Septicaemia
There are three observable conditions which may be present either at the same time or individually in an animal suffering from septicamia: These conditions are erythema, Petechiae and ecchymoses.
Erythema is the reddening of skin tissues due to vascular congestion beneath. It can be seen in reptiles as a pink hue to the area between skutes in the case of chelonians and crocodylians, or the more generalised reddening of the skin seen in snakes.
Petachiae are the pin-point haemorrhages seen in many reptiles. They can be seen in areas such as caused by the mouth, where they often suggest the incidence of an oral infection such as ‘mouth rot’. They may be seen over the whole of the body suggesting the possibility of septicaemia. Other conditions include clotting deficiencies such as are caused by the consumption of rodent prey which has itself consumed a warafrin type poison.
Ecchymoses are larger areas of haemorrhages, and may be caused by severe local infection or conditions mentioned above.
Bacterial – others which have been closely associated with skin disease include salmonella. These can cause skin abscesses, septicaemia and areas of skin sloughing. Others such as mycoboacteria spp may be seen associated with the appearance of swellings, producing classical tuberculous lesions.
Bacterial – absesses/ eye infection (not to be confused with avitaminosis as seen largely in tortoises) lung infecting/ external fungal disease/ red leg disease/ salmonellosis/ Dropsy or tympaitis
Fungal – many of the fungi found in the local environment are found associated with wounds, These include Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp and dermatophytes (the cause of ringworm in mammals).
Erythema is the reddening of skin tissues due to vascular congestion beneath. It can be seen in reptiles as a pink hue to the area between skutes in the case of chelonians and crocodylians, or the more generalised reddening of the skin seen in snakes.
Petachiae are the pin-point haemorrhages seen in many reptiles. They can be seen in areas such as caused by the mouth, where they often suggest the incidence of an oral infection such as ‘mouth rot’. They may be seen over the whole of the body suggesting the possibility of septicaemia. Other conditions include clotting deficiencies such as are caused by the consumption of rodent prey which has itself consumed a warafrin type poison.
Ecchymoses are larger areas of haemorrhages, and may be caused by severe local infection or conditions mentioned above.
Bacterial – others which have been closely associated with skin disease include salmonella. These can cause skin abscesses, septicaemia and areas of skin sloughing. Others such as mycoboacteria spp may be seen associated with the appearance of swellings, producing classical tuberculous lesions.
Bacterial – absesses/ eye infection (not to be confused with avitaminosis as seen largely in tortoises) lung infecting/ external fungal disease/ red leg disease/ salmonellosis/ Dropsy or tympaitis
Fungal – many of the fungi found in the local environment are found associated with wounds, These include Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp and dermatophytes (the cause of ringworm in mammals).
©2014 Cat Read