chelonians

what order are chelonians

testudines

dorsal portion of shell

carapace

ventral portion of shell

plastron 

dermal bones of carapace (cranial to caudal) 

nuchal bone, 8 neural bones, 1-2 suprapygal bone, pygal bone. 

bones of the plastron

homologous, clavicles and gastralia, NO sternum

dermal bones of plastron (8pairs, 1 unpaired)

entoplastra bones (ventral midline), epiplastral bones (cranial), hypoplastral (caudal), hypoplastral, and xiphiplastral bone 

keratinized epithelium equaling the bones of the shell 

scutes 

jugular vein

decreased lymph, large volume

ulnar vein

ideal, minimal lymph, small volume

subcarpacial and dorsal coccygeal sinus

not ideal, large lymph, and located near vertebral column

what is special about resp. system

don’t have diaphragm, resp by opposing muscle movement. low oxygen demands.

downside of short tongue

unable to extend

urinary bladder

bilobed urinary bladder. moves water back into colon to be reabsorbed as water. terrestrials store large volumes. 

gular pumping

throat and mouth breathing.

caused by hypovitaminosis A diet deficiency

infectious stomatitis,

hypervitaminosis A

dry / flaky / or slothing skin

thiamine (vitamin b1) deficiency

from frozen/thawed fish. supplements.

ivermectin

neurologic and causes death.

coomon tick in chelonians 

amblyomma tuberculatam GOLFER TORTOISE TICK. ixodid family 

what fly causes myiasis

Cistudinomyia cistudinis

most common protozoan in tortoises

cyptosporidium testudines and C. ducismarci

internal parasite of testudines 

TINC (intranuclear coccidiosis of the testudines) 

jugular vein

superficial dorsally on neck even w tympanic scale

brachial vein 

sternal recumbancy, expose antebrachial joint

subcarapacial venous vein 

sternal recumbancy, front end 45* angle 

dorsococcygeal venous sinus vein

sternal recumbency

less common venipuncture sites

ventral tail vein, femoral vein, occipital venous sinus

3 steps of euthanasia

1. IM or IV anesthesia 

2. secondary injectable euthanasia 

3. physical euthanasia 

IM injection sites

triceps. pectorals, hind limb

SQ injection sites

axillary, pre-femoral fossa

ICo/ICe

fluids (sea turtles)

epicoelemic injection

fluids

PO injection

fluids, nutritional, medication 

cloacal injection

fluids, deworms 

topical application

wound care, acaricides

nebulization

enclosed chamber. tress free

shell repairs

poor to grave prognosis. examine major bleeding and prolaplsed tissue. 

why is oral administration difficult

because they can bite off tubes

why is anesthesia difficult 

inhalants are not reliable, so parenteral drugs are preferred method. colendotracheal tube are better to use. and reflexes are increased d/t spinal chord. 

cloacal prolapses

can be digestive, repro or excretory. coelomic viscera prolalse is an emergency.

common procedures

shell fx repairs, amputations, OHE, and limb fx

how is septicemia caused in chelonians

can be from shell rot (from husbandry), or from septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD)

most popular as pets

sulcata tortoise, and red eared slider