snakes

bacterial, viral, fungal

x ray of jaw and maxillae for any bone trauma

- surgical debridement ideal

- topical treatment with sulphasalazine is possible combined with ab

underdiagnosed in acrodont lizards

- ab, analgesics

scale and polish all surfaces

- debride any material, correct usbandry and diet

Runny nose syndrome (RNS) and stomatitis are historic diseases in tortoises

- secondary infections with bacterial and fungal agents are common

endemic in UK population

transmission via discharge

testing by PCR  on conjuctival or choanal swabs

- positive for rest of life

- ab- enroflox, doxy

- F10 as a nasal flush

- O tube for feeding

- common in chelonians

- CHV1 and CHV2

- conjuctivitis, stomatitis, rhinitis

PCR available

- supportive care

- O tube, ab, analgesics

acyclovir

LRT disease common in snakes , can be an extension of stomatitis

- X ray, haem and tracheal washes

- nebulisation with F10 , ceftadiazime or enro,

can be an extension of URT

- horizontal beam x ray, blood and tracheal wash

-  treatment similar to snakes

nebulistion with F10, ab, treatment for 3-4 weeks

- snakes

- immunosuppressive viruses or poor husbandry

- flushed appearance to ventral scales

- spinal osteoarthritis as a consequence

similar condition also seen in aged lizards

Ophidian PMV- 3 presentations possible

- the acute- sudden death

- resp and neuro signs

- PCR is available, histopath as well

- quarantine for a minimum of 90 days

-

-boas and pythons

- pythons tend to have more neuro diseases

- best not to mix boas and pythons

- eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies

- quarantine for 3-6 mo. surgical biopsy for screening

- no treatment

- eggs laid in environment, hatch to produce nyphms which then feed on host animal prior to developing into adults

- lifecycle takes 13-19 days.

- pruritic, soaking, self trauma, anaemia

- Tx. frontline spray around environment

- ivermectin spray

- frontline wipes over snake or ivermectin by injection

- dietary ca defic., imbalances in dietary ca to phos ratio, hypovitaminosis D

-  weak, cloacal prolapse, compressible jaw, fractures

- clin exam and history

- ionised ca and renal function

- tx. O tube, uv-b light, phosphate binders and oral or systemic calcium therapy.

- calcium gluconate every 6 hours

- calcitonin- draws ca back into the bone

common in captive bred tortoises

- over feeding high protein sources and a low humidity

- humidity box helpful

- egg laying reptiles

- gravid animals go off food

- production of follicles and eggs places a huge demand for calcium and protein just at the time when the reptile is anorexic

- environmental cues required for egg laying- very fickle about where to do it

- preovulatory ovastasis and postovulatory egg stasis-

tx. POES- calcium gluconate, analgesics, oxytocin, surgery if needed ( no shelled ova present)  

- trauma, burns, secondary infections with bacterial or fungal agents, flystrike

- treat like any other wound - debride and flush, ab and analgesics

- silver based products- high activity against gram negative

- all squamates shed their skin to allow growth

- a cleavage zone forms betwee old skin layers and the new skin layers

- lymph eters the zone and the reptile may become duller colour- snakes eyes, ( in the blue-lasts for 3 days)

- lizardss-piece meal shed and eat it

-

- usually lack of humidity

- wounds, skin infections, spectacular infections, parasites

- sort out husbandry

- bathing, damp cotton

- hepatic lipidosis is common in chelonians and lizards

- reflects physiological status of the animal

- dx. direct visualisation of the organ and biopsy for histopath

- fluid and nutritional support via O tube

- optimise temp, uv-b, nutrition, treat disease

common in captive reptiles

- renal portal system which assures tubular blood flow in periods of dehydration when GFR is reduced

- uric acid actively excreted and can block the tubulues leading to damage

- tubulonephrosis common with fibrosis

- allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor- can reduce the production of uric acid

- long term treatment, fluids, phosphate binders

- endoscopy biopsy indicated for a histo diagnosis

- high ability to tolerate anorexia

- pentobarb by IV best way

- destruction of CNS required as the brain can receive noxious stimuli after cardio shutdown

- pith animal via roof of mouth

- for lizards and snakes, anasthesia can be induced by placing the reptile in isoflurane