Essentials of Tortoise Medicine and Surgery

Preface vi Part I Introduction 1 1 Biology 3 1.1 Species and Family Overview 3 1.2 Natural History 9 1.3 Sex Determination and Incubation of Eggs 20 1.4 Physiology/Anatomy 27 1.5 Chelonian Behaviour 34 2 Husbandry 41 2.1 The Husbandry Review 41 2.2 Hibernation 50 3 Practice Needs 54 3.1 Equipment 54 3.2 Economics 56 3.3 Hospitalisation 59 3.4 Instructions for Receptionists 62 4 Examination 63 4.1 Transport Guidelines 63 4.2 History and Examination Techniques 64 4.3 Handling 76 4.4 Zoonoses 78 5 Basic Techniques 80 5.1 Venipuncture and Sample Handling 80 5.2 Toenail Trimming 87 5.3 Beak Trim 90 5.4 Stomach Tubing 93 5.5 Injection Techniques and Therapeutics 97 5.6 Fluid Therapy 102 5.7 Cytological Sampling and Biopsy 105 5.8 Microchipping 108 5.9 Euthanasia 112 6 General Anaesthesia 114 7 Imaging 120 7.1 Radiography 120 7.2 Ultrasound 127 7.3 Endoscopy and Biopsy 130 7.4 Advanced Imaging Techniques 137 8 Surgery 139 8.1 Surgery Needs and Equipment 139 8.2 Haemostasis 142 8.3 Surgical Techniques 143 9 Clinical Pathology 150 9.1 Haematology and Serum Biochemistry 150 9.2 Parasitology 163 9.3 Microbiology 166 9.4 Post-mortem Examination Techniques 174 Part II Presentations 179 10 Anorexia 181 11 Diarrhoea 185 12 Dyspnoea 187 12.1 Respiratory Disease 187 12.2 Coelomic Cavity Distension 191 13 Otitis Media/Aural Abscess 192 14 Egg Retention/Dystocia 195 15 Fallen in Pond 198 16 Follicular Stasis 200 17 Orthopaedics 205 18 Fractures of the Shell 216 19 Hepatic Lipidosis 222 20 Lameness 225 21 Lethargy 229 22 Soft Tissue Masses 231 23 Nasal Discharge 235 24 Ocular and Conjunctival/Palpebral Swelling 239 25 Ocular Opacities and Blindness 242 26 Generalised Oedema or Anasarca 248 27 Inflammation of the Oral (Stomatitis) and Pharyngeal Areas 251 28 External Parasites 254 29 Internal Parasites 256 30 Peeling Skin or Shell 265 31 Prolapse 270 32 Shell Disease 275 33 Skin Ulceration 280 34 Soft Tissue Trauma 285 35 Swimming Problems 289 36 Swollen Limbs 292 37 Uroliths 299 38 Vomiting and Regurgitation 302 39 Metabolic Bone Diseases 305 40 Shell Deformities 309 Appendix 1 Formulary 313 Appendix 2 Haematological Normals 318 Appendix 3 Toxicoses 320 Index 327