Introduction

• Cause: gastritis (bacterial/viral/parasitic, eg coccidiosis), gastric ulcers, gastroenteritis, foreign body, pancreatitis, dysbiosis, long term use of ulcerogenic medication, rodenticide poisoning.
• Signs: lethargy, anorexia, abdominal distension, bruxism, bloating, dark, digested blood originating from the small intestine.
• Diagnosis: clinical history, fecal examination.
• Treatment: dependent on the cause, can range from antibiotics, fluid, and nutritional support to euthanasia.
• Prognosis: guarded.

Pathogenesis

Etiology

• Ulceration resulting from gastrointestinal surgery.
• Chronic or partial foreign body obstruction Gastrointestinal obstruction.
• Infectious agents such as nematodes and protozoa Chelonia parasitology overview Lizard parasitology overview Snake parasitology overview:
  • Entamoeba invadens infection Amebiasis has been associated with gastrointestinal ulceration in a common water monitor lizard.
  • Physaloptera retusa infections have been associated with gastric ulcers in sagebrush lizards and snakes.
• Rodenticide poisoning may result in melena: this may result from feeding reptiles contaminated rodents.
• Gastrointestinal neoplasia Gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma / carcinoma?

Predisposing factors

General

• Poor husbandry Chelonia husbandry Lizard husbandry Snake husbandry with an inappropriate diet Chelonia nutrition Lizard nutrition Snake nutrition.
• Access to inappropriate toys and objects increasing the likelihood of foreign body ingestion Gastrointestinal foreign bodies.
• Animals housed outdoor may be checked less frequently and presented later on in disease process.

Specific

• Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as meloxicam Meloxicam without the use of gastroprotectants and whilst using higher doses.
• Chronic azotemia due to kidney disease Renal disease.

Pathophysiology

• Long-term use of anti-inflammatory medication and inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) receptors in the gastrointestinal tract reduces prostaglandin secretion. Prostaglandins have a cytoprotective effect on the gastric mucosa. This increases the risk of mucosal injury and development of ulceration.

Timecourse

• Ulceration may develop acutely following rodenticide toxicity or gastrointestinal surgery.

Epidemiology

• Young, stressed, and immunocompromised animals will be more predisposed to infectious causes of gastrointestinal ulceration.
• Geriatric animals will be more predisposed to gastrointestinal ulceration as they will often have coexisting conditions such as kidney and heart disease as well as neoplasia.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Outcomes