lec 19 companion lizards

what are some common pet lizards?

-iguanas

-bearded dragons

-water dragons

-anoles

-skinks

-geckos

-chameleons

-monitors

-tegus

what is the common green iguana?

-most common pet iguana

-native to Central and South America

what is the chuckwalla iguana?

-flattened body shape

-enables them to hide in cracks/crevices

-second largest lizard found in US

what happens when bearded dragons are alarmed?

they expand their skin under their jaw which has pointed scales

what is one of the easiest reptiles to tame?

bearded dragons

what will water dragons develop under their jaw?

white scales

where do water dragons live?

must live near water (duh)

what are anoles?

-often sold as chameleons

-green anole

-cuban brown anole

-knight anole

what are skinks?

-usually live among leaves

-five-lined skink

-australian blue-tongued skink

-solomon island giant skink

what do geckos have on their feet?

lamellae to help them to climb on almost any surface

what are leopard geckos?

-one of the most popular pet lizards

-have claws instead of lamellae

-store fat in their tail (can determine BCS from their tail)

what do chameleons do?

change color dramatically based on environment and stress level

what is the most arboreal species?

a chameleon (needs branches and foliage)

what are monitors?

-very large lizards with powerful jaws, tails, well-developed claws

-banned in some areas

what are tegus?

-large lizards

-aggressive; not recommended for beginners

-terrestrial, good swimmers

what lizards are not recommended for beginners?

-chameleons

-monitors

-tegus

what are some common behaviors/biology of lizards?

-they are ecdysis (they shed their skin)

-have a 3 chambered heart (2 atria, single ventricle)

do all lizards have teeth?

yes

what types of tongues do lizards have?

-fleshy (iguanas)

-forked (monitors)

what are acrodonts?

-teeth are not replaced (bearded dragons)

what are pleurodonts?

-teeth replaced throughout lifetime (iguanas)

which lizards are venomous?

-gila monsters, bearded lizards

are some males territorial?

yes

what is tail autonomy?

-predator avoidance mechanism

what do you need to include in a lizard enclosure?

-tight-fitting lids

-glass tanks for smaller animals

-substrates

what are some toxic substrates?

-softwood shavings (pine, ceader) contain toxic aromatic compounds

-digestible calcium carbonate sands can cause GI obstruction

what is a common behavior of lizards?

-they are secretive by nature and need a retreat

what does the word ectotherms mean?

they depend on environmental temperatures to regulate core body temperatures

-metabolism and activity will be reduced

-more susceptible to infections

what must you do when housing lizards in regards to temperature?

-provide a range of temperatures so they can have behavioral thermoregulation

-use a UV light

what happens when lizards are in a low humidity environment?

-more susceptible to becoming dehydrated

-dermatitis and other skin infections

what is dysecdysis and what is it a result of?

-issues with shedding

-results from living in a low humidity environment

what does proper UVB radiation important for/important to remember?

-proper synthesis of vitamin D in young iguanas

-light must not pass through glass/plastic

-change bulb every 6-12 mo

what should you clean enclosures with?

-dilute chlorine bleach solutions

-thoroughly rinse and dry cages prior to reintroduction of animals

what should you never use when cleaning reptiles cages?

phenolic compounds

which species are herbivores?

iguanas

-feed them dark, leafy green veggies and occasional fruits

which species are omnivores?

bearded dragons

-animals such as crickets, mealworms and plant components

which species are insectivores?

anoles, skinks, most geckos

-crickets, mealworms, other insects

what should you do to insectivores when feeding insectivores?

-gut load prey before feeding to reptiles

-dust prey with vitamins/mineral supplements

which species are carvivores?

monitors

-large specimens will eat entire rodents

how should you handle reptiles?

-entire body must be supported

-do not restrain tail

what do male anoles have in terms of repro anatomy?

large red dewlap that is displayed during courtship

what do male iguanas have in terms of repro anatomy?

a prominent row of femoral pores inside of hind legs

what are the paired sexual organs that male lizards have?

hemipenes that are used during copulation

how do most reptiles reproduce?

-most lay eggs

-have a single large nest or hide eggs in various locations

what species are live bearers?

skinks

what are most lizard species?

parthenogenetic, meaning females produce genetically identical offspring

what is infectious stomatitis?

-mouth rot

-bacterial infection secondary to stress and immunosuppression

what are some risk factors of infectious stomatitis?

low temps, crowding, unclean cages, inappropriate diets

what are some clinical signs of infectious stomatitis?

-reddened areas in oral cavity

-ulcerations with caseous deposits

-abscess can extend into jaw bones = osteomyelitis

-tooth loss

-facial deformities

-anorexia

how do you treat infectious stomatitis?

-surgical removal of caseous material and cyst wall

-systemic and topical antibiotics

-daily irrigation of lesion with disinfectant

what is amoebiasis?

-protozoal disease affecting reptiles (high mortality)

how is amoebiasis transmitted?

fecal-oral

what are some clinical signs of amoebiasis?

-regurgitation, anorexia, weight loss, dehydration, bloody diarrhea

what are carriers of amoebiasis?

turtles are latent carriers

how do you treat amoebiasis?

-antiprotozoal drugs (metro)

-supportive care

-hygiene

what disease is common in young, captive reptiles?

coccidiosis

-adults typically unaffected carriers

what are some clinical signs of coccidiosis?

-dehydration, diarrhea

-difficult to treat

what is cryptosporidiosis?

protozoal parasite that affects stomach and intestines

who is most commonly affected by cryptosporidiosis?

leopard geckos

what are some clinical signs of cryptosporidiosis?

-severe emaciation, muscle loss, diarrhea, dehydration

how do you treat cryptosporidiosis?

no treatment

-quarantine for 60 days to screen for these parasites

what does adenovirus affect?

affects GI tract and liver

who is most likely to get adenovirus?

bearded dragons apart of captive breeding populations

what are some clinical signs of adenovirus?

-anorexia, dehydration, weak, rear leg paresis, diarrhea

what are some treatment options of adenovirus?

supportive care

what is metabolic bone disease?

secondary nutritional hyperparathyrodisim

who is commonly diagnosed with metabolic bone disease?

herbivores and insectivores that are fed inappropriate diets that are low in calcium and high in phosphorous OR not provided enough UVB radiation

who is most commonly affected by metabolic bone disease?

juveniles & reproductively active females

what is the pathophysiology of metabolic bone disease?

-remove calcium from bones with calcium deficient

-bone replaced with fibrous tissue = osteodystrophy

-leads to fragile bones that are swollen and pliable = rubber jaw

what are some clinical signs of metabolic bone disease?

-lack of truncal lifting

-fractures of long bones

-muscle tremors

-tetany, seizures

what are some treatments/preventions of metabolic bone disease?

-paternal calcium and vit D

-stabilize fractures

-feed high-quality diet and expose to full-spectrum light

who is at risk for thermal burns?

any lizard allowed access to radiant heat source at risk

what is most likely to cause thermal burns?

if ambient cage temp is below an animal's thermal preference

what is a zoonotic diseases from lizards?

salmonellosis

what is salmonellosis associated with?

handling reptiles

-can be carried in GI tract of lizard

-sheds in feces when stressed

what are some clinical signs of salmonellosis in humans?

-vomiting, diarrhea, fever

-old, young, immunosuppressed at risk

-ensure proper hygiene when handling reptiles