It is very difficult to explain, but the heart's timing system isn't really attached that well to the brain. The snake is dead, yet the heart beats because the tissue has not yet died (the process of decomposition). Normally, after an animal dies, the tissue is soon to follow, because energy sources and oxygen are immediately deprived. With herpitiles, breathing does stop, but they have the ability for anaerobic respiration (utilizing the oxygen in the tissue), thus the tissue can live for some time without specific cause to die.
I hope this explains things a bit.

I've done a necropsy on a frog 24hrs post-mortem and the heart is still beating. I've had a snake's heart beat for 1/2hr after I've removed it, and even while I was dissecting it to view the valves.

While it was your request to see the "innards" of your snake, your DVM should have probably refused, or at least better prepared you for it. I find it hard to necropsy my pets, and usually ask someone else to do it.

I guess the logical question to follow is, how do you know it's dead, because you sure don't want to have that snake feeling pain. Well, since a brain scan is usually out of the question, it is often approached as if the patient is under anesthesia for a surgery. Reflexes and responses are tested as the procedure is done. There are signs of pain response while the patient is still unconscious (and not aware of any pain). If these ever became apparent, the vet would quickly take measures to ensure consciousness never became an option.

I hope this puts you at ease; make sure you get samples tested for IBD, it can strike your collection in a month, or a year, you'll never know.

Ian

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