Reptiles: Lizards
do all species drink water from bowls? should they be cleaned daily if not, what species drink dew from leaves?
no, yes bc some lay in it & poop in it geckos, chameleons, anoles (need drip system)
herpes, adenovirus, paramyxovirus: SIGNS TRANSMISSION TX PROGNOSIS
ADR, lethargic, chronic wt loss fecal-oral none, supportive care fatal
best themometers do u need more than 1
digital or hydrometer yes bc need one on cool end & one on hot end to know gradient
why can misting often be bad what envrm species need higher humidity do desert species need misting and why
increase chance of salmonells bc can come back at you jungle yes bc high humidity in AM in desert
what do nasal salt glands allow in some species
water conservation
3 parts of cloaca & fxn
1- coprodeum: collects feces 2- urodeum: collects urinary waste 3- proctodeum: final chamber before elimination
3 types of birth giving & which
1- oviparous: lays eggs: iguana, bearded drag, some chameleons 2- ovovivparous- live birth: blue tongue skink, some chameleons 3- parthenogenic: asexual: whiptail lizard
how many days should you feed ur gut loading insects before giving to lizard
1-2 days, want them full of nutrients for lizard
to keep a healthy lizard what 2 things do they have to do
1-adequate nutrition 2-proper envrm
fluid therapy amount ex of given route of choice for fluids & secondary choice
10-30 ml/kg/24 hr normosol-r, LRS #1: PO #2: IV, IO, ICe, SQ
size syringe & needle for venipuncture 3 common sites whats the max amount you can take? what if you take the max but need more? what do you put the blood in
22-26 ga needle & 1-3 mL ventral tail vein, jugular vein (blind), ventral abdominal vein .5 % of BW, must wait 5-10 days microtainer tubes/bird tubes
how many chambers in heart how many atria ventricular septum complete or incomplete describe aortic arches
3 2 incomplete paired aortic arches join to single aorta
how long should you quarantine new lizards do they need cage buddies
3 months-> sep room & sep tank no, are indpt
what should you disinfect with & how
3% hypochlorite sol (bleach) -> rinse good -> dont put accessories in a sink that you use -> dont transfer b/w cages w/o cleaning
how many toes
5 = pentadactyl
there are over _____ species of reptiles
7000
sick lizards do best around ____ degrees F
90
what kind of lizard is capable of bipedal locomotion and explain
Basilisk lizard, can run/walk across water
describe differences between families of lizards what are examples that belong to each
Iguanidae -> new world -> pleurodont teeth attached with no socket & can replace & has fracture planes Agamidae -> old world Chamaeleonidae -> old world : both have acrodont teeth: attached & not shed & no fracture planes Iguanidae: green iguana, green anole, basilisks, horned lizards, spiny lizards Agamidae: bearded dragon, agama, frilled lizard, water dragon chamaelonidae: chameleons
acrodont teeth v pleurodont teeth
acrodont: dont shed pleurodont: shed regularly
Common species
asian water dragon savannah monitor bearded dragon green iguana chameleon geckos
adequate ventilation decreases...
bacterial overgrowth
why would we close an incision with an everting/mattress pattern
bc reptile skin naturally inverts
why DONT we wake up reptiles on oxygen what happens if you do
bc resp physiology is backwards & their breathing is triggered by low oxygen not high oxygen theyll sleep for long time
who are omnivores dietary requirement what can they eat
bearded dragon, collared lizard, skinks moderate protein fat & fiber combine herbivore, carnivore & insectivore diet
describe renal portal system what does this mean for injections?
blood from caudal body passes thru kidneys & liver before reaching general circulation nephrotoxic & hepatotoxic drugs should be injected into CRANIAL body *can just hind limbs for injection if impossible to do it in cranial body*
substrate is on ______ of cage what should it be like ex bad ex
bottom non-toxic, easy digestible, absorbent (may accidently pick up and eat) news paper, astroturf, brown paper, alfalfa pellets, paper towels (babies), playground sand (sterilized & sifted) no: cedar shavings, gravel, crushed corn cob, litter, wood chips, beach sand, dirt
who has mittens? can they walk on flat surfaces?
chameleons no (naturally hang on branches)
chromatophores who? is this understood? theories?
changing of color of skin chameleons & anoles no, may be hormonal or neurologic or mood depending on light or temp
define: kyphosis lordosis
crooked vertebrae dorsal curve of spine (hump)
t/f: SQ space is same with all species
false
t/f: lizards dont have clearly visible nostrils
false
t/f: wire is reccomended for cages who can have screen cages? can they be free roaming
false : injury chameleons no
t/f: you do NOT do CBC/chem panels in lizards
false, you do
how to get UV light can u use plant or aquarium bulbs how far away from reptile for benefits? how long to replace? *diff w mercury bulbs:
fluorescent bulbs for reptiles (UVA & UVB bulbs) or mercury vapor bulb no 12 inch, 6 months *gives heat AND full spectrum light, can place >12 inch away, fragile & costly, can overheat & improper use = human exposure to UV
describe male lizard reproductive system
forked hemipene (penis) at base of tail & is not associated w urinary system internal testicles in abdomen area that increase during breeding
medications used to tx mites/ticks what else can be used what should you do to enclosure
frontline (fiprinol), advantage (imidocloprid), ivermectin mineral oil (repeat weekly till gone) clean it: seal off w cat/dog flea spray, rinse, air out & return lizard & dispose of acc. of bake in oven at 250 for 45 mins
who is most common of the gekkota
geckos
what species need shed boxes what can be given to lizards w retained shed
geckos sweat box w damp warm towel (humidity helps remove)
whos skin will slough if handled roughly what can you do for this
geckos wear cotton gloves
who are insectivorous what are ex to feed them what are bad ex what can be given to entice anorexic lizards
geckos, bearded dragon, chameleons crickets, mealworms, wax worms, earth worms, fruit flies, moth, beetle (smaller than their mouth) wild caught insects (pesticides), fire flies (toxic to b. dragon) earth/wax worms
rules when feeding crickets to lizards
give food to crickets before giving to lizard remove asap if not eaten bc will bite lizards
who are herbivores common mistakes in feeding them what Ca:P ratio do they need what should they eat
green iguana, chuckwalla, prehensile tail skink too many carbs (fruit) and bad protein (dog/cat food) 2:1 90% dark leafy greens (no romaine/iceburg), flowers, leaves, protein: soaked alfalfa pellets, commerical diets for supplementation, vit/min supplement
Urinary calculi: common in who? causes dx tx
green iguanas diet high in ca oxalatas (spinach), hi protein, decreased humidity (needed to absorb h20), limited access to water PE, rads, US surgery
renal disease: most common in who possible causes (not known 100%) CS DX Tx Prog
green iguanas poor diet, increased protein, dehydration, infection non-specific: ADR, wt loss, lethargic....will see them in advantaged stage of constipation PE, Hx, palpable kidneys (blocking exit of cloaca), rectal exam in large guys, rads if needed, ***Ca:Ph ratio reversed (2:6 shud be 2:1) Fluids, Ph binders, Ca supplement, force feeding (supportive) poor...usually fatal
whats similar to mammals in terms of nervous system do they feel pain & noxious stimuli is primary neuro dz common (seizures/brain tumors)
has cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem & 12 CN yes no
3 common viruses contracted
herpes, adenovirus, paramyxovirus
what is the = of a mammal neutrophil in a lizard do they have lymphs, monos, esoins and basos?
heterophil yes (WBC)
what drugs can be used for anesthesia what drugs for maintenacne is monitoring them under anesthesia easy or hard
ketamine, propofol, turbugesic, buprenorphine isoflurane or servoflurane hard
where are kidneys in lizards v humans how else are they diff
lizard: deep in pelvic canal human: abdominal cavity no loop of henle
3 main groups of reptiles
lizards, cheloans, snakes
what structure takes up large part of coelemic cavity do they have abdominal & thoracic cavity? do they have a diaphragm?
lungs (air sac like) no, coelemic = abdominal + thoracic no
how to lizards breathe what should you hear during asculation
mechanical rib action (so cant hold them too tight during restraint) minimal noise
12 hrs natural sunlight per week decreased what in iguanas
metabolic bone dz
who are carnivores dietary requirement what can they eat
monitors, goannas high protein, mod. fat, low fiber small mammals, chicks, fish, eggs, rabbits, chickens, pinkies w Ca supplement = stunned or frozen, NEVER LIVE
Should you ever test bun/creatanine in reptiles
no
lighting: should there ever be direct contact w bulb what kind of light is needed and for what can owners put lizard by window to get light requirement for day and give reason
no UV light -> vit D3 synth -> CA absorption no bc glass/screens filter UV light
are neuters common for lizards? what should be avoided during
no adrenal glands
do lizards have many ear dz? describe tympanic membrane
no on side of head in thin transparent membrane, covers inner ear & should look dry w no fluid behind it
can you use mydratics on lizards
no bc iris under vol. control
should you ever use vapona strips in your enclosure if lizard has external parasites and why
no bc toxic = neuro dz
are tongues of all lizards the same? describe taste buds tongue of monitor & green iguana
no, all differ poorly developed deeply forked in monitor & dark tip in green iguanas
is the renal portal system completely understood?
no, controversial
fancy name for metabolic bone disease cause most common in what food eaters CS why does this cause weak bones Dx Tx Prog
nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism deficiency in Ca & excess Ph OR vit d3 deficiency (no UV light = cant absorb vit d3) herbivores partial-complete lack of truncal lifting, pliable mouth, retention of round head, lameness, kyphosis/lordosis, wt loss, tremors, tetany, paralysis, popeye legs (swollen) bc Ca is being taken from bones & replaces w fibrous tissue hx, PE, rads (no bones), blood chem. (Ca may look normal bc taken from bones) correct diet & UVB lighting, oral Ca supplement, inject Vit D, cage rest, force feed if needed fatal if not tx
where are ribs?
on all vertebrae except tail
where is jacobsons/vomeronasal organ found what it do
on rostral rood of oral cavity over bones. has sensory epithelium....tongue tastes air & brings it in mouth to run over roof of mouth helps w olfaction (smell)
describe female reproductive system is egg retention common? what causes this? pre-ovulatory retention v post
paired ovaries & oviducts w NO UTERUS yes, improper husbandry pre: no shell post: shell & egg binded, needs surgical correction
what is breeding szn determined by why
photoperiod (amount of daylight), rainfall, temp, food availability need lots of water & food & good temp helps egg layers
a lizard hisses during asculation. what may you confuse this with and how can you dx
pneumonia -> take x-ray of lungs
POTZ whats it needed for who needs higher end of POTZ
preferred optimum temperature zone (thermoneutral zone), where physiologic fxn is at peak metabolic process: digestion, immune, acid/base, reproduction sick, injured, stress lizards
dysecdysis
retained shedding of skin, medical prob
ecdysis how does this happen in lizards what is it dependent on
shedding of skin in pieces (whole in snakes) temp, humidity, growth rate (younger ones shed faster)
describe stomach of lizards describe colons of herbevore lizards
simple stomach w no gizzards & some have cecum for hind-gut fermentation can be sacculated for increased SA (increased nutrition absorption)
a cold lizard will metabolize anesthetic _____ vs a sick lizard in warm conditions
slower
do lizards have prehensile tails?
some do
eye: eyelids v spectales describe iris pupil shape differences
some have eyelids & some have spectacles like geckos & skinks has striated muscle & under voluntary control...cant use mydriatics circle pupil = diurnal (day) slit pupil = nocturnal
order of lizards 3 families
squamata Iguanidae (new world) Agamidae (old world) Chamaeleonidae (old world/true chameleons)
whats secondary sex characteristics examples in lizards
structures that help determine if m/f dewlaps, spines, crests, horns
parietal eye fxn can it painted over and why
third eye found on dorsal midline of head in iguana, has retina & lens but isnt visual thermoregulation & detects light cycles for breeding yes to decrease aggression in male ignauas (decreases photoperiod)
______ controls ecdysis ______ controls Ca/P levels ______ ______ in pancreas regulate insulin
thyroid paired parathyroid beta cells
ex of intestinal parasites how are detected? what do you write if see none? ex of tx
trematodes, cestodes, nematodes, flagellates fecal float, direct smear, cloacal wash or swab NPS dewormers: praziquantel, fenbendazole, albendazole, metronidazole
t/f: all reptiles should have access to unfliltered natural sunlight
true
t/f: if one of your reptiles has external parasites, they will spread quickly thru ur collection
true
t/f: lizards have a ventral abdominal vein
true
t/f: many species have multiple common names
true
t/f: nervous system/pain reception is poorly understood in lizards
true
t/f: some geckos are very vocal
true
t/f: there are few insectivorous lizards
true
t/f: many lizards are capable of tail autotomy what can this help where does it break off is it bloody regeneration?
true getting away from predators fracture plane no bc vessels snap yes but wont be same size or color
t/f: lizards are ectothermic
true: cold blooded & body temp dependent on outside envrm
options to heat envrm for lizard what should never be used can you heat the room w no gradient
under tank heat pad ceramic bulbs infrared heat pads above tank basking lights hot rocks bc sense heat from above not below = burning no
is a komono dragon a monitor?
yes
is surgical prep same in lizards as mammals
yes
do lizards get fiesty in outdoor enclosures can you put them in glass outside
yes no bc will get too hot, use puppy fence
a male lizard injures their hemipene. can this be amputated and why/why not
yes bc doesnt pee out of it
is it easy to intubate lizards? why or why not?
yes bc have single tracheal opening at base of tongue
do males get more aggressive during breeding szn? what can be done to prevent this
yes bc internal testicles increase in size & increase hormone release decrease photoperiod to trick them
are parasites ever seen in captive breeds if yes, what can you do to see if has parasites
yes but more common in wild caught during 3 month quarantine, do fecal tests
do they have urinary bladder
yes: most species
are thermal gradients neccessary? so should you leave lights on for 24 hrs
yes: need vert & horizontal no bc need the flucuation
