Dehydration
Water is the most important nutritional constituent for any living creature. Dehydration can cause poor shed, junk in the eyes, gout and shedding issues to name a few. It is important to give any animal fresh water daily. Stagnant water can harbour dangerous bacteria which may cause septicaemia and death.
Dehydration is common in ill reptiles and can lead to gout (aka hyperuricaemia) due to the reduction of excretion of uric acid. Gout is a condition caused by the unique way that many reptiles deal with waste products of protein metabolism. Most reptiles are uricotelic, that is to say the main excretory product of protein metabolism is uric acid. This compound is relatively insoluble in water, therefore the reptile is able to reduce water loss when excreting it. Unfortunately if the reptile becomes dehydrated either acutely or chronically, or consumes diets with excessive protein levels, particularly a type of protein called purines, or suffers kidney damage, then uric acid levels build up in blood stream. If allowed to, this will eventually exceed the precipitation point and form crystals inside the body.
There are two forms of gout, visceral and articular. Articular gout causes gross swelling and inflammation in joints where uric acid crystals form. Viseral gout occurs where uric acid crystals are deposited in soft tissues of the body, primary sites being kidneys, the pericardial sac, lungs, spleen and liver. Once deposited it is almost impossible to move the crystals medically and permanent damage is often done.
Dehydration is common in ill reptiles and can lead to gout (aka hyperuricaemia) due to the reduction of excretion of uric acid. Gout is a condition caused by the unique way that many reptiles deal with waste products of protein metabolism. Most reptiles are uricotelic, that is to say the main excretory product of protein metabolism is uric acid. This compound is relatively insoluble in water, therefore the reptile is able to reduce water loss when excreting it. Unfortunately if the reptile becomes dehydrated either acutely or chronically, or consumes diets with excessive protein levels, particularly a type of protein called purines, or suffers kidney damage, then uric acid levels build up in blood stream. If allowed to, this will eventually exceed the precipitation point and form crystals inside the body.
There are two forms of gout, visceral and articular. Articular gout causes gross swelling and inflammation in joints where uric acid crystals form. Viseral gout occurs where uric acid crystals are deposited in soft tissues of the body, primary sites being kidneys, the pericardial sac, lungs, spleen and liver. Once deposited it is almost impossible to move the crystals medically and permanent damage is often done.
References
Girling, S., 2003. Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets. Blackwell Publishing.
© 2014 Cat Read
Girling, S., 2003. Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets. Blackwell Publishing.
© 2014 Cat Read