Reptiles: Dystocia

What is dystocia?

Dystocia means difficulty giving birth or abnormal delivery. In reptiles that do not give live birth, dystocia may also be referred to as egg binding or ovostasis. Dystocia occurs when the female reptile is unable to pass her eggs or fetus. It is a relatively common problem in reptiles, including snakes, turtles, and lizards, and can be life-threatening.

Most reptiles are oviparous, meaning they produce eggs. Two of the most common pet lizard species, bearded dragons and chameleons, normally produce between 20 and 40 eggs. Boa constrictors, garter snakes, anacondas, and blue-tongued skinks are viviparous, meaning they give live birth.

What causes dystocia?

Dystocia is often associated with poor husbandry, which may involve a variety of factors, including improper environment, lack of proper UV lighting, housing temperature that is too hot or cold, improper humidity levels, inadequate nest site, improper diet leading to low calcium or protein levels, and/or dehydration.

Other factors that can contribute to dystocia include the age and physical condition of the animal, as well as injuries or physical abnormalities in the reproductive tract or pelvis. In addition, Infections, constipation, abscesses, and other masses may also contribute to dystocia. Eggs that are poorly calcified, extremely large, or misshapen may also cause abnormalities with delivery.

Pet reptiles may have poor muscle tone or be "out of shape" due to their sedentary, captive lifestyles. These inactive reptiles may not be able to exert the substantial muscular effort needed to lay an egg or pass young. 

A reptile that is healthy and gravid (carrying eggs or young) may not be willing to eat, but should still be bright, active, and alert. A gravid reptile with dystocia is usually anorectic, weak, and may show a distended abdomen. Many cases progress to severe lethargy and the pet may become unresponsive if not treated early in the course of the disease.

How is dystocia diagnosed and treated?

The challenge for owners and veterinarians is differentiating dystocia from a normal pregnancy. Most of the time, pet reptiles brought to a veterinary hospital for examination of dystocia are single females with no exposure to a male. It may not be possible to accurately determine how long a female has been gravid. Delaying treatment may compromise the mother, the young, and future reproductive success for breeding female reptiles. On the other hand, treating a normal, gravid female animal is unnecessary and may put the unborn babies at risk.

A veterinarian familiar with reptiles must examine these animals. They will conduct a physical examination and palpation, blood tests, and radiographs (X-rays) to facilitate a proper diagnosis.

Medical and/or surgical techniques may be necessary to help these animals. Medical intervention often includes supportive therapy, such as intravenous (IV) or intra-osseous fluids, hormone injections, calcium injections, and vitamin supplementation. Hormone therapy, such as oxytocin and other newer drugs, may stimulate the oviduct (uterus) to contract. In cases where the female is determined to be moderately healthy, the veterinarian may provide medical therapy and then send the patient home, along with instructions to the owner for creating a nest site to facilitate a normal delivery of eggs or fetuses. 

Surgery will be necessary if the above techniques are unsuccessful; however, surgery may damage the reptile's future reproductive ability. In the case of a single female, the recommended course of therapy may be to perform a salpingohysterectomy, where both ovaries and oviducts are surgically removed, like a spay in a dog or cat. This procedure prevents potential future cases of dystocia or ovostasis.