Emergency care of reptiles.
Most reptile emergencies are the result of improper husbandry and nutrition. Reptiles are good at masking disease, and owners, failing to recognize early signs of illness, only seek veterinary assistance when issues are advanced and near terminal. The veterinarian should be familiar with reptile species-specific husbandry and nutritional requirements and basic clinical techniques. The same principles and techniques used in small animal medicine can be applied to reptile emergencies. This article reviews general emergency principles that apply to the reptilian patient and common emergency presentations. The main areas of discussion focus on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, fluid therapy, and analgesia.
Martinez-Jimenez
David
D
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-7390, USA. davidmjvet@hotmail.com
Hernandez-Divers
Stephen J
SJ
D000698:Analgesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D012104:Reptiles / Q000502:physiology