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[[Image:Bump2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Biopsy of this swelling revealed renal gout''' (Copyright © RVC)]]

[[Image:Bump2.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Biopsy of this swelling revealed renal gout''' © RVC]]

Gout is a metabolic disease where there is a precipitation of urate crystals in tissue. There are two types of gout in animals.  

Gout is a metabolic disease where there is a precipitation of urate crystals in tissue. There are two types of gout in animals.  

*In primary gout there is an overproduction of [[Uric acid|uric acid]] related to an innate metabolic problem.  

*In primary gout there is an overproduction of [[Uric acid|uric acid]] related to an innate metabolic problem.  

'''Fore more information on differential diagnosis of lumps in the body, see''' [[Snake Lumps and Bumps]].

'''Fore more information on differential diagnosis of lumps in the body, see''' [[Snake Lumps and Bumps]].

[[Image:Necropsy_copy.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Tophi in renal tissue''' - (Copyright © RVC)]]

[[Image:Necropsy_copy.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Tophi in renal tissue''' - © RVC]]

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

The diagnosis of gout may be suspected on history and physical examination. [[Lizard and Snake Biochemistry|Biochemistry]] may indicate a hyperuricaemia. Sometimes [[Lizard and Snake Imaging|radiography]] is useful if calcium is deposited with the urate crystals. Biopsy of any lumps may be useful. A definite diagnosis is the demonstration of tophi in diseased tissue.  

The diagnosis of gout may be suspected on history and physical examination. [[Lizard and Snake Biochemistry|Biochemistry]] may indicate a hyperuricaemia. Sometimes [[Lizard and Snake Imaging|radiography]] is useful if calcium is deposited with the urate crystals. Biopsy of any lumps may be useful. A definite diagnosis is the demonstration of tophi in diseased tissue.  

'''For more information on biopsy collection, see''' [[Lizard and Snake Specimen Collection and Evaluation|Specimen Collection and Evaluation]].

'''For more information on biopsy collection, see''' [[Lizard and Snake Specimen Collection and Evaluation|Specimen Collection and Evaluation]].

[[Image:Renal_gout_python_regius.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Tophi in diseased tissue''' - (Copyright © RVC)]]

[[Image:Renal_gout_python_regius.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Tophi in diseased tissue''' © RVC]]

==Therapy==

==Therapy==

Supportive treatment especially aimed at rehydration may be useful but gout carries a poor prognosis. Previously allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that decreases formation of uric acid) has been recommended as a treatment of hyperuricaemia in reptiles and birds but in fact appears to be of little use. Other drugs such as uricases (enzymes involved in the degradation of uric acid to allantoin) may be more useful.

Supportive treatment especially aimed at rehydration may be useful but gout carries a poor prognosis. Previously allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor that decreases formation of uric acid) has been recommended as a treatment of hyperuricaemia in reptiles and birds but in fact appears to be of little use. Other drugs such as uricases (enzymes involved in the degradation of uric acid to allantoin) may be more useful.