Case Report: Anesthesia for cloacal prolapse fixation surgery in an Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merianae)

Cloacal prolapse is a common surgical condition in captive lizards and frequently requires general anesthesia. Anesthetic management in reptiles is challenging because of their ectothermic physiology, intermittent breathing patterns, and high sensitivity to anesthetic-induced respiratory depression. This report describes the anesthetic management of a juvenile Argentine black and white tegu ( Salvator merianae ) under surgical reduction of cloacal prolapse. Anesthesia was induced using a multimodal protocol including butorphanol, tiletamine-zolazepam, dexmedetomidine, and maintained with isoflurane. Marked respiratory depression occurred after induction, necessitating controlled mechanical ventilation throughout the procedure. Ventilatory support and active thermal management were applied to maintain physiologic stability. This case support the importance of mechanical ventilation, temperature control, and multimodal analgesia in anesthetic management of large lizard species.