Post by joeysgreen on May 1, 2007 12:44:10 GMT -5
First off, while I don't intend on doing to many necropsy posts, the reception to them has been warm. Feel free to voice an opinion if you'd like these types of posts stopped or continued :cool:
Some background. This is a boa constrictor that was bought sight unseen, and found to be scarred, burned, and very susceptable to reoccuring respiratory symptons causing undue distress.
After repeated veterinary visits the vet and owner came to the final conclusion that they've done all they can, and euthanasia was the best option for this clearly suffering snake.
On initial inspection, scars were numerous, but not invasive or infected.
This appeared to be a boa constrictor longicauda, but I have yet to double check this with the owner. The snake was roughly 6 feet, and due to it's size, the time available, and the location of symptoms, I was only able to dissect the cranial half of the snake. It still took 5-6 hours, I like to be meticulous
Here is an oral view. The mouth had ceased post mortem and I was unable to open it entirely without causing damage. The amount of mucous was immediately apparent though. Look at those teeth!
I concentrated on the cardiopulmonary system and excised it carefully from the precava's and the carotid's to the first half of the long right lung.
This is the tracheal opening into the small, left lung.
The heart after excision, but still attached to the trachea and some of the large vessels. The somewhat transparent looking light red ball of tissue is the thymus.
Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, is shown here as the trachea becomes less developed, but still extends far down past the heart deep into the caudal area of the right lung (air sac).
Looking back at the pictures, you might be able to recognize that the lung tissue near the heart was well vascularized and used in air exchange. Further down, the air sacs are just that, resembling balloons more than anything.
Medically, I was surprised to find that the respiratory symptoms were limited to the oral cavity. I could not find any obvious reasons that might relate to this animal's susceptability to infections. It remains a question as to why this animal was so immunocompromised.
Hope you enjoyed this post half as much as I enjoyed exploring this snake
Ian
Some background. This is a boa constrictor that was bought sight unseen, and found to be scarred, burned, and very susceptable to reoccuring respiratory symptons causing undue distress.
After repeated veterinary visits the vet and owner came to the final conclusion that they've done all they can, and euthanasia was the best option for this clearly suffering snake.
On initial inspection, scars were numerous, but not invasive or infected.
This appeared to be a boa constrictor longicauda, but I have yet to double check this with the owner. The snake was roughly 6 feet, and due to it's size, the time available, and the location of symptoms, I was only able to dissect the cranial half of the snake. It still took 5-6 hours, I like to be meticulous
Here is an oral view. The mouth had ceased post mortem and I was unable to open it entirely without causing damage. The amount of mucous was immediately apparent though. Look at those teeth!
I concentrated on the cardiopulmonary system and excised it carefully from the precava's and the carotid's to the first half of the long right lung.
This is the tracheal opening into the small, left lung.
The heart after excision, but still attached to the trachea and some of the large vessels. The somewhat transparent looking light red ball of tissue is the thymus.
Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, is shown here as the trachea becomes less developed, but still extends far down past the heart deep into the caudal area of the right lung (air sac).
Looking back at the pictures, you might be able to recognize that the lung tissue near the heart was well vascularized and used in air exchange. Further down, the air sacs are just that, resembling balloons more than anything.
Medically, I was surprised to find that the respiratory symptoms were limited to the oral cavity. I could not find any obvious reasons that might relate to this animal's susceptability to infections. It remains a question as to why this animal was so immunocompromised.
Hope you enjoyed this post half as much as I enjoyed exploring this snake
Ian
