Reptiles_-_Setting_Up_Your_Practice__Taxonomy__Husbandry-Feb_2025 L1

CITES

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; aims to ensure international trade does not threaten species survival.

Veterinary Support Personnel Network (VSPN)

An online community for veterinary professionals to interact, teach, and learn from each other.

Ectothermic

Cold-blooded; organisms that regulate their body temperature through external sources.

POTZ (Preferred Optimal Temperature Zone)

The temperature range ideal for digestion, immune function, and overall health of reptiles.

Ecdysis

The regular shedding of skin in reptiles.

Renal Portal System

A blood supply system that allows blood from the caudal body to bypass the kidneys.

Taxonomy

The science of classification of organisms.

Dystocia

Difficult or abnormal childbirth.

Quarantine

Isolation of newly acquired animals to ensure they do not carry diseases.

Substrate

Material used to cover the bottom of a terrarium or enclosure.

Humidity requirements

Important for maintaining the health of different reptile species.

UVB lighting

Necessary for vitamin D3 production in reptiles.

Amphibians

Cold-blooded vertebrates including frogs, toads, and salamanders.

Apical

Referring to the tip or apex of an organ or structure.

Scutes

The hardened scales found on the shells of turtles.

Fluoroscopy

A type of medical imaging that shows a continuous x-ray image on a monitor.

Flexible Endoscopy

A non-surgical procedure to examine the proximal and distal GI tract and resp system using a flexible tube with a camera.

Soft shell

A type of turtle shell which lacks the hard bony plate of other turtles.

Environmental enrichment

The process of enhancing an animal's environment to promote its wellbeing.

Cloacoscopy

An endoscopic examination of the cloaca in reptiles.

Cagivation

The arrangement or structure of a cage for keeping animals.

Carapace

The hard upper shell of a turtle or tortoise.

Chelonian

Referring to turtles and tortoises.

Snout-to-vent length

Measurement from the snout of an animal to its vent.

Epizootic

A disease that affects a large number of animals in a specific region.

Ossification

The process of bone formation.

Ventilation

The circulation of air in an enclosure.

Reptilian respiratory system

The system of organs involved in breathing in reptiles.

Preparing Your Hospital Waiting Room

two waiting rooms; schedule exotics around a different time than your small animal patients; max. client’s wait time (brochures, hx form, exotic artwork, info charts)

Light Microscope Use

quality

magnification 400 to 1000x mag for fecals, FNAs and CBCs

Rigid Endoscopy

Coelioscopies; cloacascopies

Environmental Aquatic Water Considerations

water quality, filtration, how often the owner changes out the water, monitor pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, salinity