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Chapter 35

Caimans

Our first caiman, named Lestat after the famed vampire, lateral projection (Figure 35-4) and a conventional ver-
was brought to us for treatment of injuries sustained tical beam to make the dorsoventral view (Figure 35-5).
in a hard fall. Beyond its inherent uniqueness, the The injured right carpus was examined in a similar
creature was notable because it was a demonstra- fashion and included a comparison dorsoventral view
tion animal owned and shown by a graduate zoology of the opposite left carpus (Figure 35-6).
student. Although it was possible to clearly identify the dis-
located right carpus, the left lower jaw fracture was not
completely seen, even when the beam was angled
III RADIOGRAPHY (Figure 35-7). Accordingly, the caiman was anesthe-
tized and radiographed again, but this time on its back,
Once again, we were able to transport, examine, radio- enabling us to use intraoral, nonscreen fi lm (Figure
graph (with and without anesthesia), operate, and 35-8). The images made under anesthesia showed the
eventually discharge this caiman because of the able fracture more precisely, but they did not alter the
assistance of the owner. Focusing on the imaging (as earlier radiographic diagnosis.

we must), we first learned how to radiograph a caiman When a 3-month recheck was performed, we saw
with a minimum of force so that it could be done that caiman fractures take longer to heal than compa-
without chemical or gas restraint. This was accom- rable mammalian injuries, as appears to be the case

plished by first muzzling the caiman with a few loops with most reptiles.
of duct tape (Figure 35-1), having the owner restrain
the torso (Figure 35-2) and an assistant secure the
tail.

III INJURIES

The caiman’s jaw was radiographed with a horizon-
tally directed x-ray beam (Figure 35-3) to obtain the
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