Introduction to Chelonian Diseases (not done)

How can you handle chelonians?

Sandwich hold

Back hold

What is the sandwich hold?

Across the middle of the shell

Useful for the majority of turtles

What is the back hold for chelonians?

Hold from the back end of the shell with one hand holding the plastron and one on the carapace

What handling technique is best for aggressive species like the snapping turtle?

Back hold

Where can you assess respiratory rate?

caudal coelom and front limb movement

How type of retina do they have?

Avascular

How do you get the HR on a chelonian?

Use a doppler between the 2nd and 3rd plastron scutes (pectoral and abdominal scutes)

What is the problem with having to use a doppler for a HR?

You cannot hear murmurs

What are signs of dehydration?

Ropey saliva

Sunken eyes

What does a 1/9 BCS look like?

Prominent occipital crest

What do you assess for BCS?

Head muscles

What does a 9/9 BCS look like?

Fat overflow in other areas

Where can you collect blood?

Jugular

Brachial

Subcarapcaial

What are the benefits of a jugular blood collection?

Ideal and easy but does requires knowledge of holding head or sedation

What is the problem with a brachial blood collection?

Can be contaminated with lymph

Why are subcarapacial blood collections not recommended? 9:26 make sure it is that blood collection

High risk for the animal like damage to spine or accidental injection into lungs

What are the 6 elements of husbandry?

Temperature, humidity, UV light, terrarium and furniture, water, diet

What husbandry do aquatic turtles also need?

Tank water assessment of filtration system and water changes

What is the risk of low temperature? 

Immunodepression due to suboptimal metabolism

What is the problem with bad humidity?

Dysecdysis

What is dysecdysis?

Problems with shedding

How do lizards shed/

Shed in pieces

What species shed in full and then eat their shed?

Leopard geckos

How do snakes shed?

One piece tail first

How do turtles shed scutes?

Shed on by one

How do tortoises shed?

Do not shed scutes, they accumulate

What do owners need to do after a a shed?

Ensure that the eye caps also came off

What can cause dysecdysis?

Inocorrect humidity

Lack of a proper substrate

Improper handling

Malnutrition

Dermatopathy

How do you treat dyscedysis?

Correct husbandry (humidity and diet)

Investigate systemic disease

What commonly gets urolithiasis?

Desert species

Where is urolithiasis most common?

Left side (bladder is bilobed)

What are causes of urolithiasis?

Chronic dehydration

Calcium oxalate in diet

What are C/S of urolithiasis?

Non-specific

Hematuria

Straining

Cloacal prolapse

How do you diagnose urolithiasis?

Palpation

Imaging: Rads or CT

How do you treat urolithiasis?

Cystoscopy

Surgery (prefemoral or plastronotomy)

Laser lithotripsy

How do you prevent urolithiasis?

Reduce dietary protein in herbivores

Provide more water

Appropriate husbandry

What usually causes hypovitaminosis A?

Deficient diet

What species are affected by hypovitaminosis A?

Lizards, chelonians, amphibians, and birds

What does hypovitaminosis A cause/

Squamous metaplasia of epithelium

What are the C/S of hypovitaminosis A?

Swelling of gonads

Swollen eyelids and ocular abnormalities

Kidney disease (leads to gout)

Predisposition to infections

What does hypovitaminosis A cause in turtles?

Aural abscesses

What does hypovitaminosis in amphibians?

Short tongue syndrome (inability to catch prey)

What does hypovitaminosis A cause in birds?

Blunted choana papillae

How do you diagnose hypovitaminosis A?

History is usually all you need

Can biopsy, liver levels, or plasma retinol

How do you treat hypovitaminosis A?

Oral vitamin A

Treat secondary infections

Correct husbandry

Why do we avoid parenteral vitamin A?

It can cause skin sloughing due to over supplementation

What is an aural abscess?

Accumulation of caseous material in middle ear or tympanic cavity

What are the causes of aural abscesses?

Cold, poor hygiene

Hypovitaminosis A

How do you treat aural abscesses?

Surgical debridement with daily lavage

How do you diagnose aural abscess?

Clinical presentation

Cytology, microbiology

What is SCUD (septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease)?

Syndrome associated with bacterial dermatitis

What are the C/S of SCUD?

Cutaneous lesions that may penetrate the underlying bone

What are the predisposing factors for SCUD?

Poor hygiene

Cold temperature

Trauma (overcrowding)

How do you diagnose SCUD?

Clinical appearance

Definitively with biopsy for microbio and histo

How do you treat SCUD?

Dry docking

Surgical debridement

Antibiotics

Bandaging

What is dry docking?

Ensure a dry environment so lesions heal in a dry environment

What is the risk of dry docking?

Dehydration can lead to gout. Need to provide SQ fluids if using dry docking

How much fluids do reptiles need for maintenance?

20ml/kg in dry double or triple for aquatic turtles

What does Ranavirus (frog virus 3) infect?

Fish, amphibians, reptiles

What are the C/S of ranavirus?

Stomatitis, diphtheric plaques, rhinitis, generalized edema, systemic disease, death

How do you diagnose ranavirus?

Intracytoplasmic inclusions on WBC, ELISA, PCR, ELISA

How do you treat ranavirus?

Acyclovir and supportive care