Reptiles Flashcards
Which bacterial skin disease is common in aquatic turtles
Septicaemic cutaneous ulcerative Disease (SCUD)
What is pyramidal growth syndrome in Chelonia and why does it occur?
Shell scutes grow to be pyramid shaped and raised
Due to low humidity, excess protein and calories
Which toxicity seen in juvenile Chelonia causes shell Abnormalities?
Fluroquinolones
What does a diet low in Vit A for carnivores or B carotene for herbivores cause
Hypovitsminosis A
Which reptile spp is hypovitaminosis A most common in
Aquatic Chelonia, leopard geckos, old world chameleons
How might a chelonia with hypovitaminosis A present
Anorexic
Resp. Sx
Difficulty shedding
Swollen eyelids
Why do chelonia with hypovitaminosis A have trouble shedding?
Pathogenesis of Disease = multifocal squamous metaplasia and hyperkeratosis
Which disease is often associated with hypovitaminosis A in Chelonia
Aural abscesses
How do aural abscesses in Chelonia present
Abscesses under auricular scutes containing thick or solid pus, well encapsulated
How are aural abscesses Tx in chelonia
Lance under GA and remove purulent material, leave wound open and pack with honey
What two types of beak deformities are seen in Chelonia and what can cause them
Prognathism or brachygnathism
Splits or traumatic damage
What causes stomatitis in Chelonia
Chelonian Herpes Virus with secondary bacterial infection
What is stomatitis related to in Chelonia
URT infection and poor husbandry incl. low temp, poor hygiene
Which two spp most commonly cause URT disease in Chelonia
Chelonian Herpes Virus
Mycoplasma agassizzi
What factors is URT disease associated with in Chelonia
Stress High stocking density Poor hygiene Inadequate temp Hypovitaminosis A Stomatitis
Mycoplasma agassizzi causes URT rhinitis in Chelonia. What does it cause in snakes and alligators
Tracheitis in snakes
Polyarthritis in alligators
How is Mycoplasma agassizzi infection Tx in Chelonia
Macrolides or tetracyclines
What type of lesion is Chelonia Herpes Virus associated with
Mucocutaneous lesiosn
How is Chelonian Herpes Virus spread and in which animal is disease seen
Spread by direct contact
Causes disease in stressed or immunocompromised animals
Which spp of tortoise is most susceptible to. Chelonian Herpes Virus
Horsefields
What is pneumonia in Chelonia commonly an extension of
URT disease
Which deficiency may be an underlying factor is pneumonia in Chelonia and why
Hypovitaminosis A
Epithelial lining of the resp system may be compromised
What is the most common reason a chelonia May be presented to the vet
Anorexia
What is of concern in tortoises with anorexia
Refeeding Syndrome e
What is the pathogenesis of hepatic lipidosis in Chelonia
Increase in intra-hepatic fat which adversely affects hepatic function
In which animals is chelonia hepatic lipidosis most common
Obese / those that excessively eat
Females that are cycling but not breeding
How might a chelonia with hepatic lipidosis present
Reduced activity and appetite, cachexia, ascites, D+,
What is seen on Dx with hepatic lipidosis in Chelonia
Hepatomegaly
Heterophilia +/- monocytosis
Increased GGT, AAT and lactate
How is hepatic lipidosis in Chelonia definitively Dx
Liver biopsy
How is hepatic lipidosis in Chelonia Tx
Fluid therapy, nutritional support, nutritional supplements
What are the two main endoparasites spp I chelonia
Oxyurids
Flagellates
Which urolith is most common in Chelonia
Urates
What is urolithiasis most associated with in Chelonia
Periods of dehydration
What is the most common presenting Sx of urolithiasis in Chelonia
Difficulty walking
What is post ovulatory stasis in Chelonia
Follicles ovulated and become eggs in salpinx
Salpinx either not stimulated to lay or is unable to respond to stimulations to lay = become egg bound
How is post ovulatory stasis of Chelonia Tx
Propranolol to prime the salpinx then oxytocin - will result in laying unless obstructive dystocia present
In terms of normal physiological function, reptiles are unable to concentrate urine. Why
They have no loop of henle, only cortical nephrons
How does the Renal portal system work in reptiles and why is it important to appreciate?
Blood from caudal kidneys can be diverted too or from the kidneys - at times the kidneys have both arterial and venous supply
Portal system provides venous blood to the tubule cells to keep them alive in times of water deprivation or alterations in blood flow
Relevance = site of IM drug admin
What conditions are associated with cloacal collapse in all reptiles
HypoCa Poor husbandry or nutrition Egg laying Parasitic Enteritis Bacterial Enteritis
Which tortoise spp hibernate and which don’t
Hibernate = testudo spp and box turtles Don’t = geochelone spp and hinge back turtles
What stimulates hibernation in tortoises
Changes in temp and reducing photoperiod
What advice should be given to tortoise owners for hibernation
When the tortoise starts to slow down... Withdraw food Bathe daily Reduce temp to 5 degree over 2-4wk = gut now empty and well hydrated Place in hibernaculum - ensure temp regulation and air circulation
What should be monitored whilst a tortoise is hibernating and what should these measurements inform
Monitor weight weekly to monthly
> 10% loss or animal urinates = wake up early
How is a tortoise woken up from hibernation
Warm animal up over 24hrs and bathe frequently
How soon after waking up from hibernation should a tortoise eat
Within 24-48hrs
What are the two main injuries a tortoise may get from hibernation
Retinal detachment if hibernated at too low temp
Frostbite of extremities
What is dysecdysis
Retained shed
What might dysecdysis in lizards result in
Spectacle retention
Rings of retained skin may act as tourniquets = digit loss, hemipene prolapse
What is the cause of dysecdysis
Lack of humidity and other environmental factors
How is dysecdysis Tx
Soak squamates to facilitate removal
AntiB for secondary infections
Consider thyroxine supplementation
What are the main mite spp in lizards
Ophinoyssus natricis = snake mite
Hirstiella spp = trombiculid Mites
Which fungus commonly affects bearded dragons
CAN-V = yellow fungus disease
How does CAN-V affect bearded dragons
Skin or systemic infection
Blisters, progressive crusting, Hyperkeratosis, epidermal necrosis
Other than bearded dragons, is CAN-V seen in any other reptile spp
Also reported in snakes
Mostly bearded dragons and chameleons
What are the main risk factors for CAN-V infection and how is it spread
Skin damage
Stress
Poor husbandry
Immunosuppression
Spread via direct contact or airborne
How is CAN-V infection in reptiles Tx
Debridement of skin lesions
Topical and oral Tx = terbinafine, voriconazole, itraconozole
What is the prognosis of CAN-V infection
Guarded - often fatal
What is metabolic bone disease
Cause = nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism - Deficiency Vit D / Ca, incorrect Ca to phos ratio, inadequate UV light provision OR Renal secondary hyperparathyroidism
Persistent hypoCa = increased PTH production = resorption of Ca from bones
Which lizards are most likely to show Sx of metabolic bone disease and what are the main Sx
Juvenile or reproductively active females
Rubber jaw, pathological f#, paralysis, cloacal prolapse, bloating, constipation, osteodystrophy
How does the cause of metabolic bone disease tend to differ between juvenile and adult lizards
Juveniles = nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism
Adults = renal secondary hyperparathyroidism
What deficiency is metabolic bone disease in lizards related to
Hypovitaminosis C
How is metabolic bone disease and hypoCa Tx in lizards
Stabilise patient
Correct husbandry or nutritional issues
Warm to POTZ and provides fluids as required
Ca gluconate IV or SC if muscle fasiculations - monitor for cardiac effects
Oral Ca supplementation
Vit D injections once a week
Calcitonin
What is pre ovulatory follicular stasis in
Lizards
Follicles not stimulated to ovulate = remain in ovary = resorbed OR become necrotic OR ovulate secondary to environmental or medical intervention
What is pre ovulatory follicular stasis in lizards a predisposing factor to
Hepatic lipidosis
How is pre ovulatory follicular stasis in lizards Tx
hCG or access to Male to stimulate ovulation
Ovariosalpingotomy if systemic illness and follicles appear static
What is post ovulatory ovostasis in reptiles
Follicles are ovulated = eggs enter salpinx = unable to lay
How can post ovulatory ovostasis in lizards be Tx
Ca then oxytocin
Ovariosalpingotomy
What is hemipene impaction in Male lizards associated with
Dysecdysis
What is gout in lizards
Over production of or failure to excrete uric acid = hyperuricaemia = systemic and localised deposition of uric acid crystals
What factors are associated with gout in lizards
High protein diets
Low humidity
Dehydration
Lack of water provision
How might gout in lizards appear on Rx
Swollen radiolucent joints
Radiodense joints = pseudogout = over supplementation with Ca or Vit D
How is gout Tx in lizards
Fluid therapy
Diuretics - furosemide
Allopurinol
Analgesia
What does adenovirus infection cause in lizards
Hepatitis Enteritis Nephritis Bone marrow suppression Meningitis
Which animals are at most risk from lizard adenovirus
Seen most commonly in bearded dragons and chameleons
Young, old, immune compromised
What is the most common neoplasm seen in bearded dragons and how do they present
Gastric neuroendocrine Carcinoma
Anorexia
V+
Anaemia
Hyperglycaemia
Why are the clinical Sx of gastric neuroendocrine Carcinoma in bearded dragons vague
Tumours have neuroendocrine granules within neoplastic cells - release somatostatin, insulin, glucagon, gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide, intestinal peptide etc
If a snake is star gazing, what does it suggest
Normal CNS function inhibited = a symptom
What is loss of righting reflex of a snake when placed in dorsal recumbency a symptom of
Discontinuity of spinal cords ability to transmit neural impulses OR an inability of the muscles to respond
What might a generalised lack of muscle tone be related to in snakes
A non specific sign - neurological disease, musculoskeletal disease of systemic disease
What is thyroid disease in snakes related to
Improper light cycles, improper hibernation and temp gradients
Iodine toxicity or deficiency
Why Sx is hypothyroidism associated with in snakes
Weight gain Lethargy Poor appetite Depression Dysecdysis Goitre Myxoedema
How many times per year do snakes normally shed
Between 4 and 6 times
How are retained spectacles in snakes Tx
Wetting solution e.g. lacrilube for a few days to increase humidity around scales
Use of fine forceps to gently grasp the edge
Why do snakes often get thermal burns
Their dermal perception of heat is poor
What are thermal burns often secondary to in snakes
Inadequate ambient temp with focal heat sources e.g. hot rocks or unguarded lamps
What can be used to protect thermal burns on snakes whilst they heal
Clingfilm, clear dressings
What is blister disease in snakes
Dermatitis caused by bacterial skin infection leading to blisters under the scales which are fluid filled
Rupture of the blisters = ulceration
What is blister disease in snakes associated with
Poor environmental hygiene and immunosuppression
What is the most common cause of GI disease in snakes
Cryptosporidium Serpentes
What does crypto in snakes cause
Gastric hypertrophy
Abdominal swelling
Regurgitation of mucus covered prey which may be sporadic
Weight loss
How does entamoeba invadena cause Disease in snakes
Commensal in herbivorous reptiles
Invasion of intestinal mucosa = GI disease in carnivorous reptiles
Mostly seen with mixed reptile collections
What are the main Sx of entamoebiasis infection in snakes and how is it Tx
Poor BCS Anorexia Regurgitation Constipation D+ Neuro Sx
Metronidazole
In which spp of snake is respiratory disease most common
Larger spp e.g. boas, pythons
What is paraphimosis
Inability to retract phallus or hemipenes
In which reptile spp is paraphimosis most common
Ball pythons
Boa constrictors
Chelonia
What are the main risk factors for paraphimosis in reptiles
Spinal trauma
Nutrition secondary hyperparathyroidism
Excessive breeding in snakes
Hypovitaminosis A
What causes inclusion body disease in snakes, which spp are most at risk, what condition is it associated with and how might a snake present
Retrovirus
Boas, pythons
Mite infestations
Neurological disease, presence of inclusion bodies on Histo - often fatal
What viral infection is common in viperid snakes
Paramyxovirus
What does paramyxovirus infection cause in snakes
Resp Sx including pneumonia
What virus in snakes is associated with pneumonia and encephalitis
Reovirus
Which bacterial infection in snakes is a public health concern and why
Salmonellosis
Zoonotic
