1. Necropsy-examination of an animal after it has died

2. Necropsy: Fun at the Beach

3. Terms Pathology—study of disease
Gross pathology—pathologic changes seen with naked eye
Histopathology—clinical changes seen with a microscope
Lesions—pathologic changes
Pathogenesis—the sequence of events of the disease (dog was bitten → bacteria entered wound → elevated temperature → pus formed → etc)

4. Reasons for Necropsy Determine cause of death
Determine accuracy of clinical diagnosis
Evaluate effects of therapy
In herds, 1 or more animals may be sacrificed to determine the cause of disease or toxicity
Routine in pharmaceutical studies

5. Preliminary Steps for Necropsy
Obtain owners permission; also determine if owner wants remains for burial, etc
Correctly identify animal (species, breed, sex, age, ID tags or tattoos)
Perform necropsy ASAP after death; if delayed, refrigerate animal to delay autolysis; DON’T FREEZE

6. Necropsy Report Location Number of lesions
Color of abnormalities (dark red, black, etc)
Size of lesions (cm or weight)
Shape of lesion (round, flat, oval)
Distribution
Consistency (hard, soft, firm)
Odor (sweet, sour, ammonia)
Final Report tense should be consistent
Report should be as specific as possible without giving a final diagnosis unless a test for the Dx was performed (i.e. rabies)

7. Necropsy: Facilities

8. Necropsy: Protective Clothing
Plastic apron, lab coat, scrubs
latex or plastic disposable gloves
surgical mask if animal died from infectious disease spread by aerosolization
protective footwear

9. Necropsy: Tools Knives Scissors Tissue forceps
Bone-cutting tools (pruning shears, hacksaw)

10. Toxicology Samples blood (10-20 ml)
stomach contents and urine ( ml)
blocks of liver, fat, kidney, and brain (5x5x10 cm; approx 200 g)
Samples

11. Examine Exterior

12. Necropsy facility: overhead hoist

13. Horse necropsy: remove foreleg

14. Horse necropsy: remove rib cage

15. Horse necropsy: internal organs

16. Horse necropsy: remove intestine

17. Horse necropsy: lungs and heart

18. Horse necropsy: heart

19. Horse necropsy: head

20. Necropsy Videos

21. Esophagus
Normal
Food
Ulcerations
Bleeding

22. Larynx
normal
necrosis
ulceration

23. Trachea
normal
necrosis
ulceration

24. Pericardial sac
Click on picture to view video

25. Lungs Normal Bronchopheumonia Normal lung tissue -pink -spongy
Lung abscess
-liquid/“cottage cheese” like
appearance

26. Airways and vessels
Lung artery
Lung airway

27. Normal lung tissue

28. Lung lesions Emphysema -pops like bubble-wrap Consolidation
-heavy; solid (no air)
Lung worms
Lung adhesions
to ribs
Pneumonia- darker lesions
are more severe
Abscesses

29. Heart: R ventricle

30. Heart: R side opened

31. Heart: L side

32. Heart Lesions Septal defects—connection between R and L sides
Necrotic lesions
Valve lesions

33. Liver lesions Liver abscesses Liver flukes Fatty liver
Fractured liver—due to blunt trauma; (knife cuts smooth)

34. PACKAGING

35. Clean up