Traumatic and Spontaneous Damage
Traumatic damage can be due to attacks by other reptiles such as those induced by males fighting over a female. In some species such as green iguanas, the male mounting the female during mating bites the shoulder area vigorously causing open wounds. Invertebrate live prey can cause trauma to sick or anarectic reptiles. Finally, injuries from cage furniture are common place. Unprotected heat sources frequently cause severe burns. Spontaneous skin damage wherein the skin has split as the snake has swallowed prey, has been recorded in some snakes. It has been postulated that this may be due to a deficiency in vitamin C or even a hereditary defect in skin elasticity.
In some cholanians, scutes may be seen to lift off, often weeping clear fluid beneath them. This is frequently associated with underlying renal disease. Introgenic causes of skin damage are also seen in some reptiles such as chelonians. This can occur after over administration of vitamin A, which can cause sloughing of the epidermal layer of the head, neck and limbs, exposing the underlying dermis.
In some cholanians, scutes may be seen to lift off, often weeping clear fluid beneath them. This is frequently associated with underlying renal disease. Introgenic causes of skin damage are also seen in some reptiles such as chelonians. This can occur after over administration of vitamin A, which can cause sloughing of the epidermal layer of the head, neck and limbs, exposing the underlying dermis.
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