PARTING THE WATERS OF TRADITION FLUID THERAPY TREATMENT IN REPTILES

It has long been the recommended fluid therapy of choice in reptiles to increase plasma and cellular fluid volumes to use a Lactated Ringers Solution. The use of lactated fluids in now beginning to prove counter productive in reptile patients. Based on recent studies it has been shown that reptiles produce large amount of lactate as a result of anaerobic metabolism. They accumulate these large amounts of lactate following physical and physiological exertions. A normally healthy reptile is capable of reducing these high levels of lactate through periods of inactivity and thermoregulation.

Sick reptiles are usually suffering from conditions related to poor husbandry and stress, which reduces a reptile's ability to reduce its lactate levels. When the level of lactate within a reptile's body becomes too high and they are unable to reduce it, the excess lactate begins to impede several physiological functions. As a result of this, using a lactated ringers solution during fluid therapy in reptiles may actually have an adverse effect on the treatment of a sick or injured reptile.

Because of these factors the recommended fluid therapy of choice for reptiles is a 50/50 combination of Dextrose 5% in water and a nonlactated, isotonic multiple electrolyte solution (such as Normosol-R, (CEVA Laboratories, Oveerland Park, KS) or Plasma Lyte (Baxter Health Care, Deerfield, IL). This solution may be administered subcutaneously, epicoelomically, intracoelomically or intravascularly.

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