When vets make mistakes, Greyhound racing and separation of turtles joined at the yolk sac

We're used to seeing news reports about Siamese twins being separated. What about turtles joined at the yolk sac? (This baby saw shell was not involved).

Last week’s post on being a new grad resonated with a lot of readers. In the spirit of sharing experience, Dr Nick Marsh shared an account about an error of judgement that may have contributed to the death of an animal.

“…we need to share because there is no feeling in the world like that black feeling of despair and taint, and I want people to know that I have felt it too – and I’m willing to bet anyone who has worked in the medical field has felt it at some point in their career. It’s normal. It’s secret. It’s taboo.”

You can read about that case here. Errors of medical and veterinary judgement can cause morbidity and mortality - being open about these can be tough, but its also important for clinicians to identify near misses and complications, be open about them, learn from them and commit to change.

In Australia right now there is serious, overdue debate about the place of the greyhound racing industry. Important animal welfare issues such as “wastage” and live-baiting are in the mainstream news. The Good Weekend provided some thought-provoking coverage here.

SAT reader Sean sent this amazing video of the separation of turtles joined by the yolk sac. Somewhat less complicated than your typical Siamese twin separation surgery and a tad more rudimentary (dental floss was used) but gripping nonetheless. Watch it here.

Date with a thorny devil

A gravid thorny devil catches some rays.

Not much beats seeing an animal in the wild. A little while ago I was part of a team undertaking some fieldwork in the Tanami Desert in Central Australia. You can never plan these things, and even among scientists one is considered to be “jinxing” one’s chances if one utters a desire to see an animal. Which is a topic for a whole other discussion. But I did say, to no one in particular, “I’d LOVE to meet a thorny devil” on the drive out from Alice Springs.

Thorny devils, named by someone who didn’t appreciate their beauty (Moloch horridus), are central Australian native agamids that resemble a medieval weapon.

They are active in the daytime but they’re very well camouflaged in the environment so not always easy to spot – unless they’re sunbaking on bitumen in which case it’s super easy.

Not that we spotted this one. She came to us. A visitor turned up with a thorny devil who had been picked up by some kids and needed to be released. So we saw a thorny devil in the wild…albeit reintroducing her into a suitably sandy location.

How do we know she was a she? Well, she looked a little bit gravid (ie pregnant). They lay eggs, and the ladies are usually a bit bigger than the blokes.

A gravid thorny devil, Moloch horridus.

If you’re not sold on TDs, here are some nifty things that might change your mind.

1. They have a “false head” which is displayed to predators when they dip their real head. Although one questions the evidence that the purpose of this soft tissue structure is to act as a false head. Because eagles and goannas tend to eat TDs whole. Anyway, one explanation of the lump behind their head is that it acts like a false head. Certainly looks similar to the head.
2. They use their spiky skin to drink. They stand in a puddle or water source, or dew collects on them, and the water is drawn by capillary action along groves in their skin to their mouths.
3. They dine only on ants, making them “myrmecophages” – which should really be “antphages”. Apparently, if you crush their stools between your fingers (not an activity for everyone) you find digested bits of ants.

It was an honour to spend some time with this magnificent creature, until we found a suitably sandy spot to release her. Here’s hoping she lays a clutch of beautiful eggs.

What do cats and crocodiles have in common? Three things I learned about saltwater crocodiles

I came across this footprint from a saltwater crocodile on a beach in the Northern Territory.

Actually as soon as I asked that question I could think of multiple answers, such as the fact that they're both magnificent species, they are both partial to a seafood dinner, they can both suffer from fur balls - albeit from different sources), they can both surprise you with a little nip etc. etc., but one thing I wasn’t aware of until last week was this: they both get herpes. Actually most species have their own species-specific herpesviruses, but herpesvirus in crocodiles is a relatively recently described phenomenon.

I learned about it during a fantastic webinar presented by veterinary pathologist Dr Cathy Shilton and hosted by the World AquaticVeterinary Medical Association (WAVMA). The topic was diseases of farmed saltwater crocodiles in Australia.

Crocodiles are distributed in Australia’s tropical north. There are around 14 crocodile farms in Australia, approximately half of which are in the Northern Territory where Dr Shilton works. 

The largest farm holds around 40,000 animals. Around 70,000 eggs are harvested from the wild per year. (Back when I was a veterinary student I participated in one such harvest and was given the unpopular/hair-raising job of climbing onto the nest with an eski actually collecting the eggs from the nest while two big blokes kept lookout for mum).

Crocodiles are farmed primarily for their skins, which are sold into the luxury leather market. The majority of crocodiles are “harvested” from 2-4 years of age.

Saltwater crocodiles on a farm in the Northern Territory.

I learned a lot in the webinar, but if I had to pick three key points they were:

• Bacterial sepsis is the main cause of mortality, with gram negative pathogens mostly to blame. These include Providencia rettgeri, Morganella morganii, Edwardsiella tarda, and salmonella species (all of which sound like very exotic names for one’s offspring if nothing else). The majority (95 per cent) of mortalities occur in hatchlings. Bacterial sepsis likely occurs secondary to stress, which may be due to inappropriate temperatures (reptiles should always be kept in their preferred optimal temperature zone, and crocodiles like an ambient temperature of around 32 degrees) or other stressors like noise, disruption of the normal routine and so on. Interestingly, Dr Shilton observed that even if they present for sudden death, the stomachs of crocodiles with bacterial sepsis are always empty, i.e. they’ve been off their food for at very least one feed, possibly more. There may be some scope for further honing our skills on assessing the systemic health of reptiles.
• A herpesvirus is responsible for two distinct syndromes in Aussie salties. It usually affects 6-12 week old hatchlings. The first causes a conjunctivitis-pharyngitis which is a bit similar to the syndrome caused in cats, and apparently tortoises, although it sounds like it’s a bit more severe. That may be because there is a feline herpesvirus vaccine, or possibly because feline herpesvirus is endemic and maybe croc herpesvirus is rather new. Interestingly this syndrome was described in 2006. In 2009 another syndrome was described. This affects juveniles (6-10 months old) and is associated with systemic lymphoid proliferation and non-suppurative encephalitis. Clinically they fail to thrive. They may have splenomegaly or pulmonary oedema. This is more similar to Marek’s disease seen in poultry or bovine malignant catarrhal fever. There are currently no vaccines. Use of drugs such as famciclovir which are used in cats (and people) for herpesvirus signs have not been trialled, probably due to cost being prohibitive.
• Stress of some kind – possibly maternal stress – seems associated with “runting” or hatchling failure to thrive, which affects 10 to 15 per cent of stock each year. According to Dr Shilton farms have a vested interest in the welfare of animals as their aim is to produce blemish free skin, and stressed crocs tend to get diseases that cause skin lesions, or experience delayed wound healing. Stress is managed to an extent by managing stocking rates (not too low, as crocodiles get territorial, and keeping numbers of females higher than males, but also making stock numbers are excessive in pens). Hatchlings are also graded by size monthly to ensure that they are in pens with animals about their size. Even so, it seems as if welfare assessment of farmed crocodiles is an area where research is lacking.

This was a very well-presented, really informative webinar. WAVMA hosts some excellent webinars, so if you have any interest in creatures that swim, I'd encourage you to join up.

Things I learned about reptile care

Spike observes the world from the roof of his hide.

I’m currently enrolled in the Centre for VeterinaryEducation’s online reptile medicine course under the tutelage of Dr Robert Johnson. Dr Johnson is an experienced exotics veterinarian, former Taronga Zoo Veterinarian and co-owner of South Penrith Veterinary Clinic. He is also currently the President of the Australian Veterinary Association. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe he is the first exotics veterinarian to fill this role.

Anyway, the discussion board has been going off and one of the most interesting activities has been evaluating the husbandry of reptiles. Our tutor or class members post a photo of a snake, reptile or turtle enclosure and we have to comment on whether it is suitable for that species and how it might contribute to disease.

The framework that many of us have been using is the 8 H’s of husbandry, which is a nice framework to structure a husbandry assessment around.

• Heat (and light, including access to UV light and provision of a heat mosaic – including use of themometers and thermostats);
• Hide (somewhere reptiles can get some privacy; also very useful for handling the nippier species);
• Humidity (optimal humidity varies from 40-80 per cent depending on species; to some extent this is controlled by the size of the water bowl);
• Health (of the animals – including behaviour, such as soaking in the water bowl which can be a sign of mites, clinical signs including lesions);
• Hygiene (including ease of cleaning, substrate and the cleanliness of the enclosure, as well as water quality);
• Healthy appetite (anorexia can be a sign of disease but it can also occur because of poor husbandry – not keeping the animal in its preferred optimal temperature zone, stress or offering inappropriate food items);
• Habitat (size does matter – snakes need to be able to stretch to their full body length but very large enclosures make thermoregulation more of a challenge);
• Handling (over-handling is a contributing factor to metabolic disease in lizards as whilst they are being handled they are usually not exposed to UV light; it’s also a common cause of regurgitation in snakes, who take quite a long time to digest their food and should not be handled for at least three days after a good feed).

Analysing husbandry has been the most entertaining homework I’ve had in ages. It’s amazing what you can tell from a few images of an enclosure. If reptiles are not presented in their enclosures (and often this is highly impractical) it is very much worth encouraging the owners to take a few snaps so you can see if the set-up is deficient in any of the above.

There are 8 modules in the course (introduction to reptile medicine, the consultation, common conditions of reptiles, interpretation of diagnostic tests, hospital care, critical care, anaesthesia and surgery) which can be completed over the next four to six weeks, and there is still time to enrol.

On a related note, check out this lovely story about a police station that looks after blue tongue lizards. It’s great to see their community service isn’t limited to humans!

What happens at a reptile show?

Mini-Glenns. Juvenile Centralian bearded dragons on display.

I had one mission this weekend which was to find a suitable winter enclosure for Glenn. Being a Centralian bearded dragon he likes it hot – around 28-35 degrees. A lot warmer than the average Sydney winter.

So I wanted to find an enclosure I could set up to provide a suitable heat gradient and meet all of his needs. Anyway, the morning proved fascinating. It was the first time I'd met a snake with two personal security guards...

Another enclosure containing a number of juvenile beardies.

Rather than shopping around town, which alas I have no time for, or shopping online and being unable to see the enclosure in three dimensions before I bought it, I went to the HawkesburyHerpetological Society’s exhibition.

Complete kits are available for beginners. These contain lighting, heating, food dispensers, thermometers, substrate and all of the bits and bobs one needs to keep a bearded dragon. They may seem a bit pricey but putting together a decent enclosure for a reptile costs money. I don't think any money on good husbandry of any species is ever wasted. It is an investment that minimises the risk of husbandry-related disease and improves the quality of life of captive animals.

I’ve attended and even officiated at cat, dog, rabbit, rat, mouse and guinea pig shows, but this was my first reptile show. It was an education. The show started at 9am and there was already a massive queue snaking out of the door and into the packed car park.

These diamond pythons were just two entrants vying for, among other titles, the coveted "Best in Show".

Dr Robert Johnson, Belinda White and John Cann, aka "the snake man of La Perouse" after the judging.

For me it was a fantastic opportunity to see other Centralian bearded dragons at various life-stages, as well as view the types of enclosures used for this species and probe keepers about husbandry, environmental enrichment - you know, giving them the best possible life.

Magnificent tree frogs were for sale (an amphibian license is required to keep this species in NSW).

It was quite different to a dog or cat show - snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs and other reptiles were on display in various tanks, terrariums and even Tupperware (from which I hope they were rapidly transferred into appropriate enclosures as soon as possible following purchase).

These water dragons, bred and displayed by OzReps, are a couple of months old. 

I asked the enthusiastic St John Ambulance volunteers if anyone had been bitten by a snake yet.

St John's Ambulance volunteers were present to provide first aid if required. In NSW alone they treat over 36,000 casualties and provide over 400,000 hours of voluntary first aid and training services. They're at every animal show and public event and their enthusiasm for service is inspirational.

“No,” said Division Trainer John, adding that the venomous snakes were all in locked enclosures. 

"Ah yes, but what if there was an earthquake and all the enclosures fell over?" I probed.

Apparently this possibility was considered by one of the junior volunteers, who suggested that would be a cue to run for the exit. 

I met this stunning four-year-old giant burrowing cockroach and one of her four babies. These critters can live to about ten and they are truly beautiful. You can download free husbandry guidelines here.

Look closely at this picture. This python, a Pied Stimsoni, is one of (I am told) five inthe world. The men in black are this snake's personal security detail. 

A close up. One could imagine this snake starring in James Bond movie, opening in a herp expo. Or maybe Indiana Jones. Apparently the python was worth " a lot" of money, enough to fund the appointment of two highly trained men to fend off any would-be thieves.

A lot of people purchased animals on the day, but many came just for a look. Or to find reptile resources.

For those unfamiliar with reptiles it was a good chance to meet them up close.

Sheryll Steele-Boyce with Dr Danny Brown's magnum opus, "A Guide To Australian Lizards in Captivity". This tome weighs several kilograms and has a limited print run, but the detail is staggering.

These books and others were available from Reptile Publications. Publisher Sheryll Steele-Boyce is passionate about producing comprehensive husbandry guides.

Rock scorpions were for sale.

There were also a couple of dinosaurs on display (for those who aren't sure this one is fake). I guess some people are into reptiles (and birds for that matter) because they have much in common with dinosaurs.

It was an amazing and educational few hours. As a recent reptile owner it was helpful to me to source information from the experts - keepers, veterinarians, breeders and biologists - in one spot. It was really helpful being able to see different types and standards of husbandry. As a veterinarian it was useful to see where clients purchase pets and what sort of information they can access. The herpetological societies were extremely helpful and staffed by exceptionally passionate volunteers. I'd recommend anyone with an interest in reptiles or amphibians gets along and has a chat with their local herp society. Hopefully everyone who visited today learned something about how they can enhance the wellbeing of the reptiles in their care.

Glenn the bearded dragon

Glenn poses in front of The Veterinarian Magazine article which was about him.

This month's issue of The Veterinarian Magazine featured someone who has become a member of the family. Glenn, a Centralian bearded dragon, sustained a severe injury to his tail which required amputation. 

You can see the lesion around the middle of the tail in this image.

Note the corresponding radiographic lesion.

(If you're wondering where the name came from, a work experience student called Jack came up with it - and it happened to be the exact same name as the herpetologist who identified Glenn as a Centralian beardie, Dr Glenn Shea. It is not the first time Dr Shea has been honoured by the naming of a reptile after him. In fact, so respected is Dr Shea in herpetology circles that he has several species named after him, including this one).

Glenn meets Glenn.

Glenn in transit.

Veterinarians Jane Roffey and Robert Johnson, of South Penrith Veterinary Clinic, performed the surgery. The tail amputation itself was very straightforward, but for the uninitiated, bearded dragon anaesthesia is tricky. At the time, Glenn - a juvenile - weighed just 61grams. So he had the tiniest volumes of pre-medication - 5mg/kg morphine and 1mg/kg midazolam.

Dr Roffey monitors anaesthesia during the procedure.

He was induced with alfaxan via his tail vein but the difference between a reptile just chilling and a reptile under general anaesthetic can be difficult to tell...the most striking thing I noticed was that he changed colour, darkering significantly. Jane used an IV catheter with the stylette removed to intubate him and Robin the nurse kept him breathing using IPPV (intermittent positive pressure ventilation). At one point he appeared alarmingly dead...but an ultrasound confirmed his heart was beating away. There were just no instruments quite suitable for monitoring this.

Glenn made it through the surgery, although it took about two days for the anaesthetic to wear off and he didn't eat for around 24 hours.

Because his species is not found locally he can't be released, and he needed a carer. So in he moved and life changed.

He was diagnosed with mild metabolic bone disease so requires daily calcium supplementation, as well as a good dose of UV light to convert cholesterol in his skin to vitamin D (this helps him absorb calcium from his diet). I've never before been so conscious of when the sun is shining or the need to get him outside for some UV light (most Aussies are trained to slip, slop, slap and avoid UV like the plague).

You can read all about Glenn in the February issue of Veterinarian Magazine.

Veterinarians and vet students who want to learn about reptiles can join the Australian Veterinary Association's Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV) special interest group (visit www.ava.org.au)

Or if you want to know more about husbandry of reptiles, you might want to pop over to the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society's annual exhibition at Penrith Panthers on Sunday. More info in this post here.

Reptiles as pets: tips from reptile keeper Marty Bodsworth

According to Marty Bodsworth, among the biggest misconceptions about reptiles are the beliefs that they are slimy and they all bite. Image used with permission.

Do you have a pet reptile? Do you treat reptiles in your practice? Reptiles are increasingly popular pets. Herpetological societies are a fantastic source of information about reptile care. Hawkesbury Herpetological Society member Marty Bodsworth shared his tips about reptile keeping.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?

I work as a Data Manager in two Emergency departments. I am also a reptile keeper and breeder in Sydney west, I have kept lizards for almost 40 years and pythons for 22 years.

How did you become interested in reptiles?

I have been interested in reptiles from as young as I can remember, some of my first were Eastern water skinks, Eastern Bearded dragons, Blue tongues and Eastern water dragons, I had a pit in my parent’s backyard that I housed these in over the years.

I am now a member of the Hawkesbury Herpetology Society with my 9 year old son Guy, he attends most meetings with me and learns so much during the presentations on reptiles, he also loves seeing some of the member’s reptiles when they bring them into show and talk about them, and he loves showing off his own pet reptiles when he gets a chance.

What reptiles do you have and what are their names?

I keep Eastern long neck turtles, central beardies, Blue tongues, Eastern water dragons, Blotched blue tongues, Cunninghams skinks, Land mullets, pink tongue lizards, Diamond Pythons, Coastal Carpets, Central Australian Carpet pythons and Murray Darling Carpets. My favourite lizard is “Big daddy”, the male Eastern Water dragon. My favourite snake is my black Diamond python “Tapanga”, I have had her for 13 years, she is the one reptile I could never give up.

Marty spends a lot of time working on providing the best husbandry for the reptiles in his care.

What are the biggest challenges associated with keeping reptiles?

For a new keeper I would say the biggest challenge would be getting the husbandry correct for the reptile they are keeping, a lot of people obtain their new pet first without any research, simple things like correct enclosure temperature and gradient, enclosure size, types of food, do they need UV?

What is the most common misconception people have about reptiles?

That they are slimy and everything bites, when I show people some of my reptiles and how calm the reptile is, they are amazed.

In your view, what are the three most important things carers can do to ensure the health of their reptiles?

1. Ensure they have enough room, so a correct size enclosure for the animal you are keeping.
2. Correct heating and UV if required.
3. At the first sign of illness, get to your reptile vet, waiting can make the difference between life and death.

What's the best source of information about reptile health?

The best source for animal health for me would have to be my vet Robert Johnson at South Penrith Veterinary clinic, I have been going to him for 21 years and now have his new book “A Guide to Health and Disease in Reptiles and Amphibians” By: Dr Brendan Carmel, Robert Johnson.

A Guide to Health and Disease in Reptiles and Amphibians is an accessible source of information.

Do you have any tips for vets or vet students who might work with reptiles?

Help educate reptile owners, tell them what you need to know, so the next time they attend the will have the correct information you need to make a correct diagnosis. Things like eating patterns, shedding, temps and general behaviour can help solve problems.

Thank you so much Marty. If you want more info about reptiles and their husbandry, check out the Hawkesbury Herpetological Society’s Annual Reptile Expo on Sunday March 1 at Penrith Panthers Exhibition Marquee on Mulgoa Road, Penrith, from 9am-4pm.

Class 1 and 2 reptiles, exotics, venomous snakes and amphibians will be on display. It’s a great place to pick up a decent reptile enclosure, lighting, accessories and food. There is an entry fee of $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Photography enthusiasts are also welcome.

Update on Sutcliffe, the baby bearded dragon

Sutcliffe chills on an ornament while his enclosure is cleaned.

For those SAT readers dying to know, little Sutcliffe the Central Bearded Dragon is chugging along very nicely, although he would prefer to see the end of these grey skies and accompanying torrential rain (wouldn't we all??? - I've seen so many miserable dogs in the last week who aren't getting their daily walks and don't like peeing if it means getting their feet wet. Can't say I blame them). He hasn’t grown visibly but is happily eating the Hills a/d and taking his calcium Sandoz without much fuss.

Sutcliffe meets world renowned herpetologist Dr Glenn Shea.

When he does catch a moment in natural sunshine (as opposed to the artificial UV light he is exposed to) he comes alive. Otherwise he mostly sleeps.

Close up of Sutcliffe catching a nap on the hand of Dr Glenn Shea.

If you’re looking for tips on reptile husbandry check here or grab this awesome book.

Meanwhile the Australian Veterinary Journal will this month publish case reports of horses contracting Australian Bat Lyssavirus, a very concerning development. Read more here.

Finally, don't forget to enter our giveaway to win a doublepass to a nighttalk at the Australian Museum. Details here.

Meet Sutcliffe, the baby bearded dragon

Sutcliffe is a central bearded dragon. Getting reptile husbandry right is absolutely essential for their wellbeing. He suffered a pathological fracture of his tail, probably due to a combination of poor diet and not enough UV light.

Meet Sutcliffe, a juvenile central bearded dragon that we have been nursing. Today's post is more pictorial than anything else.

Sutcliffe has a tiny pathological fracture of his tail, probably secondary to poor husbandry including lack of UV light, so we’re supplementing him with calcium Sandoz syrup and a “matchhead” of Hill’s a/d every day.

He weighs a massive 5 grams.

We took him to SouthPenrith Veterinary Clinic to visit Dr Robert Johnson, who has written several books on reptile husbandry including this one.

Sutcliffe has his calcium sandoz syrup (diluted 1:10 in the tiniest possible amount).

Pet reptiles are very prone to metabolic bone disease so it is important to get their husbandry right. Overhandling can be part of the problem. You can read more here. We'll keep you posted on Sutcliffe's progress. Meanwhile if you're wondering about all the gloves, reptiles are known to carry salmonella so it is important to practice excellent hygiene - and don't kiss them, tempting as it may be.

Chilling (well, probably not an appropriate term to use for a reptile's preferred activity) on a leaf.

My favourite egg moments

Eggs from a mosquito (image courtesy Fabrizio Montarsi).

As a small animal practitioner you know its Easter when you get calls about dogs raiding Easter egg stashes. I met two unfortunate pugs yesterday who happened upon a bag containing Cadbury chocolate-mousse filled Easter Eggs. They couldn't believe their luck and although the bag was placed out of reach, they were able to reach the handles and work together to pull it down and open its forbidden contents - which were naturally gorged rapidly.

They presented to me shortly after, and I had the joy of inducing vomiting and confirming that yes indeed, the eggs had certainly been ingested, but looked a lot less attractive on expulsion. I felt very sorry for the pugs as they came into the clinic looking particularly chuffed and were clearly on the hunt for more treats. Those warnings about chocolate toxicity that vet clinics release around Easter aren't empty words!

But on the topic of eggs I thought about some of the happier (or in some cases more interesting) egg moments I've experienced, so this post is more of a photo album of egg-related incidents. 

This chicken presented straining to lay an egg (egg-bound). After treating her I took her home and watched her - and in the morning she produced this in my bathroom. 

Warning - this pic below looks distressing but the bird is anaesthetised (note mask over head and beak area) and is in this position because she is unconscious. She made a full recovery.

My colleague Steve removed this egg from an egg-bound Indian ringneck. If you don't, or you don't do it right, you can cause egg peritonitis which can be fatal.

The eggs below were removed from a bearded dragon with follicular stasis, a condition commonly seen in these reptiles.

Bearded dragon eggs that have been surgically removed.

The above image does remind me of gall-stones. When I was growing up - before the advent of the internet and pay-TV [it wasn't that long ago, kids!] - the best thing at school was show-and-tell. I am not sure if it was peculiar to my school, but one of the highlights was when kids used to bring in their parents' gallstones for show and tell - in the same yellow specimen jars. The stones were about the size of those eggs, and sometimes there were a few. I was so jealous that my parents didn't have gallstones to show and tell. Now I know where they come from and how much pain they can cause, I'm happy my folks didn't have them (I'm also somewhat relieved that mum didn't have follicular stasis, although an egg-laying mum would have blown everyone else's show and tell out of the room).

But back to follicular stasis, this happens when fertilised follicles become stuck, usually when active ovaries develop mature follicles that fail to ovulate (preovulatory follicular stasis or, for those in the business, PFS - very different to PMS). Treatment involves surgical removal of the eggs and speying. You can also get post-ovulatory follicular stasis (also PFS - some potential for confusion here), where eggs just stick together because they are not properly calcified - this creates a massive conglomeration of eggs that is impossible to pass. Treatment is the same. (For more info check out Robert Johnson and Brendan Carmel's fantastic book here).

Snakes can also become egg-bound and may require surgical intervention.

Ultrasound of a gravid carpet python (the outline of the eggs is visible, with two eggs here - one on the left, the other smaller egg is to the right).

For those readers who aren't keen on seeing images of surgery or reptiles, apologies - there are some pics of python surgery coming up.

Dr Robert Johnson removed an egg from an egg-bound carpet python.

This python had a lot of eggs that she couldn't move.

This is a selection of the eggs. Note their irregularity and very soft shells. The patient made a full recovery but her eggs were nonviable.

Her wound post-op looks very neat. Note that one doesn't incise through the middle of the ventral scales - always try to incise between.

So there you have it. Eggs in all of their raw beauty. The chocolate ones just don't really compare, do they?

REFERENCE

Carmel B & Johnson R (2014) A Guide To Health & Disease in Reptiles & Amphibians. Burleigh, QLD: Reptile Publications.