Difference between revisions of "Snake Necropsy"
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==External examination== | ==External examination== | ||
# Measure and weigh the snake and examine the external features. | # Measure and weigh the snake and examine the external features. | ||
− | # Check the | + | # Check the skin for bite wounds, bruising, bleeding, ulcerations, burns, swellings, scars, retained shed and ectoparasites. |
− | # Examine the nares, spectacles, | + | # Examine the nares, spectacles, eyes, oral cavity and cloaca. |
− | # Assess the | + | # Assess the musculoskeletal system for body condition and palpate for pathology of the vertebra. |
==Internal examination== | ==Internal examination== | ||
# Open the coelomic cavity. Split the fat body in the median line to expose the organs. Check for fluid. | # Open the coelomic cavity. Split the fat body in the median line to expose the organs. Check for fluid. | ||
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# Take a sterile sample of any abnormal gut contents, make a smear in saline. | # Take a sterile sample of any abnormal gut contents, make a smear in saline. | ||
# Wash the gut contents out in saline, examine for signs of parasites. | # Wash the gut contents out in saline, examine for signs of parasites. | ||
− | # Inspect the gonads to sex definitively | + | # Inspect the gonads to sex definitively. |
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<gallery widths="115px" perrow="6"> | <gallery widths="115px" perrow="6"> | ||
− | Image:Amazonian_tree_boa.jpg|'''External examination''' <br> | + | Image:Amazonian_tree_boa.jpg|'''External examination''' <br> ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved |
− | Image: | + | Image:Boa_constrictor_gall_bladder_pancreas_ovarium_in_situ.jpg|'''Gall bladder, pancreas and ovarium''' <br> ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved |
− | Image:Bumese_python_liver_+_seosa-sheath_+_fat_tissue.jpg|'''Liver, | + | Image:Bumese_python_liver_+_seosa-sheath_+_fat_tissue.jpg|'''Liver, seosa and fat tissue''' <br> ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved |
− | Image:Burmese_python_heart_in_situ.jpg|'''Heart''' <br> | + | Image:Burmese_python_heart_in_situ.jpg|'''Heart'''<br> ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved |
− | Image:Boa_constrictor_liver_+_lung_in_situ.jpg|'''Liver and lung''' <br> | + | Image:Boa_constrictor_liver_+_lung_in_situ.jpg|'''Liver and lung''' <br> ©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved |
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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Revision as of 16:12, 17 March 2010
This article is still under construction. |
External examination
- Measure and weigh the snake and examine the external features.
- Check the skin for bite wounds, bruising, bleeding, ulcerations, burns, swellings, scars, retained shed and ectoparasites.
- Examine the nares, spectacles, eyes, oral cavity and cloaca.
- Assess the musculoskeletal system for body condition and palpate for pathology of the vertebra.
Internal examination
- Open the coelomic cavity. Split the fat body in the median line to expose the organs. Check for fluid.
- Examine all organs in a systematic manner - liver, gall bladder, spleen, pancreas, heart, large vessels, thyroid, lung, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, kidneys, gonads, adrenal glands and eventually the brain.
- Open trachea, lungs, heart, oesophagus, stomach and the intestinal tract, and section other organs as necessary.
- Take swabs as appropriate including heart blood, liver, spleen and kidney.
- Take sterile smear of heart blood for staining.
- Put liver, lung, kidney, spleen and intestine in both formal saline (transfer to 70% ethanol after 48 hours) and frozen in sterile container.
- Make impression smears of different parts of intestines.
- Take a sterile sample of any abnormal gut contents, make a smear in saline.
- Wash the gut contents out in saline, examine for signs of parasites.
- Inspect the gonads to sex definitively.