Episode Details

Stethoscopes don’t work well on reptiles. Scales interfere with sound transmission. Scared tortoises and turtles hide behind their legs, covering their hearts.

Researchers in the College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered they can consistently measure reptiles’ pulse rate in an easy-to-reach spot on the back of the head, and that pulse rate corresponds to the heart rate in healthy reptiles. The technique requires an ultrasonic Doppler flow detector, a common instrument found in most veterinary clinics.