Quote Originally Posted by WarriorPrincess90 View Post
Nothing looks out of the ordinary from what I could tell in the pictures. Having some fluid in the pleural cavity would make sense as there is always fluid present to provide lubrication between the lungs and the cavity wall. Though usually only just enough to lubricate. I've never dissected a rat, but I've done quite a few other species, and the organs all look pretty normal.

I wouldn't be sure of course if anything was abnormally swollen unless I had a baseline to go off of. (i.e.: healthy rat). But even then, it would be iffy. :/ Unless you know, more or less, what you should be looking for, it's hard to tell much of anything.
I'm not sure on the fluid either. Tried to get it in the photos, but difficult to really pick up. I'm not sure if the amount is considered typical, or excessive, or what the exact consistency is normal (or for that matter, how or if it changes after death).

I was trying to compare to other photos online as well, but most are rather small/lacking detail, or are not fresh (discolored and I'm sure stinking of formaldehyde). The biggest difference I've seen between her photos and those online are that generally everything in her is smaller, and she doesn't have much of any fat.. but I'm not too shocked, as lots of them start dramatically losing weight and general muscle mass just before they die, and this rat specifically was a younger, never bred, female.