Re: Sound great ! (+ something to copy and save)

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by Hakan on March 13, 1999 at 19:36:01:

In Reply to: egg-box update--Meggy's happily digging and I'm have a sherry! posted by Meggy's Mom on March 13, 1999 at 18:17:36:

Hi !

Sounds for sure like you have everything under control. When the female iguana
is in a good condition, like your iguana sounds to be, she will most certanily
have no problem laying all eggs if she now accept the nesting box. Thats what
I believe.

But you may still want to spay her.

Cheers

Hakan

Breaking copyright for a good sake....

FRYE:
Should a female iguana be "spayed" ?

Fredric L. Frye (Iguana iguana, guide for successful captive care 1995) writes -
"Whether they have or have not mated recently - or have never mated - female iguanas can produce eggs. The production of shelled eggs requires an immense
amount of fat, protein and calcium - all of which must be mobilized and drawn from the stores in the female's body tissues. Consequently, the health of the female
iguanas that exhibit multiple clutching in multiple years is jeopardized. However, they can be "spayed" in a fashion much like that performed on cats and dogs. This
surgical procedure, called an ovarisalpingectomy, often greatly prolongs the life of a pet iguana because it prevents the repeated metabolic stress of producing eggs.
The operation can be done soon after the female has achieved sexual maturity. The procedure, which requires general, anesthesia, employs sterile surgical
techniques identical to those used in humans and the more "conventional" small domestic animals. When performed under correct conditions, this surgery is safe and
highly efficacious. If your female iguana produce multiple clutches of eggs in a single year, and/or you are not interested in propagating iguanas in your home, discuss
the merits of surgical sterilization with your veterinarian."

MADER:

Reproductive Surgery in the Green Iguana

Douglas R. Mader, MS, DVM, ABVP

Iguanas are the most popular reptile pet currently being kept in the United States. They are often sold as beginners pet, but their husbandry and management dictate
that they should be kept by more experienced owners. Two of the more common problems encountered in the captive iguana involve reproduction. Females are often
presented in various states of debilitation during their reproductive season, and males will frequently become unmanageably aggressive towards their owners during
this same time period. Medical management of the gravid iguana is discussed, especially regarding supportive care, induced oviposition, and surgical intervention,
including the procedure for a complete ovariosalpingotomy. Aggression in sexually mature males is evaluated, and suggestions for managing these animals is
discussed. A perspective on the effects of castration is rewieved, and the technique is described.

It has been recently estimated that there are over 7.3 million reptile owning households in the United States. Compare this with the 50 to 55 million households
having dogs and cats as pets. It is clear to see that reptiles are fast becoming a favorite among pet owners. Of interest, and of no surprise, that the Green Iguana
(Iguana iguana) is currently the most popular pet.

As with all other pets, iguana owners will inevitably want to breed their iguanas. However, iguanas are very difficult to breed in captivity. Even professional institutions,
with all of their highly skilled herpetologists, have a hard time getting these animals to reproduce in captivity. If they do breed, and if the eggs are fertile, oviposition
and incubation rarely succeed. Animals sold through pet stores advertised as "captive born" usually refer to females that were harvested from the wild in a gravid
state and then allowed to oviposit in captivity. Therefore, in essence, the advertisements are not totally false. They are born in captivity, but they
are not bred in captivity. So where�s the problem ? Just as in birds, female iguanas will still reproductively cycle and ovulate, even without the presence of a male. Of
particular interest is the subject of whether it is necessary to spay and neuter pet iguanas. With the increasing popularity of this species, there is an ever-increasing
pressure to offer the best medical care.

With dogs and cats, it is recommended to have them neutered before their reaching puberty. This procedure renders the pet infertile and incapable of reproduction. In
most cases, after successful completion of this surgery, the mammal pet is oftentimes more "mellow" when compared with intact conspecifics.There are several other
motivating factors that play a significant role in the decision of whether to sterilize dogs and cats. Significantly, it is well known that spaying the bitch before her first
heat will eliminate the possibility of mammary neoplasia.

In addition to the above, neutering prevents unwanted pregnancies, thereby cutting down on current overpopulation problems. Millions of dogs and cats are killed
each year at animal shelters because there are simply too many animals and not enough homes.

Surprisingly this matter is relevant, although feral iguanas are not running rampant through the streets, eating out of trash cans in the alley, begging at the back doors
of the dimly lit restaurants, and being slaughtered by automobiles on the nation's roadways. In fact, with reptiles captive breeding is usually encouraged to diminish
the pressures of exportation of the wild populations and to decrease the numbers of sick and stressed lizards emerging from the pet trade. The problem here is one of
health care and home management of the wild pet. (Yes, iguanas are wild animals they are not domesticated as are the dogs and cat, and at the best, we can only
call them "tamed".) There is still very little that we know about these creatures in the wild and until we can fully understand their needs and requirements in the great
outdoors, it will be impossible to match these demands in captivity.

Medical and Surgical Management of the Female Iguana

Reproduction in the wild iguana is complex. Several factors play a role in determining the annual gonadal cycles, with recrudescence corresponding to increasing
daily temperatures. Other factors, such as rainfall, photo period, and humidity also have an influence, albeit to a lesser degree. In captivity, with, for example artificial
temperatures, artificial lighting, and artificial humidity regulation, female iguanas may cycle at various times throughout the year, depending on their geographic
location. In southern California, either two distinct laying seasons are observed, fall and spring, or one long season, lasting from late fall to early spring Reports from
herpetological veterinarians in northern states claim that ovarian development occurs in the spring, coincident with warmer days and the longer day lengths.

There are two predictable outcomes after ovarian activity in the iguana. In the first scenario, when the female is in good flesh, or good body condition, she may
develop follicles on her ovaries but then resorb them if the conditions for oviposition are not right. In the wild, the female Green Iguana displays elaborate nesting
behavior. They lay their eggs in the sandy soil of river banks. If an appropriate beach area is not available, they have been noted to swim miles up or down stream to
find such a place. If space is at a premium, female iguanas have been observed sharing beach space, and even nesting sites with other females.

In captivity, these animals may begin to display nest searching and nest building behavior. Pet iguanas have been known to dig up planters in the house in an attempt
to build a nest. If an appropriate area is not available, females in good health are capable of resorting their ova, and recycling for the following laying season.
The problem arises because a female will normally become anorectic for about 4 weeks before oviposition. The developing eggs take up so much space within the
coelomic cavity that they act like a space-occupying mass, leaving no room left for gastric content. In a healthy specimen, this is not a problem, as they can easily go 4
weeks without a meal. The problem arises in the females with marginal or poor nutrition, and they do not have the body reserves to last for 4 weeks of nest searching
and digging.

These animals typically present to the hospital collapsed. Additionally, it is not uncommon for these animals to be showing sign of hypocalcemic tetany, as their body
tries to maintain the eggs at the expense ot their calcium homeostasis. These cases are an emergency, and they must be medically managed and stabilized. In many
cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the developing, or as is often the case, static ovaries.

In the second scenario, one where the female is in good nutritional condition, the ova will be ovulated, picked up by the fimbria, and directed into the shell gland
where they will be calcified. (Iguana eggs do not harden like a bird's egg but have a soft pliable shell.) After this occurs, assuming that the female has amble supplies
of calcium, she will oviposit her eggs if the husbandry is correct. These animals may also present in hypocalcemic tetany. However, these patients are not as critical.
They still must be managed medically, but, once stabilized, it may be possible to induce oviposition and avoid the need for surgery.

The most important factor to determine when deciding to manage medically or surgically is whether the animal has a preovulatory or postovulatory condition. In
preovulatory ova retention, the female develops mature follicles, but, owing to some physiological intervention, there is follicular stasis before actual ovulation, The
ova remain on the ovaries and do not resorb. If left in that condition, the follicular membranes will coalesce, forming one large mass of friable yolk. These will readily
rapture, which can happen with rough palpation, causing coelomitis and death of the patient. In postovulatory egg retention, the ova are actually ovulated and taken
up by the shell glands. They may or may not acquire a shell at this time, but again, for whatever reason, oviposition does not occur. It is essential that these two
conditions be differentiated because preovulatory ova retention is not responsive to oxytocin. Calcium and oxytocin, even if dosed repeatedly, will not help these
patients. Such therapy will waste your client's money and possibly do your patient harm from straining that the oxytocin induces.

It is not always possible to differentiate the two conditions radiographically. The only way to tell for certain is if you see actual shell membranes around the eggs. If you
do not see membranes, it may still be a postovulatory condition. It is just in the stage before the deposition of the shell. Oxytocin should not be administered unless
you can discern the individual shell membranes.

When an iguana presents for egg binding, first determine whether it is preovulatory or postovulatory. If preovulatory, and the animal is in good condition, consider
sending it home with husbandry instructions and observation only. The gravid iguana should be sent home with a calcium supplement, specifically Neocalglucon (
calcium glubionate). The recommended dose is 1 ml/kg, PO bid. This is a grape-flavored liquid, and the patients generally take it voluntarily.

The owners need to estimate how long the animal has been anorectic (this is usually the presenting complaint) and then calculate 4 weeks forward from that date. If
the animal either gets worse before the end of 4 weeks, or starts eating (a sign that the female has resorbed her ova), the author suggests a recheck. If by the 4 week
mark there is no change in appetite, and no eggs have been produced, then the clients should return for either medical management (necessitates a repeat radiograph
to determine whether the eggs are now postovulatory) or surgery.

If the postovulatory and the patient does not respond to the protocol in Table 1 or if they are still preovulatory or they are still unidentifiable, then surgery is
recommended. The animal is anesthetized and instrumented for proper monitoring. The author has found that the best method for monitoring anesthesia in the reptile
patient is the pulse oximeter (SDI Vet/Ox 4402 Pulse Oximeter, Sensor Devices Incorporated, Waukesha, WI). This instrument provides information on pulse rate, pulse
strength, and arterial hemoglobin saturation. There are several descriptions in the literature of the surgical technique.

A standard surgical preparation is used (e.g. chlorhexidline). The patient is started on antibiotics since it is difficult to thoroughly prepare reptile skin (due to scales).
Cephalexin, 20 mg/kg, PO every 24 hours for 7 days, is an excellent choice.
A ventral midline approach is made. Do not worry about the ventral midline vessel. It is large and lies within a membrane and can displace to either side, so even
when making a paramedian incision, there is still a 50-50 chance of cutting it. Additionally, cutting through muscle is painful for the patient, produces more
hemorrhage, and makes for a prolonged convalescence. The author performs all of his lizard coeliotomies using a ventral midline incision.

If the ventral midline vessel is accidentally cut, do not panic, just ligate it. There are ample collateral vessels to compensate for this if you need to ligate the vein. In
postovulatory cases, the saplinx, filled with eggs, is the first structure you will encounter. Carefully exteriorize this structure from the fimbria to the "cervix", or the
junction of the oviduct with the urodeum. This entire tissue will need to be removed, and there are several vessels within the mesosalpinx that must be ligated.
Hemoclips make this task more efficient. The V-shaped clips come in various sizes. The author recommends the blue handle (medium) as the most convenient size for
many exotic surgeries. The applicator handle also come in two lengths, allowing easy access to vessels deep within the body cavity or otherwise inaccessible areas, or
areas where an instrument ligation is difficult. The oviductal tissue at the urodeum is ligated and transfixed if necessary, using a monofilamentabsorbable suture
material.

The second half of the reproductive tract is also removed in a similar fashion. Once both shell glands have been removed, the ovaries must be located. The right ovary
is attached to the vena cava, and the left ovary is attached to a branch of the renal vein (Fig 2).

Interposed between the left ovary and the renal vein is the left adrenal gland, an elongated pink granular tissue (Fig 3). It is best not to remove or damage this gland
when ligating the vessels. If it is accidentally removed, the patient will survive. However, make sure that you do not remove the opposite side. Fortunately, the adrenal
gland on the right is opposite the vena cava from the ovary, and it is unlikely that you will damage it during the procedure.

In postovulatory cases, the ovaries are small with diminutive vessels. The ovaries must be removed. There are about three to four veins on each ovary, and a single
artery. Each of these must be ligated or clipped (Fig 4). Use extreme caution when handling these ovaries. It is not difficult to avulse the smaller vessels from the vena
cava, resulting in substantial hemorrhage. Always preload your Hemoclips before handling the vessels.

Most significantly never just remove the gravid shell glands in postovulatory cases (Fig 5). The female is still capable of ovulating, which will result in ectopic ova in
the coelomic cavity. After the ovaries have been removed, double and triple check for hemorrhage. When satisfied, then flush the coelomic cavity with warmed saline
before closing.

In preovulatory cases, the ovaries with the attached ova are the first structures encountered when you enter the coelomic cavity. These can be quite fragile, therefore
extreme care must be used when exteriorizing the gonads. The vascular supply is engorged in these cases, and identifying and ligating these vessels are much easier
than in the postovulatory cases. Of particular importance in preovulatory cases, only the ovaries need to be removed. It is not necessary to remove the shell glands in
preovulatory cases as it is in the postovulatory cases.

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: Hi ! : Sounds for sure like you have everything under control. When the female iguana : is in a good condition, like your iguana sounds to be, she will most certanily : have no problem laying all eggs if she now accept the nesting box. Thats what : I believe. : But you may still want to spay her. : Cheers : Hakan : : Breaking copyright for a good sake.... : FRYE: : Should a female iguana be "spayed" ? : Fredric L. Frye (Iguana iguana, guide for successful captive care 1995) writes - : "Whether they have or have not mated recently - or have never mated - female iguanas can produce eggs. The production of shelled eggs requires an immense : amount of fat, protein and calcium - all of which must be mobilized and drawn from the stores in the female's body tissues. Consequently, the health of the female : iguanas that exhibit multiple clutching in multiple years is jeopardized. However, they can be "spayed" in a fashion much like that performed on cats and dogs. This : surgical procedure, called an ovarisalpingectomy, often greatly prolongs the life of a pet iguana because it prevents the repeated metabolic stress of producing eggs. : The operation can be done soon after the female has achieved sexual maturity. The procedure, which requires general, anesthesia, employs sterile surgical : techniques identical to those used in humans and the more "conventional" small domestic animals. When performed under correct conditions, this surgery is safe and : highly efficacious. If your female iguana produce multiple clutches of eggs in a single year, and/or you are not interested in propagating iguanas in your home, discuss : the merits of surgical sterilization with your veterinarian." : : MADER: : Reproductive Surgery in the Green Iguana : Douglas R. Mader, MS, DVM, ABVP : Iguanas are the most popular reptile pet currently being kept in the United States. They are often sold as beginners pet, but their husbandry and management dictate : that they should be kept by more experienced owners. Two of the more common problems encountered in the captive iguana involve reproduction. Females are often : presented in various states of debilitation during their reproductive season, and males will frequently become unmanageably aggressive towards their owners during : this same time period. Medical management of the gravid iguana is discussed, especially regarding supportive care, induced oviposition, and surgical intervention, : including the procedure for a complete ovariosalpingotomy. Aggression in sexually mature males is evaluated, and suggestions for managing these animals is : discussed. A perspective on the effects of castration is rewieved, and the technique is described. : It has been recently estimated that there are over 7.3 million reptile owning households in the United States. Compare this with the 50 to 55 million households : having dogs and cats as pets. It is clear to see that reptiles are fast becoming a favorite among pet owners. Of interest, and of no surprise, that the Green Iguana : (Iguana iguana) is currently the most popular pet. : As with all other pets, iguana owners will inevitably want to breed their iguanas. However, iguanas are very difficult to breed in captivity. Even professional institutions, : with all of their highly skilled herpetologists, have a hard time getting these animals to reproduce in captivity. If they do breed, and if the eggs are fertile, oviposition : and incubation rarely succeed. Animals sold through pet stores advertised as "captive born" usually refer to females that were harvested from the wild in a gravid : state and then allowed to oviposit in captivity. Therefore, in essence, the advertisements are not totally false. They are born in captivity, but they : are not bred in captivity. So where�s the problem ? Just as in birds, female iguanas will still reproductively cycle and ovulate, even without the presence of a male. Of : particular interest is the subject of whether it is necessary to spay and neuter pet iguanas. With the increasing popularity of this species, there is an ever-increasing : pressure to offer the best medical care. : With dogs and cats, it is recommended to have them neutered before their reaching puberty. This procedure renders the pet infertile and incapable of reproduction. In : most cases, after successful completion of this surgery, the mammal pet is oftentimes more "mellow" when compared with intact conspecifics.There are several other : motivating factors that play a significant role in the decision of whether to sterilize dogs and cats. Significantly, it is well known that spaying the bitch before her first : heat will eliminate the possibility of mammary neoplasia. : In addition to the above, neutering prevents unwanted pregnancies, thereby cutting down on current overpopulation problems. Millions of dogs and cats are killed : each year at animal shelters because there are simply too many animals and not enough homes. : Surprisingly this matter is relevant, although feral iguanas are not running rampant through the streets, eating out of trash cans in the alley, begging at the back doors : of the dimly lit restaurants, and being slaughtered by automobiles on the nation's roadways. In fact, with reptiles captive breeding is usually encouraged to diminish : the pressures of exportation of the wild populations and to decrease the numbers of sick and stressed lizards emerging from the pet trade. The problem here is one of : health care and home management of the wild pet. (Yes, iguanas are wild animals they are not domesticated as are the dogs and cat, and at the best, we can only : call them "tamed".) There is still very little that we know about these creatures in the wild and until we can fully understand their needs and requirements in the great : outdoors, it will be impossible to match these demands in captivity. : : Medical and Surgical Management of the Female Iguana : Reproduction in the wild iguana is complex. Several factors play a role in determining the annual gonadal cycles, with recrudescence corresponding to increasing : daily temperatures. Other factors, such as rainfall, photo period, and humidity also have an influence, albeit to a lesser degree. In captivity, with, for example artificial : temperatures, artificial lighting, and artificial humidity regulation, female iguanas may cycle at various times throughout the year, depending on their geographic : location. In southern California, either two distinct laying seasons are observed, fall and spring, or one long season, lasting from late fall to early spring Reports from : herpetological veterinarians in northern states claim that ovarian development occurs in the spring, coincident with warmer days and the longer day lengths. : There are two predictable outcomes after ovarian activity in the iguana. In the first scenario, when the female is in good flesh, or good body condition, she may : develop follicles on her ovaries but then resorb them if the conditions for oviposition are not right. In the wild, the female Green Iguana displays elaborate nesting : behavior. They lay their eggs in the sandy soil of river banks. If an appropriate beach area is not available, they have been noted to swim miles up or down stream to : find such a place. If space is at a premium, female iguanas have been observed sharing beach space, and even nesting sites with other females. : In captivity, these animals may begin to display nest searching and nest building behavior. Pet iguanas have been known to dig up planters in the house in an attempt : to build a nest. If an appropriate area is not available, females in good health are capable of resorting their ova, and recycling for the following laying season. : The problem arises because a female will normally become anorectic for about 4 weeks before oviposition. The developing eggs take up so much space within the : coelomic cavity that they act like a space-occupying mass, leaving no room left for gastric content. In a healthy specimen, this is not a problem, as they can easily go 4 : weeks without a meal. The problem arises in the females with marginal or poor nutrition, and they do not have the body reserves to last for 4 weeks of nest searching : and digging. : These animals typically present to the hospital collapsed. Additionally, it is not uncommon for these animals to be showing sign of hypocalcemic tetany, as their body : tries to maintain the eggs at the expense ot their calcium homeostasis. These cases are an emergency, and they must be medically managed and stabilized. In many : cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the developing, or as is often the case, static ovaries. : In the second scenario, one where the female is in good nutritional condition, the ova will be ovulated, picked up by the fimbria, and directed into the shell gland : where they will be calcified. (Iguana eggs do not harden like a bird's egg but have a soft pliable shell.) After this occurs, assuming that the female has amble supplies : of calcium, she will oviposit her eggs if the husbandry is correct. These animals may also present in hypocalcemic tetany. However, these patients are not as critical. : They still must be managed medically, but, once stabilized, it may be possible to induce oviposition and avoid the need for surgery. : The most important factor to determine when deciding to manage medically or surgically is whether the animal has a preovulatory or postovulatory condition. In : preovulatory ova retention, the female develops mature follicles, but, owing to some physiological intervention, there is follicular stasis before actual ovulation, The : ova remain on the ovaries and do not resorb. If left in that condition, the follicular membranes will coalesce, forming one large mass of friable yolk. These will readily : rapture, which can happen with rough palpation, causing coelomitis and death of the patient. In postovulatory egg retention, the ova are actually ovulated and taken : up by the shell glands. They may or may not acquire a shell at this time, but again, for whatever reason, oviposition does not occur. It is essential that these two : conditions be differentiated because preovulatory ova retention is not responsive to oxytocin. Calcium and oxytocin, even if dosed repeatedly, will not help these : patients. Such therapy will waste your client's money and possibly do your patient harm from straining that the oxytocin induces. : It is not always possible to differentiate the two conditions radiographically. The only way to tell for certain is if you see actual shell membranes around the eggs. If you : do not see membranes, it may still be a postovulatory condition. It is just in the stage before the deposition of the shell. Oxytocin should not be administered unless : you can discern the individual shell membranes. : When an iguana presents for egg binding, first determine whether it is preovulatory or postovulatory. If preovulatory, and the animal is in good condition, consider : sending it home with husbandry instructions and observation only. The gravid iguana should be sent home with a calcium supplement, specifically Neocalglucon ( : calcium glubionate). The recommended dose is 1 ml/kg, PO bid. This is a grape-flavored liquid, and the patients generally take it voluntarily. : The owners need to estimate how long the animal has been anorectic (this is usually the presenting complaint) and then calculate 4 weeks forward from that date. If : the animal either gets worse before the end of 4 weeks, or starts eating (a sign that the female has resorbed her ova), the author suggests a recheck. If by the 4 week : mark there is no change in appetite, and no eggs have been produced, then the clients should return for either medical management (necessitates a repeat radiograph : to determine whether the eggs are now postovulatory) or surgery. : If the postovulatory and the patient does not respond to the protocol in Table 1 or if they are still preovulatory or they are still unidentifiable, then surgery is : recommended. The animal is anesthetized and instrumented for proper monitoring. The author has found that the best method for monitoring anesthesia in the reptile : patient is the pulse oximeter (SDI Vet/Ox 4402 Pulse Oximeter, Sensor Devices Incorporated, Waukesha, WI). This instrument provides information on pulse rate, pulse : strength, and arterial hemoglobin saturation. There are several descriptions in the literature of the surgical technique. : A standard surgical preparation is used (e.g. chlorhexidline). The patient is started on antibiotics since it is difficult to thoroughly prepare reptile skin (due to scales). : Cephalexin, 20 mg/kg, PO every 24 hours for 7 days, is an excellent choice. : A ventral midline approach is made. Do not worry about the ventral midline vessel. It is large and lies within a membrane and can displace to either side, so even : when making a paramedian incision, there is still a 50-50 chance of cutting it. Additionally, cutting through muscle is painful for the patient, produces more : hemorrhage, and makes for a prolonged convalescence. The author performs all of his lizard coeliotomies using a ventral midline incision. : If the ventral midline vessel is accidentally cut, do not panic, just ligate it. There are ample collateral vessels to compensate for this if you need to ligate the vein. In : postovulatory cases, the saplinx, filled with eggs, is the first structure you will encounter. Carefully exteriorize this structure from the fimbria to the "cervix", or the : junction of the oviduct with the urodeum. This entire tissue will need to be removed, and there are several vessels within the mesosalpinx that must be ligated. : Hemoclips make this task more efficient. The V-shaped clips come in various sizes. The author recommends the blue handle (medium) as the most convenient size for : many exotic surgeries. The applicator handle also come in two lengths, allowing easy access to vessels deep within the body cavity or otherwise inaccessible areas, or : areas where an instrument ligation is difficult. The oviductal tissue at the urodeum is ligated and transfixed if necessary, using a monofilamentabsorbable suture : material. : The second half of the reproductive tract is also removed in a similar fashion. Once both shell glands have been removed, the ovaries must be located. The right ovary : is attached to the vena cava, and the left ovary is attached to a branch of the renal vein (Fig 2). : Interposed between the left ovary and the renal vein is the left adrenal gland, an elongated pink granular tissue (Fig 3). It is best not to remove or damage this gland : when ligating the vessels. If it is accidentally removed, the patient will survive. However, make sure that you do not remove the opposite side. Fortunately, the adrenal : gland on the right is opposite the vena cava from the ovary, and it is unlikely that you will damage it during the procedure. : In postovulatory cases, the ovaries are small with diminutive vessels. The ovaries must be removed. There are about three to four veins on each ovary, and a single : artery. Each of these must be ligated or clipped (Fig 4). Use extreme caution when handling these ovaries. It is not difficult to avulse the smaller vessels from the vena : cava, resulting in substantial hemorrhage. Always preload your Hemoclips before handling the vessels. : Most significantly never just remove the gravid shell glands in postovulatory cases (Fig 5). The female is still capable of ovulating, which will result in ectopic ova in : the coelomic cavity. After the ovaries have been removed, double and triple check for hemorrhage. When satisfied, then flush the coelomic cavity with warmed saline : before closing. : In preovulatory cases, the ovaries with the attached ova are the first structures encountered when you enter the coelomic cavity. These can be quite fragile, therefore : extreme care must be used when exteriorizing the gonads. The vascular supply is engorged in these cases, and identifying and ligating these vessels are much easier : than in the postovulatory cases. Of particular importance in preovulatory cases, only the ovaries need to be removed. It is not necessary to remove the shell glands in : preovulatory cases as it is in the postovulatory cases.

Optional Link URL:
Link Title:
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ The Iguana & Water Dragon Forum ] [ FAQ ]