Basic Care of Snakes in Captivity

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Basic Care of Snakes in Captivity

• Dr.A.V.Belsare
• B.V.Sc A.H

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Wildlife Protection Act (1972)

• Zoos and Rescue Centres
• Non Government Organizations
• Herpetologists
• Scientists
• Sarpmitra

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Interventions

• Rescue
• Research
• Documentation
• Treatment

4
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

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Basic physiology of reptiles

• Cold blooded animals or Ectotherms
• Metabolic rate
• Wild instinct masking of symptoms
• Food chain all snakes are carnivorous
• Stress

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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.

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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 80-95F (27-35C).
  
• Patients need to be warmed up to their POTR prior
  to initiating drug therapy.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Snake diseases in captivity

• Most reptile diseases encountered in captive
  specimen are partially or wholly related to
  faulty housing, feeding and other management
  practices

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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.

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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

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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.

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Treating Wounds

• Topically apply Silver sulphadiazine 1 cream or
  Neosporin or Povidone Iodine ointment
• Systemic use of Enrofloxacin or Amikacin

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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

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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.

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Abscess
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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.

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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

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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.

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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(150)
• Put in container with moist towels

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Assisted shedding
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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.

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Retained Spectacle
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Pneumonia
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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.
•  

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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

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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.

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Mite
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Tick
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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

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Nematodes
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Cestodes
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Nematodes
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Remember

• The cage should be thoroughly cleaned after each
  treatment.

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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

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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.

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Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot
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Infectious Stomatitis or Mouth rot
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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.

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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, DVMAvian and Exotic Animal Care,
  PARaleigh, NC

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Thank you

• Dr.A.V.Belsare
• 9822064561
• anyadoc_at_gmail.com

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• 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.