Reptile emergency and critical care medicine

Anatomic difference

• 3 chamber heart.



• Metanephric kidney, excrete uric acid, for turtle, they excrete ammonia/urea

Client education

• Herpetological sociecy for client handout.

Physical examination

• Keep the patient in an warm/humidified incubator while taking history. the optimal temperature and humidity can be searched on the internet



• Except CPCR, reptiles should NOT be given any medications before reaching optimize temperature



• The warming time should last at least 4-6 hours to reach, take high end for diseased animals



• The ICU unit can be purchased on Lyon Technologies



• For most reptiles the optimal temperature is 24C-29C, 50%-70%, UV full spectrum can also helps

CPCR

• Follow the same ABC guideline.



• Open mouth to support airways


• It is not to intubate reptiles


• PIP settings 4-6 breathes/min, 8cm mmHg


• Doppler or electric stethoscope is better for heart rate monitoring


• ECG? questionable can place the lead clamp on hypodermic needle and place as mammal.


• snake place cranial and caudal to the heart.