Page 191 - BSAVA Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice

BSAVA Guide to Pain Management in Small Animal Practice

VetBooks.ir e ex p e Shell trauma in tortoises

warm to 8 C; if facilities such as a vivarium
HISTORY AND PRESENTATION
are not available, then an incubator will su ce
Shell trauma is a common presentation in the rst instance while emergency care is
in terrestrial chelonians. This is often due undertaken. Depending on the severity of the
to trauma from dog bites, lawnmowers in uries, the tortoise may bene t from
or simply being dropped by the owner. stabili ation with supportive care, and uid
Tortoises rarely show evidence of pain therapy should be considered. Antibiotics
despite having severe injuries. It can be including anaerobic cover should be provided
di cult for owners and veterinary surgeons as organisms from the mouth of a dog or soil
veterinarians to appreciate the urgency of can contaminate wounds. Once the tortoise is
these cases and the need for analgesia. warmed attention should be paid to
analgesia. Parenteral meloxicam at
. mg kg every 48 hours by in ection
CLINICAL SIGNS AND SIGNS OF PAIN
ernande ivers et al., 4 should be
Large de cits can be present exposing areas used as standard. Opioids should always be
of pectoral or pelvic musculature in highly used in situations where there has been
mobile areas that can be di cult to stabili e extensive skeletal trauma. Pure mu opioids
igure 7. 8 . Clinically overt signs of such as morphine are indicated. These can
discomfort at this stage can be limited take up to hours for an analgesic e ect. Up
although some individuals may retreat to 6. mg kg every 4 hours has been
into their shell, have reduced mobility or suggested (Sladky et al., 7 .
attempt to bite. This can make a The wounds can be managed in a similar
detailed assessment of injuries problematic. fashion to open wounds of any species.
ith severe in uries, anaesthesia and surgical entle ushing with sterile saline is re uired
debridement or repair is indicated. and physical debris can be removed. In
severely contaminated wounds, surgical
TREATMENT debridement is often re uired igure 7. 9 .
This should be thorough with any remaining
The tortoise needs to be warmed to its debris or bone fragments removed. Pre
optimal temperature in order to e ectively medication with morphine prior to surgical
absorb uid therapy and metaboli e debridement is indicated. The use of other
therapeutic agents. It should be allowed to premedicants is often overlooked but may

It is common to nd large de cits in the
3 plastron and carapace following a dog A sterile toothbrush can be useful for
attack. 3 wound debridement.
© Jenna Richardson © Jenna Richardson

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