Skin folding indicates dehydration, cachexia. Assessment of dehydration in reptiles is analogous to mammals. With 5-8% dehydration there is loss of skin elasticity with a wrinkled appearance. With more severe dehydration (10-15%) the eyes are sunken and the mucous membranes become dry and sticky (consider that the oral cavity of most reptiles is relatively dry compared with mammals). | Skin folding indicates dehydration, cachexia. Assessment of dehydration in reptiles is analogous to mammals. With 5-8% dehydration there is loss of skin elasticity with a wrinkled appearance. With more severe dehydration (10-15%) the eyes are sunken and the mucous membranes become dry and sticky (consider that the oral cavity of most reptiles is relatively dry compared with mammals). |