Transcript Reptiles - Kristin Singer

Reptiles
Health Care
Clinical Importance
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More than 3.9 million US households with
1+ reptile pets
Ca and P derangements are common in
pet reptiles
Preventable with proper husbandry and
nutrition
Treatable with early intervention
Weight the reptile first
Vitamin A deficiency
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Vitamin A is important in
maintaining all epithelial
cells, but the respiratory
tree appears to be
particularly sensitive. This
turtles clear, bubbly nose
is reflective of a vitamin A
deficiency. This can easily
lead to pneumonia from
opportunistic bacteria
Turtles-hypovitaminosis
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Hypovitaminosis A, red-eared slider turtle. Note the
characteristic ocular swelling
This box turtle is exhibiting classic hypovitaminosis A,
manifested by palpebral swelling, redness, pain, and
accumulation of thick secretions. In some turtles, the
eyes become glued shut
Vitamin A deficiency
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Aural abscesses represent middle ear infections in
turtles. In box turtles, these abscesses are commonly
associated with vitamin A deficiencies.
Rx.- Vit. A 2000 IU/kg PO, SC, IM q7-14d x 2-4
Treatments
Enroflaxcin
Diet Correction
Hypocalcemia (<8.0 mg/dL)
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Dietary deficiency
Excessive dietary phosphorus
Secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism
Vitamin D3 deficiency (dietary or lack of
UV light)
Hypobluminemia
Hypoparathyroidism
Hypocalcemia cont..
Lumpy jaw occurs when
the body brings fibrous
tissue to the area to
stabilize the weak
bones.
The fold of skin on the side
of this iguana is evidence of
dehydration
This is the femur (thigh) bone of a healthy iguana.
Compare it to the diseased one below
This is the thinning (arrow)
that occurs in this disease
This disease also occurs in tortoises.
The shell is soft due to inadequate nutrition
-Rx. Ca gluconate 10-50mg/kg IM
-Correct the diet
Hypercalcemia (>20mg/dL)
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Excessive dietary calcium and vitamin D3
Primary hyperparathyroidism
Pseudohyperparathyroidism
Osteolytic bone disease
Phosphorus Clinical Pathology
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Normal serum phosphorus: 1-5mg/dL
Hypophosphatemia
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Starvation
Nutritional deficiency
Hyperphosphatemia (>5mg/dL)
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Excessive dietary phosphorus
Hypervitamintosis D3
Renal disease
Severe tissue trauma
Osteolytic bone disease
Sample handling error
Nutritional Secondary
Hyperparathyroidism
(Metabolic Bone Disease)
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Cause: diet low in calcium or vitamin D3, diet
high in phosphorus, lack of exposure to UV-B
light
Pathogenesis: Low serum Ca PTH secretion
increased bone resorption
Nutrition and Nutritional Disease
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Nutritional secondary
hyperparathyroidism,
iguana. The mandible
often becomes decalcified
in this condition, and
bowing or shortening
then occurs.
The mandible and maxilla
of this green iguana are
soft, spongy, and swollen
due to nutritional
secondary
hyperparathyroidism
Abnormal beak growth,
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it is often associated with
nutritional secondary
hyperparathyroidism
leading to hypocalcemia,
which may cause
distortion of the skull as it
develops and thus
interfere with normal
occlusion and wear
Septicemic Diseases
“Shell rot”
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Septicemic cutaneous
ulcerative disease,
slider turtle. Lesions
are most obvious on
the plastron (ventral
surface).
Dermatitis
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Ulcerative dermatitis (scale rot, necrotic dermatitis),.
Contrary to popular belief, this is a disease that moves
from the inside out, rather than outside in. The inciting
cause is compromised immunity with subsequent invasion
of bacteria
Secondary infection with Aeromonas spp , Pseudomonas
spp , and a number of other bacteria may result in
septicemia and death if untreated
Dysecdysis
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Refers to an incomplete
or inadequate shed. Low
humidity and other
stresses, including
decreased thyroid
function, ectoparasitism,
nutritional deficiencies,
infectious diseases, and
lack of suitable abrasive
surfaces, have been
incriminated as
contributing factors
Dysecdesis
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When snakes have difficulty
shedding , cutaneous damage
can occur. In extreme cases,
secondary bacterial infections
can result
Blue color for one week then
shed process, soak in water
using an aquariums for severe
case or use soaked paper
towels in the aquarium, make
sure to use a big bowl of water
for big snakes for drinking and
use it for soaking
Difficulty shedding (dysecdesis)
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Subspectacle
abscessation is a common
ocular problem in snakes.
Retained eye caps and
subsequent damage is
often the initiating cause.
Subspectacle
abscessation, African ball
python. This snake was
treated with enrofloxacin
(5-10 mg/kg q24hr
PO,SC,IM) and returned
to normal after 2
subsequent shedding
cycles
Ulcerative Stomatitis (mouth rot)
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Early symptoms may be subtle
and often overlooked: slight
petechia; inappetence, a
reluctance to feed or change in
food selection; and increased,
thickened, ropey or sheeting
saliva.
In cases of sudden and severe
onset, there may be acute
inflammation of the buccal and
pharyngeal membranes or
gingival necrosis. Pockets of
caseous yellow, yellowish-gray or
white-gray pus may occur in the
soft tissues.
Left untreated, the condition
may progress to osteomyelitis of
the mandibular and cranial
structures
Stomatitis cont…
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A variety of organisms
have been associated
with stomatitis, such as
Aeromonas aerogenes, A.
aerophila, A. hydrophila,
Citrobacter freundii,
Proteus sp.,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
P. fluorescens,
Staphylococcus sp., and
Streptococcus
Treatment
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Dilute solutions of povidone-iodine (Betadine®) or chlorhexidine
diacetate (Nolvasan®) are two products with low cytotoxicity.
Flush the mouth with the dilute solution of 1% povidone-iodine or a
0.25%-0.5% solution of chlorhexidine diacetate.[1] Debride using
the curettes or tweezer. The resultant cavity must be checked to
ensure removal of all the material. Any loose detritus should be
swabbed away with a swab dipped in the dilute solution. Once the
plaques are removed, the mouth should be flushed again
Systemic Antibiotics (Enroflaxcin)
Drug Dosage/Route/Frequency
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Amikacin (Amiglyde) 5 mg/kg SQ, IM then 2.5 mg/kg q
72 hrs (snakes);2.25 mg/kg IM q 96 hrs (alligators)
Carbenicillin 200 mg/kg IM q 48 hrs (tortoises)
Ceftazidime (Fortaz) 20 mg/kg IM q 72 hrs (snakes)
Enrofloxacin (Baytril)* 5 mg/kg PO, SQ, IM q 24-38 hrs;
10 mg/kg PO, SQ, IM q 24 hrs for resistant infection
Gentamicin (Gentocin) 2.5 mg/kg IM q 72 hrs
(snakes) 6 mg/kg IM q 72-96 hrs (red-eared slider)
Piperacillin* 100 mg/kg IM q 48 hrs (pythons)
Prolapse of Cloacal Tissue and
Hemipenes
Cloaca
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A passage used for eliminating fecal,
urinary and reproductive discharges. From
the Latin word meaning "sewer". Reptiles,
like birds, have a chamber into which the
contents of the bladder and anus flow
prior to being eliminated from the body.
This chamber lies inside the vent (venter).
Prolapse
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Turning out; inside out. Eversion
hemipene
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The male reproductive organ in snakes
and lizards, kept inverted in the tail until
needed. Chelonians have a single penis.
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A prolapse is the eversion of tissue into an area
where it should not be. In iguanas (and reptiles
in general), three types of prolapse may be
occur that can be seen by the owner.
Reptiles are like birds in that they have a single
chamber into which feces and urates are
deposited before being voided. Through this
same chamber passes sperm, and eggs (or live
babies, in viviparous species, hatchlings in
ovoviviparous species) in the female. This
chamber, the cloaca, is found just inside the
vent
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In the normal course of defecation, the male hemipenes
may be everted, that is, will be forced out of the vent.
They will revert back (be pulled back in by the muscles)
into their normal position within a few moments.
During breeding season, males will frequently evert their
hemipenes in conjunction with depositing some seminal
material
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If the iguana is constipated,
either due to dehydration,
impaction due to a foreign
object, or from being heavily
parasitized, the strain of trying
to defecate may result in
either a section of the colon or
cloacal tissue, or one or both
hemipenes, being everted
through the vent. Severe
parasite infestation and
dystocia may also result in
prolapsed tissue.
Treatment
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You can try soaking the iguana in a cool
bath to which sugar has been added.
Heavy concentrations of sugar in the
water will act to draw out the fluids
engorging the swollen everted tissue; this
may reduce it enough to be inverted by
the lizard. The tissue may be rinsed with
fresh water and Betadine, and carefully
pushed back in with a gloved finger
lubricated with KY Jelly
Injuries caused by live prey
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Don not feed sick
animals with live prey
Rodent bites
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Inflicted by uneaten prey,
frequently cause
traumatic injuries;
secondary infection and
abscessation are common
sequelae.
Untreated wounds
frequently abscess and
are seen as a soft or hard
swelling. The abscess,
including the fibrous
capsule, should be
removed surgically, and
the defect sutured
Bites….
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Fresh bite wounds may
be treated by cleansing
and saturating with
povidone-iodine (diluted
1:10). Parenteral
antibiotics, based on
results of culture and
sensitivity tests, should
be used
Antibiotic ointments with
proteolytic enzymes may
be helpfu
Questions?
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