Iclusion Body Disease.

[snakeguy101]

So I just got a call from the guy watching my animals. Woke my up at about 1am local time and told me that my big Red tail (Rosaline) was dead. I don't know too much at this point except she was perfectly fine yesterday and was acting normal and today, her head was swollen and when he tried to remove her from the cage, she ripped open spilling a thick black fluid.

When I acquired her, she had some severe scarring along the posterior dorsal portion of her body. I assumed that it was from either rat bites or a burn that occurred do to bad husbandry (she was a rescue so this was very likely). IBD did cross my mind but because she showed no signs of it other than scarring, I dismissed this theory since I know this disease to be fatal and she was obviously not dead and did not appear to be dieing either.

I was just wondering if it is IBD or if it is something else. Has anyone here ever had something similar happen? I asked him to take a few pics of her so that I can really see what happened and maybe rule some things out as far as cause of death.

Anyways, She was a great snake and very sweet, she will be missed greatly....

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

sry to hear man!

hope u figure it out.

 

[Conner]

That sucks, sorry to hear. I couldn't imagine if I reached in to take my snake out of her cage and that happened...

 

[Sylvias]

Sorry to hear
I doubt it was IBD as there are usually some pretty clear signs before death.
could possibly have been septicemia? or some sort of nasty bacterial infection...
Pictures might help to get a better idea.... If you are willing to do it I would be very interested in what the results of a necropsy turned up

 

[snakeguy101]

Sorry to hear
I doubt it was IBD as there are usually some pretty clear signs before death.
could possibly have been septicemia? or some sort of nasty bacterial infection...
Pictures might help to get a better idea.... If you are willing to do it I would be very interested in what the results of a necropsy turned up

I would have liked to do a necropsy but since I am out of town, the main focus was on cleaning the environment so what ever it was doesn't spread. This included getting the body out of there so unfortunately, it wont be possible to perform one.

Septicemia is a possibility but that would also show signs prior to death. My guy takes very detailed notes and I trust him when he says that she was PERFECTLY normal yesterday. Also, there would have to be open wounds for this to occur. There were no apparent open abrasions.

 

[snakeguy101]

I will upload the pics of her when i get them but for now, here is one to remember her by:

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

she was beutiful. my brother had a beautiful red tail specimen. sadly his was killed by a rat

PS i personally am leaning twords bacterial. my knowledge of herps is not that large, but i do know the human body. something had to weaken the skin for it to bust that easily, and it wouldnt from just internal pressure. something most likly was damaging the skin.

pps, i know humans are dif from reptiles

 

[snakeguy101]

she was beutiful. my brother had a beautiful red tail specimen. sadly his was killed by a rat

PS i personally am leaning twords bacterial. my knowledge of herps is not that large, but i do know the human body. something had to weaken the skin for it to bust that easily, and it wouldnt from just internal pressure. something most likly was damaging the skin.

pps, i know humans are dif from reptiles

IBD, often leads to the skin being in poor condition causing huge lesions and blood pustules. Another possibility is that she could have been internally scratched by the rabbit she ate the other day causing infection. It is all speculation but I am leaning towards IBD.

 

[Sylvias]

Most things i can think of would have had to be present for quite a while and generally show signs... although it is possible that bacterial infections or other internal problems where not apparent....
perhaps back when she got all her scars she was treated a bit over zealously with baytril or some other cytotoxic drug?

 

[EricIvins]

Its not IBD........and I would be careful swinging those 3 letters around.......

People have a tendency to overeact to those letters.......