I'd like to start off by explaining why I do what I do. Rats, like us, are prone to many illnesses, but with them it all happens sooner and quicker because their average lifespan is 2.5-3.5 years old. When my rats have fallen ill I work with my veterinarian to do everything we can to extend their life as long as it is of quality. In the end, sometimes we either didn't treat in time, or we got the diagnoses wrong- and this is where the necropsy comes in, so next time we know more, go in better prepared, or just find some peace in knowing what happened.
This is Cloud when she was alive.
Here are photos of her necropsy- I will caption the photos for the laymen here.
Very enlarged GI tract due to intestinal blockage
The mass of her guts were larger than her! Very backed up with fecal matter.
Here is a photo of all of the intestinal mesentery clipped to allow the bowel to be displayed as shown.
This photo compares her colon (the pink tube/tissue on the left) next to what caused the blockage, called a fecaloma, on the right. It is basically just very dense fecal matter that built up over time that she was unable to pass. The size is ridiculous!
