Exotic Animal Formulary5

45° angle caudal to heart; pericardial fluid contamination can occur
Lizards
Ventral caudal
vein
Ventral
abdominal
vein
Jugular vein
Ventral aspect of vertebral body under center of middle scale; avoid
hemipenes and anal sacs; this vein can also be approached laterally
by inserting needle under lateral process of vertebral body aiming
toward midline; ventral approach may in rare cases lead to tail
necrosis/paresis
Vein is located on caudal to middle midline within inner surface of
abdominal wall; insert 25-g needle (bent at 45° angle) cranially, at
acute angle to skin and in midline of abdomen, just caudal to
umbilicus; avoid urinary bladder in species that have one
Veins are lateral and deep; insert needle caudal to tympanum; best tried
in larger animals
Chelonians
Jugular vein
Lymphatic contamination can be a concern with most locations of
phlebotomy in chelonians, however, jugular considered less likely
Right vein often larger than left; runs level with tympanum to base of
neck with head extended; may require sedation
Subcarapacial
vein and
plexus
Dorsal caudal
vein
Brachial
vein/plexus
Interdigital
vessels of rear
flippers
The sinus accessed with patient’s head either extended or retracted;
depending on conformation of carapace, needle may be bent up to 60°
and positioned in midline just caudal to skin insertion of dorsal
aspect of neck and ventral aspect of cranial rim of carapace; needle is
advanced in caudodorsal direction, with slight negative pressure; can
cause significant internal hemorrhage or paresis in some cases
Close to carapace, dorsal to dorsal aspect of vertebral body; lymph
dilution common
Near triceps tendon at lateral aspect of radiohumeral joint (elbow),
foreleg grasped/extended, triceps tendon palpated near caudal aspect
of elbow joint, needle inserted ventral to tendon with syringe
perpendicular to forearm
Adult leatherback sea turtles, about 2.5 cm deep, near phalangeal
junctions, best at P1-P2; along side of phalanx, 20°-30° angle to
flipper surface
Crocodilians
Ventral caudal
vein
Supravertebral
vein
Ventral aspect of vertebral body under center of middle scale; avoid
hemipenes and anal sacs; this vein can also be approached laterally
by inserting needle under lateral process of vertebral body aiming
toward midline; ventral approach may in rare cases lead to tail
necrosis/paresis
Position needle in dorsal midline, just caudal to occiput and
perpendicular to skin surface, slowly advance needle with slight
negative pressure; excessive penetration can cause spinal trauma
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