Spinal osteoarthropathy (also known as Charcot's disease) is a rare disease affecting

reptile Reptiles, as commonly defined, are a group of tetrapods with an ectothermic metabolism and Amniotic egg, amniotic development. Living traditional reptiles comprise four Order (biology), orders: Testudines, Crocodilia, Squamata, and Rhynchocepha ...

s (including

snake Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...

s and

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s) which causes abnormal bone growth on

vertebrae Each vertebra (: vertebrae) is an irregular bone with a complex structure composed of bone and some hyaline cartilage, that make up the vertebral column or spine, of vertebrates. The proportions of the vertebrae differ according to their spinal ...

, giving the reptile a lumpy appearance. The growth of animals with this disease is limited (a python may only grow long), and their life spans are greatly shortene

The movement of reptiles with this ailment appears jittery and wooden, and the head movement will be greatly restricted. The condition worsens as the patient ages; the end result is a reptile fused together by its own bones. They are usually Animal euthanasia, euthanized well before this stage, but in general these animals can live their short lives comfortably with little pain. Spinal osteoarthropathy can also occur in humans.Human Spinal osteoarthropathy

Causes

Spinal osteoarthropathy is genetic, carried by parents and passed on to their offspring. Another known cause of this disease is a

vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12 deficiency, also known as cobalamin deficiency, is the medical condition in which the blood and tissue have a lower than normal level of Vitamin B12, vitamin B12. Symptoms can vary from none to severe. Mild deficiency may have fe ...

in the reptile, which can be treated by injecting its food with a vitamin supplement.

Housing

A reptile with spinal osteoarthropathy does not require a large

vivarium A vivarium (; or vivariums) is an area, usually enclosed, for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research. Water-based vivaria may have open tops providing they are not connected to other water bodies. An animal enclosur ...

. Like all vivaria it needs to be heated according to the particular reptile's needs, with a dark hiding area (e.g. a log or dark box), normal substrate and clean water for the reptile to access. It is advisable not to have anything too high for them to climb because the reptile's ability to hold onto branches (for example) is restricted; floor space is more important. It is best not to keep them with a tank-mate (especially a healthy one), since bullying may occur.

Feeding

Reptiles with this condition are usually fed small

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

s (e.g.

mice A mouse (: mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...

) which are small, easy to swallow and easily injectable with vitamin supplements. Animals with this condition find it more difficult to eat (especially snakes, whose bony growths compromise their ability to manipulate food down their throat).

Handling

Handling may be painful and stressful because of their poor body movement and how the bones have grown. Due to the stress, handling should be kept to a minimum.

References

External links

Review of the literature and report on two cases
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinal Osteoarthropathy Reptile diseases Snakes