Prolapse
cloaca> A passage used for eliminating fecal, urinary and reproductive discharges. From the Latin word meaning "sewer". Reptiles, like birds, have a chamber into which the contents of the bladder and anus flow prior to being eliminated from the body. This chamber lies inside the vent (venter).
hemipene> The male reproductive organ in snakes and lizards, kept inverted in the tail until needed. (seeillustration). Chelonians have a single penis. (See the Hemipenes article for photos of everted box turtle penis and snake hemipenes.).
prolapse> Turning out; inside out. Eversion
A prolapse is the eversion of tissue into an area where it should not be. In tegus (and reptiles in general), three types of prolapse may be occur that can be seen by the owner. They are potentially very serious, and if they do not correct themselves within a very short period of time, the tegu must be seen by a reptile vet.
Reptiles are like birds in that they have a single chamber into which feces and urates are deposited before being voided. Through this same chamber passes sperm, and eggs (or live babies, in viviparous species, hatchlings in ovoviviparous species) in the female. This chamber, the cloaca, is found just inside the vent (which is properly called venter). The paired male tegu reproductive organ, called the hemipenes, is kept tucked into the tail, pointed towards the tip of the tail. When the hemipene is everted, it, too, passes through the cloaca to the vent.
In the normal course of defecation, the male hemipenes may be everted, that is, will be forced out of the vent. They will revert back (be pulled back in by the muscles) into their normal position within a few moments. During breeding season, males will frequently evert their hemipenes in conjunction with depositing some seminal material, especially when being greeted by their female owner,. As with eversion during defecation, the hemipenes will rapidly retract into the tail.
If the tegu is constipated, either due to dehydration, impaction due to a foreign object, or from being heavily parasitized, the strain of trying to defecate may result in either a section of the colon or cloacal tissue, or one or both hemipenes, being everted through the vent. Severe parasite infestation and dystocia may also result in prolapsed tissue. In severe cases, or if the animal is already weakened by the underlying condition, he or she may not be able to retract the tissue. If left outside the body, it may become contaminated with feces, urates, or food, or other matter, and will start to dry out. If not cleaned and replaced, the tissue will die and require amputation.
You can try soaking the tegu in a cool bath to which sugar has been added. Heavy concentrations of sugar in the water will act to draw out the fluids engorging the swollen everted tissue; this may reduce it enough to be inverted by the lizard. The tissue may be rinsed with fresh water and Betadine, and carefully pushed back in with a gloved finger lubricated with KY Jelly (the type without the spermicde). Extreme care must be taken in doing this as, if the colon contains fecal matter and the colon tissue is pierced in the attempt to replace it, severe, even fatal contamination and injury may result. If the soaking does not work within an hour, and you do not wish to attempt manual replacement, the tegu should be placed on a damp towel and taken to the vet as quickly as possible.
Some lizards may repeatedly prolapse. In these instances, you must take your iguana to the veterinarian. If the prolapse is a hemipene, it may safely be amputated. If only one is amputated, the lizard may still be able to breed. Suturing may be required to try to prevent the colon or cloacal tissue from prolapsing again. If it does continue to happen, however, surgery may be necessary to suture the colon to the wall of the coelomic cavity. Cloacal pexy (fixation, i.e, suturing in place) or oviduct removal may also be recommended in these cases.
Common Causes of Prolapse
Parasites
When the colon and/or rectum become prolapsed it is a good possibility that an intestinal parasite is involved. The reason for this is because when a parasite load becomes too great the animals' intestinal tract can become blocked. When the animal attempts to defecate it is unable to do so and begins to strain. This strain then places pressure on the organs located near the vent in the direction of the vent (caudal pressure). It is this caudal pressure that causes the actual prolapse.
Constipation
Constipation may occur as a result of an improper diet, parasites, or a gastric foreign body, but what ever the cause, if it is left untreated the effected reptile will continue to strain which can lead to a prolapse do to caudal pressure on the lower organs.
Gastric Foriegn Body
A Gastric Foreign Body is any object that is foreign to the reptile, which has been deliberately or inadvertently swallowed and ingested. The two most commonly seen types of foreign bodies seen in reptiles are ingested pieces of bedding and Endo skeletons or Exo skeletons of prey animals such as the hard outer shells of crickets and mealworms or the hind limbs of rodents that become lodged in the rectum or intestines. All of these can cause prolapsed.
Diarhea
Diarrhea may cause prolapse as a result of frequent deification and constant pressure and use of the involved organs. When diarrhea is involved it is usually secondary to one of the conditions listed above, most likely parasites which may often times cause loose and excessive stools.
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia is the most commonly over-looked cause of prolapse as a direct result of excessive loss of calcium, which plays a vital role in muscle contraction and therefor-anal tone. Metabolic diseases should always be considered when prolapse occurs, particularly in herbivorous lizards such as green iguanas.
hemipene> The male reproductive organ in snakes and lizards, kept inverted in the tail until needed. (seeillustration). Chelonians have a single penis. (See the Hemipenes article for photos of everted box turtle penis and snake hemipenes.).
prolapse> Turning out; inside out. Eversion
A prolapse is the eversion of tissue into an area where it should not be. In tegus (and reptiles in general), three types of prolapse may be occur that can be seen by the owner. They are potentially very serious, and if they do not correct themselves within a very short period of time, the tegu must be seen by a reptile vet.
Reptiles are like birds in that they have a single chamber into which feces and urates are deposited before being voided. Through this same chamber passes sperm, and eggs (or live babies, in viviparous species, hatchlings in ovoviviparous species) in the female. This chamber, the cloaca, is found just inside the vent (which is properly called venter). The paired male tegu reproductive organ, called the hemipenes, is kept tucked into the tail, pointed towards the tip of the tail. When the hemipene is everted, it, too, passes through the cloaca to the vent.
In the normal course of defecation, the male hemipenes may be everted, that is, will be forced out of the vent. They will revert back (be pulled back in by the muscles) into their normal position within a few moments. During breeding season, males will frequently evert their hemipenes in conjunction with depositing some seminal material, especially when being greeted by their female owner,. As with eversion during defecation, the hemipenes will rapidly retract into the tail.
If the tegu is constipated, either due to dehydration, impaction due to a foreign object, or from being heavily parasitized, the strain of trying to defecate may result in either a section of the colon or cloacal tissue, or one or both hemipenes, being everted through the vent. Severe parasite infestation and dystocia may also result in prolapsed tissue. In severe cases, or if the animal is already weakened by the underlying condition, he or she may not be able to retract the tissue. If left outside the body, it may become contaminated with feces, urates, or food, or other matter, and will start to dry out. If not cleaned and replaced, the tissue will die and require amputation.
You can try soaking the tegu in a cool bath to which sugar has been added. Heavy concentrations of sugar in the water will act to draw out the fluids engorging the swollen everted tissue; this may reduce it enough to be inverted by the lizard. The tissue may be rinsed with fresh water and Betadine, and carefully pushed back in with a gloved finger lubricated with KY Jelly (the type without the spermicde). Extreme care must be taken in doing this as, if the colon contains fecal matter and the colon tissue is pierced in the attempt to replace it, severe, even fatal contamination and injury may result. If the soaking does not work within an hour, and you do not wish to attempt manual replacement, the tegu should be placed on a damp towel and taken to the vet as quickly as possible.
Some lizards may repeatedly prolapse. In these instances, you must take your iguana to the veterinarian. If the prolapse is a hemipene, it may safely be amputated. If only one is amputated, the lizard may still be able to breed. Suturing may be required to try to prevent the colon or cloacal tissue from prolapsing again. If it does continue to happen, however, surgery may be necessary to suture the colon to the wall of the coelomic cavity. Cloacal pexy (fixation, i.e, suturing in place) or oviduct removal may also be recommended in these cases.
Common Causes of Prolapse
- Parasites
- Constipation
- Gastric Foriegn Body
- Diahrea
- Hypocalcemia
Parasites
When the colon and/or rectum become prolapsed it is a good possibility that an intestinal parasite is involved. The reason for this is because when a parasite load becomes too great the animals' intestinal tract can become blocked. When the animal attempts to defecate it is unable to do so and begins to strain. This strain then places pressure on the organs located near the vent in the direction of the vent (caudal pressure). It is this caudal pressure that causes the actual prolapse.
Constipation
Constipation may occur as a result of an improper diet, parasites, or a gastric foreign body, but what ever the cause, if it is left untreated the effected reptile will continue to strain which can lead to a prolapse do to caudal pressure on the lower organs.
Gastric Foriegn Body
A Gastric Foreign Body is any object that is foreign to the reptile, which has been deliberately or inadvertently swallowed and ingested. The two most commonly seen types of foreign bodies seen in reptiles are ingested pieces of bedding and Endo skeletons or Exo skeletons of prey animals such as the hard outer shells of crickets and mealworms or the hind limbs of rodents that become lodged in the rectum or intestines. All of these can cause prolapsed.
Diarhea
Diarrhea may cause prolapse as a result of frequent deification and constant pressure and use of the involved organs. When diarrhea is involved it is usually secondary to one of the conditions listed above, most likely parasites which may often times cause loose and excessive stools.
Hypocalcemia
Hypocalcemia is the most commonly over-looked cause of prolapse as a direct result of excessive loss of calcium, which plays a vital role in muscle contraction and therefor-anal tone. Metabolic diseases should always be considered when prolapse occurs, particularly in herbivorous lizards such as green iguanas.