For a veterinarian treating reptiles, diagnostic testing is an essential tool in formulating a definitive diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan. Diagnostic testing is simply not a luxury for veterinary teaching hospitals, but a necessity for every clinical practice that sees these patients. Herptiles do not allow for any guesswork for the attending clinician and will quickly succumb to a disease process if not properly treated. Diagnostic tests results will give the veterinarian a “snapshot” window by “looking” inside the patient at that point in time. By developing a baseline of values the practitioner can follow the progress of a disease process through a treatment period. One must always remember to collect the samples that will be affectedby stress at the beginning of an examination and follow with those that are least affected by the physical and emotional stress. In most cases, blood is collected for a complete blood count (CBC) and plasma chemistry panel first because a stressed patient will adversely affect the results of the CBC. This presentation will review the proper techniques used to collect diagnostic test samples from reptile patients. All animals should be properly restrained to prevent injury to the veterinarian, technician and most importantly the patient.
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