Difference between revisions of "Snake Gout"
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
History may show poor husbandry including limited access to water. Snakes often present as anorexic and lethargic. Often if kidney disease is involved there is a palpable lump in the caudal third. | History may show poor husbandry including limited access to water. Snakes often present as anorexic and lethargic. Often if kidney disease is involved there is a palpable lump in the caudal third. | ||
| − | + | For a differential diagnosis list of other causes of lumps in the body, see [[Snake Lumps and Bumps]]. | |
[[Image:Necropsy_copy.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Tophi in renal tissue''' - © 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 [[Lizard_and_Snake_Biochemistry#Hyperuricaemia|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 [[Lizard_and_Snake_Biochemistry#Hyperuricaemia|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. | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 20 August 2010
 |
This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing. |
Introduction
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 related to an innate metabolic problem.
- In secondary gout, acquired disease interferes with the uric acid metabolism. Terrestrial reptiles are predisposed to secondary gout since nitrogenous waste is excreted as uric acid.
In snakes, kidney disease often leads to the development of a visceral gout where uric acid crystals (tophi) are deposited in subcutaneous and internal tissues.
For more information on excretion, see Lizard and Snake Excretion.
Examination
History may show poor husbandry including limited access to water. Snakes often present as anorexic and lethargic. Often if kidney disease is involved there is a palpable lump in the caudal third.
For a differential diagnosis list of other causes of lumps in the body, see Snake Lumps and Bumps.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of gout may be suspected on history and physical examination. Biochemistry may indicate a hyperuricaemia. Sometimes 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 physical examinations, see Snake Physical Examination.
For more information on biopsy collection, see Specimen Collection and Evaluation.
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.
For more information, see Snake Supportive Care.
Prevention
Any bouts of dehydration will predispose to the development of gout so good husbandry is important in prevention. Veterinarians should ensure adequate hydration of reptiles prior to any drug therapy especially the use of nephrotoxic drugs.
For more information on good husbandry practices, see Snake Husbandry.