In spring, when the reptiles' mating season begins, females undergo active follicle formation in the ovaries (folliculogenesis). Girls prepare for dates with gentlemen and further reproduction.
In most species, dystocia is a pathology that leads to impaired labor activity. In reptiles, this term has a broader meaning - the inability of a female to complete the reproductive process (give birth to cubs/lay eggs) or reverse it (follicular regression, cessation of corpus luteum functioning after ovulation). As a result, the mature egg (or egg) remains inside the female and causes both local and generalized changes that can even lead to death.
This is a fairly common problem in reptiles, including snakes, turtles, and lizards, and can be life-threatening.
Factors that influence the development of dystocia:
- Inappropriate keeping conditions for specific species. For example, keeping water turtles on land without water, keeping tropical species in desert conditions, etc;
- lack of ultraviolet irradiation, untimely replacement of UV lamps;
- lack of vitamin and mineral supplements;
- failure to maintain the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the diet;
- inadequate humidity - low/high;
- lack of space for egg-laying;
- poor quality, unbalanced and inappropriate diet;
- prolonged fasting;
- dehydration;
- concomitant existing diseases - chronic pathologies (e.g., chronic kidney disease), pelvic injuries or other significant body injuries, congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract, severe parasitoses;
- excessive size, deformity of eggs, over- or under-mineralized eggs;
- obesity;
- physical inactivity ("sedentary lifestyle" of the reptile). It may be too difficult for inactive reptiles to lay eggs;
- infectious diseases (parasitic, bacterial, fungal and viral).
It should be remembered that female reptiles can lay eggs without contact with a male. In this case, they lay fatty eggs, which are not fertilized, but still pose a life-threatening risk of dystocia.
A healthy pregnant reptile or in the stage of folliculogenesis and ovulation may not eat, but should still be active (normally with a slight decrease in activity) and brightly colored. Active digging in the terrarium in search of a place for laying can also be observed.
Not all symptoms of dystocia are specific, but may include
- Hypo-/anorexia (decreased/lost appetite)
- decreased activity or apathy (lack of activity)
- lack of diuresis and defecation;
- "swelling" of the body. Sometimes you can see follicles/eggs protruding through the body;
- forced postures;
- body tension.
It may be impossible to determine how long a female has been in folliculogenesis, ovulation, or pregnancy, and delaying treatment can endanger the animal's life.
In addition to a physical examination, a number of diagnostic measures are required to diagnose dystocia:
- ultrasound examination of the whole organs
- radiography;
- general and biochemical blood tests.
The most common "types" of dystocia are
- preovulatory follicular stasis - the problem concerns the follicles that have stopped developing and do not regress back;
- postovulatory ovarian stasis is a "classic" dystocia in which the female is unable to lay eggs. This type of stasis is divided into obstructive (when egg passage is impossible) and non-obstructive (eggs can pass through the reproductive tract).
Only non-obstructive postovulatory stasis can be treated with medication. All other types, unfortunately, require only surgical intervention (castration), because medical treatment in this case can lead to rupture of the oviducts, bleeding, etc., which can ultimately lead to death.
The prognosis is favorable in case of early diagnosis and therapy.