Week 15 Exotics

What is the appearance of the kidney in reptiles compared to mammals/birds

Simple paired kidneys with few nephrons

Lack a distinct pelvis, cortex, and medulla

No loop of Henle

Reptiles are unable to produce what type of urine because they lack the loop of henle

Hypertonic urine

What is special about the structure of the urinary system in snakes

Elongated, lobulated kidneys; no bladder; linear vent at tail base.

What is special about the structure of the urinary system in lizards

Kidneys deep in pelvic canal; bladder present in some.

What is special about the structure of the urinary system in chelonians

Kidneys in caudal coelom; bladder present (large, often bilobed).

What plays a role in water conservation in reptiles

Colon, cloaca, and urinary bladder + decreasing the number of filtering glomeruli

How does the renal portal system minimize the risk of lack of perfusion of the renal tubule cells when GFR is slow (which could place them at risk for ischemic necrosis)

Directs blood from the caudal regions of the body through the kidneys to sustain the tubule cells until glomerular blood flow resumes

Which waste is the simplest way of excreting nitrogen, has the highest toxicity, requires large volumes of water for dilution, and is excreted mainly by aquatic reptiles (e.g., marine and freshwater turtles, crocodilians).

Ammonia

Which waste requires some water for excretion and is excreted by freshwater turtles, some semi-aquatic species and terrestrial tortoises when well hydrated.

Urea

Which waste is insoluble, excreted as a semi-solid paste, conserving water, is actively secreted into the proximal tubules of the kidneys, and is the primary form in most terrestrial reptiles (e.g. squamates).

Uric acid

What can many reptiles (especially Chelonians and Crocs) do with their waste composition 

can alter the relative proportions of ammonia, urea and uric acid excreted depending on their hydration status

What marks the beginning of the tail in snakes.

The vent

What is a common chamber at the end of the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts in reptiles (and birds).

Cloaca

What is the most cranial part of the cloaca that receives fecal material from the colon.

Coprodeum

What is the part of the cloaca that receives urine (from ureters) and reproductive products in female (from oviducts).

Urodeum

What is the part of the cloaca that is the final chamber before the vent (cloacal opening) and has an important role in storage and reabsorption of water before excretion.

Proctodeum

Since the kidney is not as developed in reptiles what organs help with water conservation, nitrogenous waste excretion, and electrolyte balance

cloaca and urinary bladder

Which order of bird includes perching birds (finches, sparrows, canaries etc.). More than half of bird species.

Passeriformes (“passerines”) 

Which order of bird includes parrots, macaws.

Psittaciformes (“psittacines”)

Which order of bird includes chickens

Galliformes

Which order of bird includes ducks, swans, geese

Anseriformes 

Which order of bird includes pigeons and doves

Columbiformes

Which order of bird includes falcons

Falconiformes

Which order of bird includes hawks, eagles, vultures

Accipitriformes

Which order of bird includes owls

Strigiformes

Where do birds possess scaly skin

on legs and feet (a retained reptilian feature)

What type of egg do reptiles and birds have

Amniotic eggs (protect the embryo from drying out on land)

What is the waste produce of birds

Uric acid (conserves water in terrestrial environments).

What are key adaptations for flight in birds

• Lightweight skeleton: fused bones for strength; pneumatic (air-filled) bones for reduced weight

• Feathers: for lift and maneuverability

• High metabolic rate & 4-chambered heart: for the high energy demand of flight

• Unidirectional airflow in lungs: for highly efficient gas exchange during sustained activity.

What muscle provides power for flapping the wing on the upstroke (through connection to the dorsal humerus by a pulley-like ligament)?

Supracoracoideus

What strong bone connects the sternum to the shoulder joint/scapula?

Coracoid

What bone of the forewing is the thickest and provides attachment to the secondary flight feathers?

Ulna

What is the name of the first stomach of birds, that produces gastric juices?

Proventriculus

What is the name of the outpocket of the lower esophagus of some birds, used to store food?

Crop

In female birds, what is the name of the organ where the egg is transported and developed (from the ovary to the cloaca)?

Oviduct

What is the name of the immune gland adjacent to the cloaca, important in young birds?

Cloacal bursa

Where does the urine go in reptiles with a bladder

From cloaca to bladder

Is there a urethra in reptiles without a bladder

No

Which reptiles have a urinary bladder

Chelonians, tuataras, some lizards, crocs

What is main waste of squamates

Uric acid

What is the main waste of terrestrial chelonians

Urea and uric acid

What is the main waste of crocodilians, pond, aquatic turtles

Ammonia, urea, uric acid

What can cause CKD in reptiles (frequent in lizards and chelonians)

➢ Chronic low-grade dehydration

➢ Excess dietary protein

➢ Hypervitaminosis D

➢ Hypovitaminosis A

➢ Improper temperatures

What can cause AKI in reptiles

Infections and toxins

What does feeding beardies lots of insects and little plant material cause

Excess dietary protein and increase demand on uric acid excretion (effects the kidneys)

What are some signs of dehydration in reptiles

Dry/tacky mm, ropey saliva, wrinkle skin, dysecdysis, sunken eyes

What clinical sign can you see with gout in reptiles

Swollen joints

What can you see in renal dz of reptiles because of hypoalbuminemia

Edema

What can you see in renal dz of reptiles because of enlargement of the kidneys

Constipation, cloacal impaction, hind limb paresis

What is the first thing you should do if you have a reptile with high levels of ….

Rehydrate

What can you see on CBC in a reptile with renal dz

High PCV + total protein, non-regen anemia

What can you see on CHEM in a reptile with renal dz

Uric acid elevation, BUN (chelonians) raised, elevated P, electrolyte imbalances

What should the urine pH be in herbivorous tortoises and what should is be in omnivores and carnivores

Alkaline

Acidic

What is the most common crystal you can see in the urine of reptiles

Urates

What is a useful imaging modality to look at the kidney in chelonians and snakes

US

What is the safer way to do a renal biopsy in reptiles

Endoscopic biopsy

What can you do if you need a large kidney biopsy sample in reptiles

Surgical renal biopsy

What is GFR directly related to

Functional renal mass

What can you give orally SID to decrease uric acid levels in green iguanas

Allopurinol

What are some forms of nutritional management to treat renal dz in reptiles

Decrease proteins, pyrimidines over purines, potassium supplements

Deposition of monosodium urate crystals in tissues due to hyperuricemia.

Gout

What is the difference between primary and secondary gout

1- overproduction uric acid

2- under excretion uric acid

What can cause gout in reptiles

High protein diet, renal dz, dehydration

Any other precipitate rather than uric acid (most commonly calcium salts) → can also cause an acute articular or periarticular inflammatory response. Less common.

Pseudogout

What can be seen formed around the crystals in gout

Granulomatous inflammation

What are clinical signs of gout

Anorexia, lameness, joint swelling, organ dysfunction

What is the prognosis of gout

Grave (give fluid therapy and analgesia)

What are clinical signs of urolithiasis in reptiles

anorexia, constipation, tenesmus, dystocia, dysuria, poor growth, cloacal prolapse, lethargy, hind limb paresis, and lack of fecal/urine production

What can urolithiasis cause in chelonians

Retrograde displacement of shelled eggs into the urinary bladder (if the stones are big enough)

What are treatments to urolithiasis in reptiles

Surgical removal for bladder stones and enema or manual endoscopic removal of cloacoliths

How do you prevent urolithiasis in reptiles

Hydration, temp and humidity gradient, reduce dietary proteins in herb and omnivores (monitor the diet)

What are species in which femoral or precloacal pores can be used as a method for sea identification

Iguanas, beardies, geckos (pre anal pores)

What can happen to femoral pores if there is problems with husbandry

Impaction (daily warm water soaks and light brushing/massaging to unclog pores)

What does the head of a male iguana look like compared to females

Larger and broader with more developed crests, dewlaps, operculum scales

What do male eastern box turtles look like compared to females

Brighter red/orange iris

What do males of Jackson chameleons possess

3 rostral horns

What budge can you see because of the hemipen in iguanas

Bulge under the tail

What does the shell of mature male terrestrial tortoises

Concave plastron

What does the males tail look like in chelonians

Longer and broader (and vent opening is further out on tail, past edge of carapace)

What methods is used in snakes to enter the inverted hemipenis

Cloacal probing

If you apply pressure what will pop out of the tail area in males and what about females

Males- pop hemipenis

Female- nothing will pop out

What are some viviparous reptile species

Skinks, chameleons, boas, rattlesnakes, most vipers

What reptiles orders are exclusively oviparous

Chelonians and crocs

What reptile order has hemipenes

Squamates

What fertilization happens in reptiles

Internal fertilization

Are male copulatory organs involved in urination in reptiles

No (paired hemipenes in squamates and single penis in chelonians and crocs)

What can be necessary for many species to initiate reproductive behaviors

Period of cooler temp (brumation)

What are some determinations of gravidity in reptiles

Behavioral changes (increase basketing, decrease appetites and change in activity), midbody swelling, celomic palpation

X ray is most useful to determine pregnancy in which reptile s

Chelonians (hard Ca rich eggs)

What do most snakes do before ovipostition

Ecdysis (pre lay shed)

What is the inability of reptiles to ovulate and reabsorb follicles which can lead to discomfort, secondary infection and celomitis

Preovulatory follicular stasis

Inability to expel eggs/fetus

Egg binding/dystocia

What are clinical signs of dystocia/egg binding

Restlessness, nesting behavior, celomic distention, prolonged anorexia, lethargy, abnormal ambulation, partial clutch → likely abnormal

What are some signs of dystocia and preovulatory follicular stasis in reptiles

Stress and lack of appropriate nesting sites

How can you treat dystocia and follicular stasis in reptiles

Supportive care, ovariectomy (follicular stasis), unobstructed dystocia (medical treatment), refractory/obstructive dystocia (surgery)

What is commonly preformed in females lizards to avoid repro issues

Ovariectomy

What can happen to the tissue in a cloacal prolapse

Necrosis if not treated

What can cause cloacal prolapse

GI parasites, urinary infections and issues, reproductive issues, hypocalcemia, dehydration, hypothermia, coelomic dz, neurological dz

How can you treat a cloacal prolapse

Clean, lube, protect tissue, patient stabilization, manuals reduction if tissue not viable, amputation/resection, coeliotomy

Are birds endo or ectotherms

Endo