Pain assessment and management in animals is still a new and growing field of research. Although it is still early days for pain research in birds, this article aims to provide information on the pain behaviours known so far, and describes current analgesic drugs and doses.
Lizards are a commonly encountered reptile species in first opinion practice. They are relatively low maintenance pets, making them desirable for households with children or for those that work long hours. Many presenting ailments in lizards originate from poor husbandry and potentially have considerable welfare implications linked to the case. This is often caused by the vast amount of contradictory information available on the internet, perplexing inexperienced owners. Veterinary professionals can educate and try to prevent further complications. In order to successfully treat, hospitalize and care for reptilian patients, veterinary patients need to be fully equipped, knowledgeable and patient. The latter is of high importance because unlike mammalian patients, reptiles have a low metabolic rate, slowing the response to medications and treatment. Owners should be made aware of this, especially if a treatment course is expected to continue for weeks. This article aims to give an overview of how to nurse lizards in a hospital setting and to prompt more thorough, detailed histories to be taken.
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