Materials required for a complete necropsy include a necropsy protocol and necropsy form, as well as personal protective equipment, sampling and measurement tools, and collection containers. Download a PDF of this Snake Necropsy Data Collection Form and Checklist, or modify the Word document for use by your veterinary hospital.
The postmortem exam is a key diagnostic tool in understanding the reasons for a snake’s morbidity and mortality. Necropsies can provide valuable information to provide a risk assessment for other animals in a population or collection and can help provide closure for a grieving owner. This manuscript reviews the snake necropsy in a systemic, thorough manner, describing normal anatomy and proper collection technique from head to tail.
Dr. Jessica Elbert received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University in 2018. She is currently an Anatomic Pathology Resident and PhD student at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine with special interest in zoo and exotic animal species and paramyxoviruses.
