Reptiles: A Practical Approach to the Scaly Patient

Lizards, snakes and chelonians make up an extremely large and diverse group of reptiles with thousands of different species found throughout the world, adapted to a large variety of climates, habitats, and natural diets.

Their anatomy and physiology can therefore vary considerably between different groups with each species adapted to its natural environment. Consequently, different species can have extremely different environmental and nutritional requirements, often difficult to reproduce satisfactorily in captivity. This, coupled with their ability to survive without showing obvious signs of illness, can present a challenge for the veterinary surgeon having to make general recommendations.

This learning series with Elisabetta Mancinelli provides the general practitioner with basic and practical tools when dealing with reptiles and provides additional knowledge from common clinical techniques to reptile anaesthesia and surgery.