Ovulation and Gravid Females in Radiographs - Egg Counts and Surprises

[Joshua Jasper]

So, since I manage multiple veterinary hospitals for a living I have access to multiple Exotics doctors in my region. I decided to swing my breeding females over to my nearby practice and shoot some radiographs of them to see how many eggs and such we have. I know ultrasound is more common of a practice in the hobby but I do find a lot of information and value in radiographs vs. ultrasound.Since I have access I will probably do this in the future routinely as part of my breeding program. I would love any thoughts or feedback, especially on my Pinstripe girl who I am surprised has no eggs. After talking with my exotics doc, we think those are follicles in the bottom part of her abdomen but he is unsure. I sent them around for a couple opinions but would love to know what you guys think.

Here they are:


2013 Clutch #1 - Bumblebee
Dam: Spider
Primary Sire: Pewter Blackback
Secondary Sire: Pastel
Radiograph Date: 05.21.2013
Estimate of 5 Eggs


Clutch #2 - Blackback Project
Dam: Normal 66% Het Piebald
Primary Sire: Pewter Blackback
Radiograph Date: 05.21.2013
Estimate of 6-7 Eggs


Clutch #3 - Jigsaw
Dam: Pinstripe
Primary Sire: Mojave
Secondary Sire: Pastel
Radiograph Date: 05.21.2013
No eggs seen on radiograph. Possible follicles but no evidence of ovulation yet. This one surprised me, as I would of put money on our Pin girl being gravid over the normal female.

Sorry for the lightness of a couple of them. Since I had the clinic email them to me I didn't get the DICOM image viewing software to edit them at home. Thanks for looking!