Reptiles Flashcards
Lecture Notes
What is the difference in turtles, tortoises and terrapins?
Turtles: water
Tortoises: dry land
Terrapins: brackish areas (marsh)
What is appendix 1?
Animals that are classified in this are only allowed for research/conservation trade import/export permits
T/F: Ectotherms can’t regulate their own body temp
TRUE
What is the anatomical structure that protects the body, aids in locomotion and allows moisture to be retained?
Scales/scutes
What species has scutes?
Crocodiles and chelonians
What is the term for shedding?
Ecdysis
What factors contribute to dysecdysis?
inappropriate closures/humidity, significant scarring, dehydration
What is the difference in UVA and UVB lighting?
UVA- behavior
UVB- necessary for production of Vitamin D3 within skin
What substrates can be used in enclosures?
Newspaper, paper towel, astroturf, gravel, aspen shavings, playsand, recycled paper pellets
How do we know the prey of snakes are okay to feed?
No larger than the girth, pre-killed prey preferred
How do we know if the prey of lizards are okay to feed?
No larger than the width of th ehead
Which insects can cause impacitons in lizards?
Crickets and mealworms
Parsley, spinach and chives are rich in what?
Oxalates (oxalic acid) –> can bind Ca and reduce absorption leading to Goiter
What should be included in a patient diary?
Feeding schedule, weight, stool production, ecdysis
What is the name for the copulatory organs?
Hemipenes
Males-paired
Females- single
How do you tell the difference from a male and female tortoise?
Male: concave plastron and longer tail
What is the difference in male vs. female red eared sliders?
Males have longer tails and claws
What is important to understand when restraining a reptile?
They don’t have diaphragms
How do you hold a snake?
Place index finger and thumb around mandible
What is the handler rule for snakes?
1 handler per every 3 ft. of body length
What predisposes snakes to alantoaxial subluxation?
Single occipital condyle
What happens when a lizard gets stressed?
Tail autotomy- the tail will fall off and will regrow as a cartilaginous structure
How do you hold a medium sized lizard?
Cradle tail base under armpit and put body/head along forearm
Which reptiles have complete tracheal rings and which ones have incomplete tracheal rings?
Complete: crocs and chelonians
Incomplete: snakes and lizards
Which air sac does gas exchange take place in reptiles?
Cranial air sac
What is particular about snake lungs?
They only have one lung (L typically absent)
Males will sometimes have a vestigial L lung lobe
Since a stethoscope cannot be used on chelonians- how can you listen to the HR and rhythm?
Doppler probe at thoracic inlet
How many chambers do reptile hearts have?
3
Crocs have 4
Which species have external ears?
Lizards and crocs
Which species have external tympanum?
Chelonians and lizards
What is commonly seen in turtles in reference to their ears?
Aural abscesses
Which species have inner ears?
Snakes
Which species has eyelids fused over eyes to form a transparent membrane?
SNakes
T/F: Reptiles have NO consensual PLR
TRUE
What color should the mm be?
Pink- can check cloaca if you can’t see in mouth
What is the name of the vomernasal organ that opens directly into the mouth and is innervated by the olfactory nerve?
Jacobson’s Organ
Which species has well developed oral mucous glands?
Snakes
How many rows of teeth do venomous teeth vs. non venomous teeth have?
Venomous- 2 rows
Non-venomous- 4 rows
What kind of beaks do leatherbacks have?
Maxillary cusps (helps grab jellyfish)
What is the keratin structure found in all sea turtles?
Esophageal Papillae
Which species continuously shed vs. periodically shed?
Continuous: crocs and chelonians
Periodic: squamates
What is the name of the top vs. bottom shell on a chelonian?
Top: carapace (thoracic ribs fuse to form this)
Bottom: plastron (abdominal ribs fuse to form this)
What are the three parts that make up the cloaca?
Coprodeum: fecal material comes from colon
Urodeum: ureters from bladder, repro
Proctodeum: urine and feces mix here
What is the name for when reptiles give birth to live young?
Viviparous
What is the term for species producing young by means of eggs that are hatched within the body of the parent
Ovoviviparous
What are the anticoagulants of choice?
Lithium and Sodium Heparin
What causes RBC lysis in chelonians?
EDTA
What are the 6 areas you can take blood from?
Jugular (not good spot for chelonians since they can retract their heads) Coccygeal Brachial Subcarapacial Interdigital vein Dorsal cervical sinus
What is the site of venipuncture that can have lymph contamination?
Subcarapacial
What is the gold standard venipuncture site for chelonians?
Dorsal cervical sinus
What is the gold standard site of venipuncture for lizards and snakes?
Caudal vein
What is the catabolic end product for nitrogen elimination?
Uric acid
What is the normal Ca:P ratio?
2:1
What are causes of hypocalcemia?
Lack of dietary intake and lack of UVB lighting
What biochem values are good to evaluate in a patient with liver disease?
AST
If elevated CK and AST-think muscle
CK normal and AST high-think liver
What is the most common fecal examination method?
Flotation
Use sedimentation for trematode eggs
What are the routine rad views for chelonians?
Dorsoventral
Lateral
Craniocaudal
What is the passage time in chelonians?
24-40 days
How can you initiate the vasovagal response in lizards?
Place cotton balls over the patient’s eyes and wrap with tape- gives you around 30 minutes of a calm lizard
What are the most preferred fluid solutions given to reptiles?
Normosol R and LRS
Moving away from reptile Ringers Solution (one part LRS + 2 parts 2.5% dextrose and .45% NaCl)
What are the routes of fluid administration for chelonians?
IO and IV
Where are intracoelomic fluids administered?
Inguinal fossa- chelonians
Right side of lower abdomen- lizards
Lower 1/3 body- snakes
What is a con of administering intracoelomic fluids?
Large amounts can compromise lungs- missing diaphragm
What percentage of fluids should not be exceeded daily?
Do not exceed 2-3% of body weight per day
What is the maintenance rate of fluids?
15 mL/kg/day
When should a blood transfusion be administered?
When PCV < 5% or acute hemorrhage
Where should injections be administered?
Cranial body-avoid renal portal system
What is an Ab that is HIGHLY NEPHROTOXIC?
Amikacin- aminoglycosides
What is a potential side effect of Baytril?
Tissue necrosis and painful- DILUTE
T/F: you should never use ivermectin in Chelonians?
TRUE- crosses BBB and can KILL
What is the primary holding layer in wound healing?
Skin
What is medetomidine reversed with?
Atipamezole
How long should reptiles be dry docked for post-op?
24 hrs
What local anesthetic is highly toxic in sea turtle babies?
Lidocaine
What are three components of manuka honey?
Hyperosmotic, acidic, hydrogen peroxide production
Secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism is most common in what species?
Lizards and aquatic turtles
What are the physical exam findings of patients with secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism?
Muscle tremors, fasiculations and tetany
Fibrous osteodystrophy (thickening and swelling of long bones and mandibles)
Pathologic fractures
Tooth loss
What are the tx options for secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism?
Calcium Gluconate oral
Vitamin D therapy
Calcitonin
There is a patient presented to you with deposition of uric acid and urate salts in visceral tissues and articular surfaces- what are you suspecting?
Gout
What are common components of the history of a patient with gout?
Water deprived, high protein diets
What is the primary vs. secondary cause of gout?
Primary: overproduction of uric acid
Secondary: chronic disease or drug (Furosemide)
What is a definitive dx of gout?
Monosodium urate crystals within joints of affected patients or within tophi
What are some tx options for gout?
Low protein diet, high moisture foods
Allopurinol-reduce hepatic production
What are you suspecting when you observe bilateral blepharoedema or squamousmetaplasia in chelonians?
Hypovitaminosis A
What are the CS of hypervitaminosis A?
Blisters on skin of neck/legs
Tissue sloughing
Water soluble
What are the common causes of pyramiding of a chelonian carapace?
Lack of humidity and incorrect diet
What is the key component in the history of a patient with thiamine deficiency?
Frozen fish diet
This will increase the thiaminase activity
What parasite causes dehydration, regurgitation and mid-body swelling?
Cryptosporidiosis
How do you dx coccidiosis?
Fecal flotation with modified Sheather’s solution
What is the tx of coccidiosis?
Ponazuril
What is the virus in chelonians and lizards that is similar to herpesvirus and has basophilic inclusion bodies on impression smears?
Iridovirus
Which virus causes rhinitis, conjunctivitis, enteritis, pneumonia, heptaomegaly, neuro dz and has eosinophilic inclusion bodies?
Herpesvirus
What is the tx for herpestvirus?
Acyclovir
What are the CS of mycoplasmosis?
Nasal/ocular discharge, conjunctivitis, palpebral edema, pneumonia
T/F: mycoplasmosis will never completely clear so you should never return patient to wild
TRUE
What is a highly contagious disease in sea turtles?
Fibropapillomatosis (Herpesvirus)
T/F: Majority of reptiles have Salmonellosis?
TRUE- no tx needed unless very bad
