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Many owners fail to appreciate the importance of preventive medicine and the role of the veterinary surgeon as part of it. A preventive medicine program is an important part of sound husbandry practice. This is especially important in exhibitions where larger numbers are kept although it is still important for the pet owner with only one or two reptiles.
Why?
- Prevention = simple, low tech, cheap
- Treatment = complex, high tech, expensive
Stock selection
It is important to start with physically healthy (and hopefully genetically sound) animals and know their species-specific (lizard and snake requirements. Appropriate identification is necessary, especially for reproduction.
Quarantine
A quarantine program for newly acquired animals is essential to assess their health and prevent the spread of any subclinical disease. A quarantine area can also be set up for sick animals.
How long?
Quarantine should be advised for between 90 and 180 days before introducing a reptile into a reptile collection. All new lizards and snakes should enter and leave the quarantine room at the same time. Note that even a 90 day quarantine may be insufficient time to detect some viral or bacterial diseases where a reptile can be a latent carrier or has subclinical symptoms.
Where?
The quarantine room should at a distance from the main collection and there should be no air exchange between them. Once anyone has entered the quarantine area they should not enter the area where the others are kept.
Procedures
- Upon entering quarantine lizards and snakes should be identified and measurements taken, including weight and snout to vent length. Take a history of the animal.
- Daily observation to identify any problems (anatomical and behavioural).
- Physical examination by a veterinary surgeon (see lizard exam and snake exams).
- Faecal examination - most wild snakes have parasites.
- Haematology and biochemistry to establish a minimum data base.
- Serology if thought appropriate e.g. ophidian paramyxovirus (OPMV).
Veterinary involvement
Veterinary involvement in a preventive medicine program should include regular screening as well as disease investigation. Regular screening can include annual physical examinations, haematology and biochemical tests, faecal tests and other tests as deemed necessary. Regular screening of prey for infectious disease is also worthwhile considering. Disease investigation includes examinations as necessary and necropsies. Isolation of any infectious organism can be used for autogenous vaccination production.
- For more information on giving physical examinations, see Lizard Physical Examination and Snake Physical Examination.
- For more information on diagnostic aids, see Category:Lizard Diagnostics and Category:Snake Diagnostics.
- For more information on post mortems, see Lizard Necropsy and Snake Necropsy.