Surgical Removal of multiple abscess in an

Indian rock python

G.H. Hudson, V.G. Jabin Nesaraj, U.S. Kalyaan, Dr. R. Sivashankar

A male Indian rock python of age 22yrs, with a body weight

of 16.98kg was presented to Madras Veterinary College teaching
hospital on May 26, 2011 with a history of swelling on the lateral
side of the body above the cloacae at 2 places for the past three
months. The animal was examined and diagnosed as cold abscess
by palpation. The surgery was fixed on the same day for draining
the abscess. The python was premedicated with glycopyrrolate
and anaesthetized with ketamine. A linear incision was made on
the abscess and the capsule was separated by blunt dissection.
Bleeding arrested and the pedicel was ligated with 1-0 PGA and
excised. The dead space was closed by simple continuous suture
and skin by cross mattress using 1-0 PGA. The same procedure
was repeated for the other abscess on the other side too.
Histopathological examination of the abscess contents revealed
that it was made of necrotic debris. The python was administered
streptopenicillin, and tramadol as post operative antibiotic and
analgesic respectively. The python was under antibiotic coverage
with streptopenicillin for 7 days postoperatively. The python
recovered uneventfully.