Pathophysiology: Assessment of the husbandry problems of reptiles on the basis of pathophysiological findings: A review

Abstract

SUMMARYMany health problems in animals are related to management and feeding. A large number of husbandry problems in reptiles lead to pathophysiological situations. Assessment of the husbandry problems of reptiles involves detective work that can only be achieved as a result of close cooperation and exchange of information between the owner and the pathologist. Reptiles, being ectothermic, depend for their physiological functioning largely on the quality of their surroundings. There are a large number of factors which influence the normal functioning of a reptile both in nature and in captivity. These factors can be described in terms of primary and secondary factors.Primary factors are the construction of terraria, light, heat, food, and water, and grouping of animals. Secondary factors are daylight regimen, arrangement of heating elements, type and composition of food, quality of water, and freedom from stress. Also important are ventilation, humidity, sites for resting and/or hiding, structure of the floor and of rocks, and branches for climbing activities.Hygiene is also an important aspect because poor hygiene often is directly related to problems. All these factors are dealt with in this review.

Herpetofauna Diversity at Munggu Village, Landak Regency, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

“…Reptiles usually expose their bodies to the sun with the aim of increasing their body temperature and getting the desired body heat from sunlight for metabolic processes. In areas exposed to sunlight, reptiles are often found sunbathing in the morning to reach the required body temperature (Christian et al, 2006;Zwart, 2001;Rocha et al, 2002). Some types of reptiles were found during the day as Eutropis rudis.…”

-Lung hemorrhage in a green iguana (Iguana iguana) with chronic metabolic failure: a case report

“…These symptoms are mostly a result of metabolic diseases (Zwart, 2001). Haematological and biochemical blood parameters give indirect diagnostics information in reptiles (Stein, 1996;Knotek et al 2002;Wilkinson, 2004).…”

Magenulkus beim Grünen Leguan (Iguana iguana)

“…In welcherF orms ichS tress beiR eptiliena uswirken kann, wird in derLiteratur in einemFallbei Schlangen beschrieben. Lang dau-ernderTransporthatte beiihnenzuMagenulzera geführt (16).…”

“…Siezählenzuden herbivorenEchsenarten (7). Leguane reagierene mpfindlicha uf Stress durchH andling, Transporto derU mgebungswechsel (10) sowieu nzureichende Haltungsbedingungen (16). Diese Faktoren könnenimschlimms-tenF allsekundärKrankheiten auslösen (10,16).…”

“…Leguane reagierene mpfindlicha uf Stress durchH andling, Transporto derU mgebungswechsel (10) sowieu nzureichende Haltungsbedingungen (16). Diese Faktoren könnenimschlimms-tenF allsekundärKrankheiten auslösen (10,16). Beiherbivoren Tieren wied em Pferdg eltenS tress, Transportu nd die Anwendung vonnichtsteroidalenAntiphlogistika (NSAID)und Glukokortikosteroidenals Auslöser für Magenulzera (3,9).…”