Abscess removal in a desert horned viper (Cerastes cerastes)
Downloads
Venomous snakes are widely kept in captive as collections by private reptile keepers. A 7 years old male desert horned viper (Cerastes cerastes) was presented with a lump on the caudal part of the body. Proper physical restraining method using snake hook and transparent tubes was performed for clinical examination and radiography. Two radiography views revealed radiopaque in both lateral and dorsal recumbence. Differential diagnosis was tumor growth and abscess. Surgical intervention was indicated and performed with the viper induced with injectable anesthesia and maintained with gas anesthesia. Surgical correction with manually removing the abscess was performed. The NSAID, broad spectrum antibiotic, topical antibiotic and fluid therapy were performed post-surgery. Six weeks post-surgery the suture material was removed and wound was dry and healed well.
Divers SJ. 1999. Clinical evaluation of reptiles. Veterinary Clinics of North America Exotic Animal Practice. 2(2):291-331. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30126-3
Di-Girolamo N, Mans C. 2016. Reptile soft tissue surgery. Veterinary Clinics of North America Exotic Animal Practise. 19(1):97-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2015.08.010
Grano M. 2016. Cerastes cerastes. Biodiversity Journal. 7(3):295-386.
Hoppmann E, Barron HW. 2007. Dermatology in reptiles. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 16(4):201-224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2007.10.001
Lock B. 2008. Venomous snake restraint and handling. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 17(4):273-284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2008.07.012
Mader DR. 2006. Reptile Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed. WB Saunders, Elsevier. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-72-169327-X/50039-0
Mitchell MA, Diaz-Figueroa O. 2004. Wound management in reptiles. The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice. 7(1):123-140. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvex.2003.08.006
White SD, Bourdeau P, Bruet V, Kass PH, Tell L, Hawkins MG. 2010. Reptiles with dermatological lesions: a retrospective study of 301 cases at two university teaching hospitals (1992-2008). Veterinary Dermatology. 22(2):150-161. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2010.00926.x
Wilkinson SL. 2014. Guide to venomous reptiles in veterinary practice. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine. 23(4):337-346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2014.07.012
All articles published in this journal are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
This license permits use, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation in any medium, including for commercial purposes, provided the original work is properly cited, a link to the license is given, and any changes made are indicated. Any derivative work must be distributed under the same license or a compatible license.
How to Cite
