Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A 05
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This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Reptiles and Amphibians Q&A. |
The diet-related disorder steatitis occurs occasionally in captive reptiles, but probably does not occur in wild reptiles eating natural diets. Steatitis is a condition in which body fat becomes chronically inflamed and altered grossly and microscopically. This boa constrictor was fed an abnormal diet which led to its body fat becoming hard and yellow-orange.
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| What nutritional practices can induce steatitis? | Generally, any circumstance that results in the ingestion of high levels of saturated fats or fatty acids can induce steatitis. In this instance, the boa was fed a diet consisting entirely of grossly obese laboratory rats that had been fed an experimental ration consisting of only sunflower seeds and water. As a consequence, the snake received an extremely fat-laden diet. |
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| Can steatitis be reversed? | Yes. |
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| If so, how? | By administering oral or injectable vitamin E (50mg/kg daily) and a change of diet to one which does not contain high levels of lipid. |
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| What is the prognosis? | The prognosis depends largely upon the chronicity: if diagnosed early, this condition is resolved with specific treatment; more chronic disease may be difficult to treat because the lesions may have become isolated by dense fibrocollagenous connective tissue capsules that inhibit the cellular distribution of alpha- and mixed tocopherols. |
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