EXOTICS
In dysecdysis the skin is retained completely or in patches and if removed the underlying scales can be rough or wrinkled . Common causes of dysecdysis include internal parasites , infectious conditions and inadequate environmental humidity . Shedding storms where the animal goes into the blue almost immediately after shedding can occur due to underlying disease or hormonal imbalances .
Dry gangrene : typically occurs on the delicate extremities . Should the animal have trouble shedding , skin will often remain on the toes and tail tip . This dry skin contracts and may cause avascular necrosis . Secondary bacterial infection occurs and may quickly spread up the limb and become life threatening . Amputation through healthy tissue is the treatmenty of choice and antibacterial cover is recommended .
Figure 8 Septicaemic vesicle “ blister disease ” in an albino Burmese Python
Figure 9 : Healing 3rd degree thermal burn from a heating pad in a Corn Snake
Figure 6 : Removing retained skin on the toes of a Leopard Gecko - this condition is caused by inadequate humidity and predisposes to dry gangrene
in such a way that the inhabitant receives sufficient warmth without coming into contact with the light or heating pad . Treatment is routine with antibiotics , dressings and analgesia , depending on the grade of the burn . They take a long time to heal and owners need to be prepared for the costs and time that will need to be invested in the treatment .
Rodent bites : occur when live mammalian prey is left unsupervised in the snake ’ s cage . Snakes will rarely kill a rodent simply in defense and if not hungry will simply withdraw as far as possible from the rat . In the confines of a cage , the rodent may then cause severe trauma to the reptile . These large wounds often become secondarily infected and can take months to heal . Live mammalian prey should never be fed to reptiles , both for humane and safety reasons . The vast
Figure 7 : Dry gangrene in a juvenile Green Iguana
“ Scale Rot ” or ulcerative dermatitis : Is a condition found most commonly in snakes . Damp , dirty conditions predispose to bacterial dermatitis . Vesicles , crusts and ulcers form on the ventrum and can become very deep . Similar lesions can appear all over the body in septicaemic states . Treatment consists of antibiotics , topical ointments such as F10 , anti-inflammatories and correction of the husbandry .
Burn Wounds : typically occur when the reptile gets too close to a heat source in the cage . Heat sources should be reptile approved and positioned in the cage
Figure 10 : Rat bite in an African Rock Python - an endangered species that does poorly in captivity and should only be kept by the very experienced herpetologist
Issue 06 | DECEMBER 2016 | 37