Busch Gardens ball procedure...Very cool!

We were at Busch Gardens, Tampa, yesterday. While watching a hyena diet presentation at the animal care pavilion, we got to watch an unexpected procedure on a ball python. One of their resident balls named Thor (29 yo male) had a hard mass around the cloaca. We got to watch the park vet clear an impacted gland in the surgical suite. They allow you to view the entire surgical suite through a glass front, and have ceiling mounted cameras that give you an up-close view on high def screens. You can even talk to the vet afterwards. As ball python owners ourselves, it was a unique experience.

Thats sweet! Sounds very interesting.

That sounds amazing! Did the little guy pull through?

Oh yeah, from the way it sounded, it wasn't that serious. The vet likened it to the glands around the anus of a dog that get impacted/blocked sometimes. He pretty much cleared it with pressure around the area and a cotton-tipped swab, and a couple assistants holding him still.

That's some great timing. That would be very Kewl!

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Originally Posted by FireBri

Oh yeah, from the way it sounded, it wasn't that serious. The vet likened it to the glands around the anus of a dog that get impacted/blocked sometimes. He pretty much cleared it with pressure around the area and a cotton-tipped swab, and a couple assistants holding him still.

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That's good to hear! I'm glad he's doing better. What a great thing to watch!

I love the animal care center. My fiancé and I go often right when the park opens just to watch the procedures. :) It was a very cool addition to the park. I wish I would have gotten to see the procedure on Thor though. That's awesome! I did see them look at a coral snake once who had a mass. That was cool. But a ball hits a little closer to home. ;)

What a treat! Did it make you want to get into veterinary medicine at all? I have a feeling that it would for me!

That's so awesome! Sounds like a cool experience and you lucked out.

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