Squamates (Snakes and Lizards)

Abstract

Sedation and anesthesia are essential components of veterinary care of lizards and snakes. Reptiles are ectothermic vertebrates with relatively low metabolic rates. Their pulmonary and cardiac anatomy, as well as their control of respiration, differs from those of mammals. The most reliable vascular access site is the ventral tail vessels, located immediately ventral to the coccygeal vertebrae. Most monitoring modalities used in domestic species may be applied to reptiles. Due to the large oral cavities and rostral position of the glottis, lizards and snakes are easily intubated. Inhalant anesthetics are delivered by agent-specific vaporizers using oxygen or a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide as the carrier gas. Numerous injectable anesthetics have been used in snakes and lizards including propofol, alphaxalone and ketamine. Hypothermia, once used as a means of immobilizing reptiles, is considered an unacceptable clinical practice, as is electroanesthesia.