinal nerve damage risk, lymph dilution poss
Dorsal coccygeal tail vein: useful for aggressive species
Where can blood samples be taken from squamates?
Ventral tail vein
Jugular vein
Cardiac puncture (in snakes, stabilise heart to stop it moving)
Describe the aetiology of aural abscesses in chelonians.
Ascending infection from pharynx (but hypovitaminosis A causes squamous metaplasia of the ear and prediposes to infection)
At what snout-to-vent length % are the following organs in snakes: heart, lungs, stomach?
Heart: 33%
Lungs: 45%
Stomach: 55-65%
Which lung is functional in snakes?
Right
How many breaths per minute is used to ventilate reptiles?
6 per minute
At what point are haemostats advanced during oesophagostomy tube placement in: i) chelonians, and ii) lizards?
Chelonians: as far as possible
Lizards: behind mandible
Where should endoscopy be placed in i) chelonians, ii) lizards, and iii) snakes?
CHELONIANS: prefemoral fossa
LIZARDS: left sublumbar region just behind ribcage
SNAKES: right side between ribs
List the causes of dysecdysis.
Lack of humidity
Skin infections/trauma
General debility
What are the clinical signs of dysecdysis?
Constricted digits/tail
Obscured vision
Dyspnoea- if obscuring nares
What is the cause of pyramidding in chelonians?
Low humidity and high protein diet
List the 2 common causes of respiratory disease in chelonians.
Mycoplasma agassizzi
Chelonian hepresvirus 1 + 2
Describe the aetiology of nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in reptiles.
Dietary calcium deficiency
Imbalanced calcium : phosphorous ratio
Hypovitaminosis D
Describe the aetiology of reptilian renal disease.
Uric acid actively secreted- blocks tubules causing chronic renal disease with fibrosis and tubulonephrosis.
What is the treatment of renal disease in reptiles?
Allopurinol
How is post-ovulatory egg stasis treated in reptiles?
Supportive care until stable, then induce using oxytocin. If this fails, surgical removal.
What are the clinical signs of septicaemia in snakes?
Anorexia
Flushed reddening on the ventral scales
Spinal osteoarthritis
What is the cause of paramyxovirus?
Ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV)
What are the clinical signs of paramyxovirus?
ACUTE: sudden death
CHRONIC: resp/gastro signs e.g. regurgitation
Which reptiles get inclusion body disease?
Pythons and boas.
What are the clinical signs of inclusion body disease?
Neurological signs
Weight loss
Regurgitation
What is the parasite that causes severe pruritus and anaemia in snakes?
Snake mites- Ophionyssus natricus
How are snake mites treated?
Ivermectin or fiprinol
