Changes

===Therapy===  

===Therapy===  

Dystocia is usually not an emergency situation if the female is bright, alert and responsive, but delay increases the risk of complications and decreases the chance of a successful treatment. In cases where parturition ceases, treatment for dystocia should be instigated within 48 hours. However, treatment may be successful up to a week after parturition begins. Snakes with dystocia should initially receive supportive care, especially environmental conditions within their POTZ and rehydration.  

Dystocia is usually not an emergency situation if the female is bright, alert and responsive, but delay increases the risk of complications and decreases the chance of a successful treatment. In cases where parturition ceases, treatment for dystocia should be instigated within 48 hours. However, treatment may be successful up to a week after parturition begins. Lizards and snakes with dystocia should initially receive supportive care, especially environmental conditions within their POTZ and rehydration.  

* Initially, husbandry practices should rectified - assess temperature, nesting site, hydration and surrounding environment.

Treating dystocia may be problematic for viviparous reptiles (colubrid snakes, boas, blue-tongue skink and prehensile-tailed skink), especially for snakes as they carry a large number of fetuses (5-50).

* If oviposition does not occur within several weeks or the reptile becomes dehydrated and lethargic, consider surgical intervention (ovariosalpingectomy).

Once oviposition begins but does not complete within 48 hours consider:

* Treatments such as manual manipulation, aspiration of the egg contents and administration of calcium and oxytocin may be ineffective or dangerous to the patient and are therefore not recommended.

 

* Once follicular dystocia is established, ovariectomy is indicated. Coeliotomy is followed by removal of the ovaries and follicles. It is not essential to remove the oviducts.

* Physical manipulation – but a rupture or prolapse may result

* Aspiration involves inserting a needle into the egg and aspirating the contents (ovocentesis). This results in a smaller egg that may be easier to pass. Caution must be taken to not allow any of the egg contents to escape into the coelomic cavity. Aspiration must be done within the 48 hours of cessation of laying since the eggs harden making aspiration impossible. Hormonal stimulation may be used to start contractions if they do not start on their own after the aspiration. If the eggs are not expelled within 48 hours of aspiration consider surgical removal.

* If oviposition/parturition does not occur within 2 or more weeks or the reptile becomes dehydrated and lethargic, consider an ovariosalpingectomy.

===Prevention===

===Prevention===