Common Diseases of Snakes (not done0

What can cause increased activity in a a snake?

Excessively high temps

Lack of hiding spaces

Derm irritation from mites

Light cycle disruption

What can cause lethargy in snakes?

Non-specific illness

Low temperature

Digestion

Dyscedysis (I think)

Ecdysis

What can cause soaking behaviors in snakes?

Ectoparasites

Dehydration

How can you assess their cardiovascular system?

Mucosal membrane perfusion

Dopplers for HR

How can you assess a murmur in a snake?

Not possible with a doppler

How can you do a GI assessment?

Oral exam

Coelomic palpation (not possible if large, need CT)

Cloacal exam

Fecal exam

How do do an ocular assessment?

Ophthalmoscopic exam (no eyelids with a specticle instead)

Conjuncitval exam

How do you do a derm exam?

Need to look under the scales

What is the #1 reason for a snake to come in?

Ophionyssus natricis (snake mites)

How do you transmit Ophionyssus natricis?

Unsanitary conditions and lack of quarantine

What is the life cycle for Ophionyssus natricis?

Egg: hatch in 1-4 days after deposition

Larvae: molt 1-2 days after emergence w/o feeding

Protonymph: 3-14 days aggressive feeding stage

Deutonymph: Up to 31 days, molts into adults when conditions are ideal

Adult: Up to 90 days and females take 4-8 days to engorge and lay eggs (20-30 at a time)

What do you do if a client asks how mites could be present even if they are not vissible?

Protonymphs of Ophionyssus natricis aggressively feed and are microscopic

What are the feeding stages of Ophionyssus natricis?

Protonymph and adult