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Basic Care of Snakes in Captivity Dr.A.V.Belsare B.V.Sc &A.H Wildlife Protection Act (1972) Zoos and Rescue Centres Non Government Organizations Herpetologists Scientists Sarpmitra Interventions Rescue Research Documentation Treatment Ethics of snake handling Permissions from authorities in writing Respect the animal Demonstration purpose or exhibition of ones skills: strict no-no Keep stress to a minimum level Basic physiology of reptiles ‘Cold blooded animals’ or Ectotherms Metabolic rate ‘Wild’ instinct: masking of symptoms Food chain: all snakes are carnivorous Stress Ectotherms acquire the majority of their body heat from external sources. Physiologic processes such as metabolic rate, digestion, growth, cardiovascular function, acid-base regulation, evaporative water loss, reproduction, immune function, and neuromuscular function are all thermally sensitive. POTR The range of temperatures that a reptile will naturally stay within in order to regulate it body temperature is called the preferred optimal temperature range (POTR). For most reptiles, the POTR is 80-95°F (27-35°C). Patients need to be warmed up to their POTR prior to initiating drug therapy. Temperature gradient Providing a fixed temperature prohibits a reptile patient from conducting behavioral thermoregulation, which leads to stress. Extremely debilitated snakes, however, may not be able to successfully thermoregulate. They should be monitored closely in order to assure that they do not get too warm or cold. An incubator with a constant temperature may be more appropriate for these patients. Stress Reptiles are wild animals and perceive stress from visual stimuli, noise, odors, and handling. Stress weakens the immune system, allowing opportunistic bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infections to occur. Reducing stress Provide a warm, dark environment with adequate cover, away from the perceived threat of potential predators (e.g., dogs, cats, birds). Provide visual barriers. Provide cover at both ends of the thermal gradient so that the need for cover is not linked to temperature. Reducing stress Physical restraint in nature is usually associated with death. Minimize handling. Physical stress (e.g., injections, force feeding) and psychological stress (e.g., lack of sufficient cover) can have a significant negative impact on a patient's ability to recover. Select treatment regimens that avoid unnecessary handling. The potential medical benefit of handling and treatment need to be weighed against the potential for inducing stress. Snake diseases in captivity Most reptile diseases encountered in captive specimen are partially or wholly related to faulty housing, feeding and other management practices Bite Wounds Bites from prey( rodents), dogs, cats, etc. Do not feed live sub adult or adult prey. If a reptile does not seize the prey within 10 to 15 minutes, it probably will not eat that day. Such a rodent might gnaw on the reptile causing wounds.Reptiles do not kill rodents to prevent further bites, but will lie in the cage and accept the damage. Treating Wounds Sterile saline to flush wounds Remove necrotic tissue Do not suture old and infected wounds Bandaging of wounds is essential but difficult in snakes Special precautions if eyeball, rostrum or tongue is affected Treating Wounds For the first few days keep the snake in clean waterproof containers with adequate ventilation. Line the container with clean towels soaked in dilute povidone iodine solution. Change the towel once daily. During healing keep the snake in bare cages with no substrate. Newspaper or towel will do. Treating Wounds Topically apply Silver sulphadiazine 1% cream or Neosporin or Povidone Iodine ointment Systemic use of Enrofloxacin or Amikacin Treating Wounds Remember to assist shedding( soaking and manual removal) around the healing wound as the skin may be shed incompletely May require 6-10 shedding cycles before the wound heals completely Abscesses secondary to improper husbandry (e.g., low temperature, humidity problems, and poor sanitation) and may originate from cage trauma, bite wounds, or scratches. Patients are usually presented because of a noticeable swelling or asymmetry. Overlying skin can be normal to necrotic. anorexia or depression may be present. Abscess Abscesses The abscess should be lanced using aseptic technique. Aggressive flushing and curettage are necessary in order to remove all caseated material. Abscesses should not be sutured closed. Surgical sites should be flushed with chlorhexidine or povidone iodine, followed by topical application of 1% silver sulfadiazine, once or twice daily until fully healed. Systemic antibiotics are typically indicated. A follow-up examination is recommended 1-2 weeks following surgery, and treatment should be continued for at least 21 days. Dysecdysis Due to husbandry and management problems like low temperature, low humidity, insufficient cage furniture Even handling during shedding may lead to dysecdysis The retained patches are prone to infections Dysecdysis Snakes shed in one piece Young animals on a good diet shed more often than older or less well-nourished individuals. Snakes normally shed at least once a month, and need a rock or similar rough surface to aid in the process. Retained shedding, or dysecdysis, is usually a sign that the environment is too dry. Dysecdysis Affected animals should be soaked in warm water or misted thoroughly for 10-20 minutes to rehydrate dried skin. As the skin loosens, gently massage the leading edge of the skin with a moist cloth in a caudal/distal direction. Don't be too aggressive or injury could result. Add povidone iodine to the water if required(1:50) Put in container with moist towels Assisted shedding Retained spectacles Retained eye caps are a related problem. The eyelids of snakes are fused and transparent, forming the spectacle (eye cap). Spectacles are normally shed with the skin. If one or both fail to exfoliate the eye will appear cloudy or wrinkled. For a snake, the condition is not an emergency but it may interfere with the animal's vision and its ability or desire to feed. Loose eye caps may simply pull off with scotch tape. Daily application with ophthalmic ointment until the next shed is another option. Retained Spectacle Anorexia in Snakes Snakes frequently present for lack of appetite. In some species this can be considered a normal, seasonal occurrence. In others it can be attributed to stress or disease. Often, no abnormality can be found on physical examination or fecal testing. Force feeding in snakes May stimulate a snake's appetite. 20-50 cc/kg body weight of canned kitten food mixed with water (to milkshake consistency): Whiskas canned cat food 100 mg/kg of metronidazole: Flagyl or Meterogyl 100 mg/kg of fenbendazole: Panacur Pancreatic enzyme powder, a generous pinch Psyllium fiber powder (added until the entire mixture slides around container as a unit) Tube feed this mixture. Repeat in 14-28 days, as needed. Respiratory distress Mostly due to bacterial pneumonia, but viral, fungal, and parasitic pneumonias can also occur. Severe parasitism, sub-optimal temperature or humidity, poor hygiene, and/or poor nutrition. Open mouth breathing, puffing of the throat, increased oral mucous, hissing,whistling or gasping noises, frequently with head extended and held high. Exaggerated chest wall excursions may be present. Symptoms are due to tracheal obstruction due to exudate.Reptiles lack a diaphragm and cannot cough to clear such material. They have the ability to use anaerobic metabolism. Pneumonia Bacterial Pneumonia Keep the patient at upper end of its ideal temperature range. Soak patients 1-2 times daily in warm water. Forced feeding may be indicated. Always correct the underlying husbandry problems (usually temperature and humidity). Atropine 0.2 mg/kg sc to dry up secretions. Bacterial Pneumonia Antibiotics that are injectable, bacteriocidal, and have a Gram-negative spectrum of activity are preferred: Ceftazidime 20mg/kg q72h IM, SC Enrofloxacin 5-10mg/kg q24-48h IM, SC, ICo Ceftiofur 2.2mg/kg q24-48h IM Amikacin 3mg/kg q72h IM, SC External Parasites Mites can cause anemia. Ticks and mites have both been implicated as vectors for disease. Olive oil, water-based pyrethrin sprays, and ivermectin are all used to kill ectoparasites. Use ivermectin 200mcg/kg IM, SC; repeat at 14 and 28 days. Fipronil (Frontline Spray) can be used when treating large collections. The spray is wiped on with a hand towel, and treatment is repeated twice at 14 day intervals. Cleanup of the environment is very important. Mite Tick Internal parasites The most common are nematodes. In the wild, many of these cause no problem. In captivity, however, they may reach large numbers through autoinfection and contribute significantly to disease. fenbendazole 100mg/kg PO: Panacur ivermectin 200 mcg/kg IM/SC/PO. Repeat dosages twice at 14 day intervals: Itin Nematodes Cestodes Nematodes Remember… The cage should be thoroughly cleaned after each treatment. Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot Stressful, unsanitary conditions Sub optimal temperature Mite infestation Poor nutrition Overcrowding Cage trauma and bites from prey can become infected Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot Minor cases exhibit hypersalivation, swelling of the gums, and petechiation. Advanced cases may result in loose teeth, bleeding from the gums, and caseous exudate. Anorexia commonly occurs, which results in further immune suppression. If left untreated, osteomyelitis and pneumonia eventually result. Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot Correcting husbandry Warm the animal's environment to its optimal temperature Topical treatment options include chlorhexidine, silver sulfadiazine cream Systemic antibiotic therapy directed at Gram-negative pathogens (amikacin, enrofloxacin, ceftazidime) is indicated for severe infections. References 1. DeNardo DF, How I treat dystocia in snakes, Proceedings of the NAVC, 2004, 1331-1332. 2. Mader DR, Clinical approach to infectious stomatitis in reptiles, Proceedings of the NAVC, 2004, 1338-1339. 3. Rosenthal K, How I treat stomatitis in reptiles, Proceedings of the NAVC, 2004, 1345. 4. .Stahl SJ, Reptile obstetrics, Proceedings of the NAVC, 2000, 971-974. 5. Mader DR, ed. Reptile Medicine and Surgery. Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders, 1996. 6. Carpenter JW, Mashima TY, Rupiper DJ. Exotic Animal Formulary, 2nd edition. Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders Company, 2000. 7. Dan Johnson, DVM Avian and Exotic Animal Care, PA Raleigh, NC Thank you… Dr.A.V.Belsare 9822064561 [email protected] Flagellates are treated with metronidazole 50-100 mg/kg PO, repeated at 14 day intervals as needed. For coccidia in all species, use sulfadimethoxine 90 mg/kg PO, followed by 45 mg/kg q24h for 7 days. Hydration Reptile emergency patients may be severely dehydrated or in hypovolemic shock. With 5-8% dehydration there is loss of skin elasticity and a wrinkled appearance. Mucous membranes become dry and sticky. At 10-15% dehydration the eyes become sunken. Warm the patient up to its POTR, and warm the fluids prior to administration.(at least 80 F) Maintenance fluid rate for most reptiles is 15-25 ml/kg/day, and up to 5% of body weight can be given in a single dose if indicated. Subcutaneous or intracoelomic fluid administration is utilized in the majority of cases. Hyaluronidase 150 IU/L can be added to SC/ICo fluids to increase the rate of absorption. Reptiles are slightly hypotonic when compared to birds and mammals. To prepare "Reptile Ringers Solution", mix 2 parts Dextrose 2.5%/Saline 0.45% with 1 part lactated Ringer's solution. Once stabilized, oral rehydrating (i.e., Gatorade, Rebound, and crystalloids) can be tube fed or syringe fed. These solutions should be administered warm. Soaking the patient in warm water provides for easy drinking and it will often stimulate defecation. Continue fluid support until the patient is drinking and urinating regularly. Soaking Reptiles can absorb fluids by drinking and also via the cloaca. Soak the reptile in a shallow pan of warm water, but be aware that the debilitated reptile may not be able to hold his head above water. Routes of fluid administration Oral. Gavage of fluids is another route for fluid administration, but this is not acceptable for patients with GI disease or severe dehydration. Subcutaneous. Reptile skin is not as "giving" as mammal skin. Subcutaneous fluids can be given, but generally small volumes at multiple sites. The best sites are generally at the junctions of the scales (small, dorsal) and scutes (larger, ventral) along the lateroventral aspect of the body. Routes of fluid administration Intracoelomic. Acceptable and most commonly used route of administration, especially in emergency situations. Contraindicated if abdominal disease or ascites is present. In snakes, administer in the caudal 1/3 of the body, again at the junction of scales and scutes. Always aspirate first to ensure that the needle is not in an organ, bowel, or lung. I Intravenous. Snakes: more difficult, jugular catheterization can be accomplished under sedation. The approach is 10 scutes cranial to the heart, at the junction of the scutes and the scales. Butterfly tape and suture or tissue glue can help secure the catheter. In a crisis situation, a catheter can be inserted directly into the ventricle of the heart.
