Comparison between intramuscolar and intravenous administration of oxitocin in captive bred red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) with nonobstructive egg retention

Nonobstructive egg retention is quite common in captive-bred turtles and may result from several different factors, including poor husbandry and poor physical condition. Oxytocin, 1 to 40. IU/kg, can be used to stimulate oviductal contraction and induce egg deposition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of low-dose intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) oxytocin for managing turtles with nonobstructive egg retention. Physical examination and radiographic and computed tomographic evaluations were performed in 39 female red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) that were showing overt clinical signs of egg retention. After being placed for 7 days in a suitable environment without laying their eggs, a diagnosis of nonobstructive egg retention was made in 30 of the turtles. These 30 turtles were then randomly divided in 2 groups. Group OXY-IM (n = 15) received 2. IU/kg of oxytocin IM, whereas group OXY-IV (n = 15) received the same dose IV. If animals did not lay all of their eggs within 60 minutes, a second dose (2. IU/kg) was administered. Follow-up doses were given every 120 minutes until all eggs were laid. The mean time for animals on OXY-IM to start laying and complete egg deposition was 97 ± 22.4 minutes and 246.1± 27.37 minutes, respectively. All animals required a second dose, 10 turtles (66.6%) required a third dose, and 5 turtles (33.3%) required a fourth dose. The animals in OXY-IV started laying eggs on average of 61.26 ± 13.9 minutes after treatment and completed laying eggs 147.2 ± 25.5 minutes after treatment. Six animals (40%) required a second dose of oxytocin, and 4 (26.6%) required a third dose. There were significant differences (p < 0.001) in the elapsed time between the first injection and the start of egg deposition and total egg deposition between the 2 treatment groups. In conclusion, oxytocin administered IV provided faster results than IM dosing for the treatment of nonobstructive egg retention in red-eared sliders. No side effects were observed in either treatment group. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.