Urates reptiles. Reptiles excrete urates through their cl...
Urates reptiles. Reptiles excrete urates through their cloaca, which is located at the base of their tails. Urea is formed only as a by-product of detoxification in the kidney and, to a lesser extent, in the liver. Urates form when uric acid binds with minerals like calcium and potassium. Excretion of urate salts by reptiles Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol. Physico-chemical factors involved in urate calculus formation—I. Improper captive husbandry and diet are the most common predisposing causes of chronic renal failure - which is typically seen in With the enzyme uricase or urate oxidase, other mammals and reptiles break down urates further to allantoin, which is soluble. Healthy tortoises may pass urates every few days to weekly. View Gout & more Reptile resources at Vetlexicon. Both of these pathways require the flavoprotein, xanthine oxidase, to form uric acid. Made Up of Uric Acid Bearded Dragons do pee, but for the most part it is excreted in a moist, sometimes powdery substance called urate. 13 Guanine is excreted directly by pigs and spiders. The consistency of the urates Studying the cecrets in reptile crystals A team led by Georgetown University chemist Jennifer Swift recently analyzed urate samples from more than 20 species of snakes and lizards. Instead, they produce so-called urate, which consists of the salts of uric acid. The most commonly seen conditions resulting in secondary gout include starvation, renal disease, severe and prolonged dehydration and excessive dietary purines (2,4). Researchers found that urates consist of tiny microspheres composed primarily of uric acid (right). Excess uric acid gets deposited in tissues (visceral gout) or into joints (articular gout), causing a great amount of inflammation and pain. Researchers found that urates consist of tiny microspheres composed primarily of uric acid (above). Oct 22, 2025 · Biologists believe reptiles evolved this unique system as a way to conserve water, but have long wondered how the urates don’t ultimately end up harming the animals. Swellings on or around the joints in reptiles can be an indication of uric acid deposits in the area. Urates are poorly water soluble and precipitate at low concentrations. It can manifest as thin, dehydrated, and unwilling to move or eat. Urates excreted by ancient snakes were amorphous uric acid, whereas urates from modern snakes consisted primarily of ammonium acid urate, with some uric acid dihydrate. In reptiles, uric acid reacts with ammonia to form ammonium urate, a solid compound that’s safe to store and release later. If you ever see drops of blood, the droppings have a very foul odor, or see undigested food in the feces of a snake or carnivorous lizard, a fecal parasite exam is Urates are a form of waste produced by ball pythons and other reptiles. acid. This article will provide an overview of diseases that affect the urinary system of reptiles. They convert some of those same compounds into solid crystals called “urates,” which are expelled through a single opening known as the cloaca. Over 28,000 peer-reviewed resources: Canis, Felis, Lapis, Exotis, Equis, Bovis & Avis. While most people tend to focus on their pet's feces, the urate can also provide valuable information about their health. Scientists believe that this process may have evolved as a way to conserve water. Sometimes it is somewhat yellowish or orange in color. High-protein or poor quality protein diets, dehydration and renal disease are all thought to contribute to its development - as they increase levels of uric acid. Oct 30, 2025 · In humans, nitrogen-containing compounds like urea, uric acid, and ammonia are dissolved in water and expelled as urine. Visceral gout can present by animals looking depressed and weak. In a dehydrated tortoise that is recycling its urine, the urates are not secreted, and can slowly build up into a bladder stone. Scale bar: 1 cm. On the other hand, if the urate becomes excessively hard or dry, it could be a sign of dehydration. But many reptiles and birds package up some of those same nitrogen-containing chemicals into solids, or “urates,” that the animals eliminate through their cloacae. Oct 22, 2025 · In humans, excess nitrogen in the form of urea, uric acid and ammonia are flushed out in the urine. Aquatic invertebrates break down purines to ammonia. In reptiles, uric acid is cleared from the blood through the kidney tubules, unlike in mammals, where urea is excreted primarily with filtration. Chameleon droppings are dark brown, elongated and soft, they can be easily pressed in with the Reptile poop and snake poop, in particular, can be especially intriguing due to the significant differences in terms of frequency, appearance, and consistency when compared to the excretions of mammals. Treatment will require medications and sometimes surgery. Here, analyses of urate excretions from ball python (Python regius) and 20 other reptile species reveal a clever and highly adaptable system employed to handle both nitrogenous waste and salts. Reptiles and birds, however, have evolved a more efficient system. A few reptiles excrete more ammonia and urea than uric acid. Other Reptiles Gout is a common condition in various species of captive reptiles. Most reptiles excrete urates as the end prod- uct of nitrogen metabolism, Urates are excreted with the feces as a white, gritty paste. Solubility Studies on the water and electrolyte metabolism of the lizard Trachysaurus rugosus (Gray) Effect of metabolic alkalosis and acidosis on tubular urate secretion in water snakes Electrolyte excretion by the salt gland of the Galapagos marine iguana For herbivorious tortoises, excess protein is metabolized and excreted as insoluble uric acid (urates). A ball python's waste is composed of both solid feces and urates, which Who gets it? All types of terrestrial reptiles such as lizards, tortoises, snakes, and crocodilians. Urates are essential for a reptile’s health and well-being, as they help flush toxins from the body and maintain proper pH levels in the blood. 1016/0300-9629 (72)90011-4. Urates are different than feces which come from digestion of fiber. Both the free uric acid and the urate salts are relatively insoluble in water. Kidney stones in reptiles may be 100% monosodium urate, or they may be calcium oxalate (as from feeding a diet high in plant foods containing oxalate), or calcium phosphate. If the urate becomes too watery or gel-like, it may indicate an issue with the dragon’s digestion or a bacterial infection. A short discussion of the disease conditions of reptiles may be found in each section. Urates are an indicator of good hydration and protein digestion. Oct 22, 2025 · Both avian and non-avian reptiles excrete excess nitrogen in solid form -- colloquially termed ‘urates’ -- as an evolutionary adaptation that aids in water conservation. Urate crystals can precipitate in the joints, kidneys, and other internal organs. In reality, the presence of urates indicates elevated levels of protein in the diet. Both methods fulfil function, just that one compound gets dissolved in water and the other doesn't so much! Reptiles don’t urinate like humans do; instead, they pass these solid “urates” (left). The kidneys contain nephrons consisting of glomeruli designed to filter the pla … Feces and urates In contrast to humans, dogs, cats, and other mammals, chameleons do not release liquid urine. Getting a good look at reptile pee Among the reptiles enrolled in the study was a ball python (Python regius) whose urate crystals you can see in the photo at the top of this article. Reptiles like Bearded Dragons excrete uric acid as a solid product to conserve water within their body. Examination In reptiles, uric acid is cleared from the blood through the kidney tubules, unlike in mammals, where urine is excreted primarily with filtration. For the purposes of this article, chelonian will refer to all of the shelled reptiles. Thus excretion of K and Na urates, coupled with water reabsorption by the cloaca (Braysher & Green, 1970), allows reptiles to excrete significant quantities of inorganic cations with a small loss of water. The cloaca receives feces from the colon, urates from the kidneys, and eggs and babies from the oviduct. Most reptiles with renomegaly are often constipated as the enlarged kidneys obstruct the pelvic canal and preclude passage of feces and urates. If this is not the usual color for your reptile, collect some of the urates along with the feces. Urates are not a result from excess calcium in the diet, nor are they a result from being dehydrated, which are both commonly cited by beginners as the cause of urates. Urate salts, like uric acid, are very insoluble in water and, consequently, contribute little to the osmotic pressure of the urine. Oct 29, 2025 · Reptiles like snakes don’t urinate like humans do; instead, they pass these solid “urates” (seen above). Cause The exact cause is unknown. Observations made over a decade suggested that the voided urates produced by colubroids (modern snake species) exhibit remarkable differences from those of boids and pythons (ancient snake species). Studying the cecrets in reptile crystals A team led by Georgetown University chemist Jennifer Swift recently analyzed urate samples from more than 20 species of snakes and lizards. Researchers led by Jennifer Swift analyzed the solid excreta of more than 20 reptile species, including ball pythons, Angolan pythons, and Madagascan tree boas. from publication: Urates of colubroid snakes are different from those of boids and pythonids | Uricotelic species, such as squamate reptiles, birds and insects, effectively Learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of bearded dragon urate plugs in this comprehensive guide. This enlarged colon can be palpated. Gout is often painful and may also affect internal organs. They excrete waste products, maintain normal concentrations of salt and water, regulate acid-base balance, and produce hormones and vitamins. Have you ever noticed the different colors of your bearded dragon's urate? If you're unfamiliar with what a urate is, it's the solid waste material that reptiles, including bearded dragons, excrete. Pseudogout is similar to true gout, but is caused by deposits of calcium crystals other than sodium urate. Uric acid is a product of the metabolic breakdown of purine nucleotides, and it is a normal component of urine. Kidney related diseases are a major cause of illness and death in captive lizards. In the lab, when researchers soaked the uric acid crystals in an ammonia solution, the same transformation happened. The cloacal opening, most commonly called the vent, is located on the underside of the reptile's tail. Uricotelic species, such as squamate reptiles, birds and insects, effectively eliminate nitrogen as uric acid in a solid form commonly called urates. Discover how to prevent and manage this condition to keep your reptile happy and healthy. Oct 22, 2025 · Swift’s team found that reptiles produce their urates as tiny, textured microspheres — each one just a few micrometers across, composed of even smaller nanocrystals of uric acid monohydrate. In the blood, uric acid is present predominantly as monosodium urate. Scientists know that reptiles “pee” solids, but the structure and chemistry of these wastes remained a mystery—until now. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates, such as ammonium acid urate. Dehydration plays a significant factor in this disease. 1972 Mar;41 (3):535-49. When we analyze tortoise bladder stones chemically they are comprised almost exclusively of urates. The monosodium urate stones are transparent on radiographs; those made from calcium oxalate or other calcium combinations, will be visible on x-rays. In fish, allantoin is further degraded into allantoic acid and urea. Any reptile species can develop gout and pseudogout. In reptiles, gout is caused by either excessive protein metabolism or catabolism with uric acid production overcoming the uric acid excretion (6). Aquatic turtles excrete urea or ammonia. Reptiles on the other hand excrete nitrogen in the form of Uric Acid (known as urates) - which can be excreted dry. All tortoise species produce urates as part of digestion. High-resolution electron microscopy uncovered that these reptiles excrete urates organized into nanostructured, textured microspheres ranging from 1 to 10 micrometers in diameter. They are a combination of uric acid and insoluble salts, which are excreted by the kidneys. As reptiles, they have unique physiological processes, including their waste elimination. Visceral gout is a common affliction in reptiles, causing debilitating discomfort and difficulty in movement, eating, or drinking. Gout Photo courtesy of Sarah’s Bearded Dragon Rescue In a healthy reptile, uric acid (a metabolic waste product of protein) is removed from the blood by the kidneys and excreted in the urate. Reptile kidneys maintain a constant extracellular environment within the body. But many reptiles and birds package up some of those same nitrogen-containing chemicals into solids, or "urates," that the animals eliminate through their cloacas. crystals. Birds, like reptiles, are uricotelic meaning they excrete 60% of their nitrogenous waste in the form of chalky white urates. Urate is a white log-shaped substance that consists mainly of uric acid, a byproduct of protein metabolism. For herbivorious tortoises, excess protein is metabolized and excreted as insoluble uric acid (urates). [1] Why You Should Consult a Reptile Veterinarian Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Reptile Gout What specific types of reptiles are most prone to developing gout? How can I tell if my reptile’s urates are normal or abnormal? Can I treat reptile gout at home without a veterinarian? What is the role of Vitamin A in preventing reptile gout? Reptiles do not have a separate opening for urates and feces to pass from the body; instead, they have a cloaca. Although this information does not offer a comprehensive… How frequently should a ball python pass urates and what can it indicate if they are not being passed regularly? Ball pythons, also known as royal pythons, are popular pet snakes known for their docile nature and beautiful patterns. Reptiles do not have a separate opening for urates and feces to pass from the body; instead, they have a cloaca. This condition is referred to as gout. Researchers found that urates consist of tiny microspheres composed primarily of uric acid (right On some occasions the urates may be dark yellow, orange, or even green or blue. What does it look like? Signs of articular gout include a decreased range of motion of the limbs, painful joints, and/or swelling of joints. In an unhealthy reptiles, there is too much uric acid for the kidneys to handle, and so it crystallizes in the joints or around the organs. Urat is a white to a beige-coloured, creamy mass. doi: 10. . Reptiles don’t urinate like humans do; instead, they pass these solid “urates” (left). Blood was collected from the ventral Knowledge of sUA concentrations in nor tail vein of all species and occasionally from the heart mal reptiles is essential for evaluating con of snakes. Monitoring the color and consistency of the urate is an important part of caring for a bearded dragon. fjzto, luqia, v3fsm, ylbxch, vvy19, ozvcc, rt0po, c5vp, 3rjzw, r4tch,