IBD strikes again :(

[Skiploder]

I'd be willing to be that this wasn't IBD. Why does it seem that vets are quick to throw the IBD diagnosis on every dead and/or dying snake that comes in??

Because the symptoms mimic everything from GI infections to respiratory illness to subclinical infections.

If the OP could scan and post the results of the necropsy or blood work, we could tell. A sure kicker is that the necropsy has to really be accompanied by a histopathology of the affected tissues/organs. That ain't cheap.