Necropsy Guide For Dogs Cats and Small Mammals - 2016 - McDonough - Front Matter

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Necropsy Guide for Dogs, Cats,
and Small Mammals
10.1002/9781119317005.fmatter, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119317005.fmatter by Cochrane Czech Republic, Wiley Online Library on [24/10/2022]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License
This book is dedicated to John M. King, who wrote The Necropsy Book, and taught us all about
the art of the necropsy.
Necropsy Guide for Dogs, Cats,
and Small Mammals
DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP
DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP

Sean P. McDonough
Teresa Southard
Cornell University
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Ithaca, NY
Edited by
This edition first published 2017 © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Inc
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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data

Names: McDonough, Sean P., editor. | Southard, Teresa, editor.
Title: Necropsy guide for dogs, cats, and small mammals / edited by Sean P. McDonough, Teresa Southard.
Description: Ames, Iowa, USA : John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2017. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016036895 | ISBN 9781119115656 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781119115670 (ePub) | ISBN 9781119115663 (Adobe PDF)
Subjects: LCSH: Veterinary autopsy. | Dogs–Autopsy. | Cats–Autopsy. | MESH: Autopsy–veterinary | Autopsy–methods |
Dissection–veterinary | Dogs | Cats
Classification: LCC SF769 .N43 2017 | NLM SF 769 | DDC 636.089/60759–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016036895
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in
electronic books.
Set in 10/12pt Warnock by SPi Global, Pondicherry, India
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
v
Brief Contents
List of Contributors xv
Foreword xvii
Acknowledgments xix
About the Companion Website xxi
Part I Necropsy Fundamentals 1
1 Introduction to the Necropsy 3
2 Necropsy Basics 9
3 The Necropsy Procedure 21
Part II Organ Systems 39
4 The Integumentary System 41

5 The Musculoskeletal System 49
6 The Cardiovascular System 59
7 The Respiratory System 69
8 The Alimentary System 77
9 The Liver and Pancreas 91
10 The Urogenital System 101
11 The Nervous System 107
12 The Eye and Ear 115
13 The Endocrine System 125
14 The Lymphoreticular System 133
Part III Special Cases 143
15 Small Mammal Necropsies 145

16 Fetuses and Neonatal Animals 153
vi Brief Contents
Part IV Additional Testing 157
17 Cytology 159
18 Histopathology 165
19 Infectious Disease Testing 171
20 Toxicology Testing 175
21 Packaging and Shipping Samples 179
Appendix 1: Normal Organ Weights (Percentage Body Weight) 183

Appendix 2: North American Diagnostic Laboratories 187
Appendix 3: Tissue Collection Checklist 193
Appendix 4: Describing Gross Lesions 195
Index 197
vii
Contents
List of Contributors xv
Foreword xvii
Acknowledgments xix
About the Companion Website xxi
Part I Necropsy Fundamentals 1
1 Introduction to the Necropsy 3
Sean P. McDonough and Teresa Southard
1.1 What is a Necropsy? 3
1.2 Why do a Necropsy? 3
1.3 What Information Can and Cannot Be Gained from a Necropsy 3
1.4 When to Refer a Necropsy 4
2 Necropsy Basics 9
2.1 Necropsy Facilities 9
2.2 Necropsy Equipment 9
2.3 Safety Considerations 13
2.3.1 Cuts and Punctures 14
2.3.2 Zoonotic Disease 14
2.3.3 Formalin 15
2.4 The Importance of a Good History 15
2.5 The Necropsy Report 15
2.5.1 Gross Description 15
2.5.2 Gross Findings 16
2.5.3 Gross Diagnosis 16
2.5.4 Comment 16
2.6 Postmortem Changes 16
3 The Necropsy Procedure 21

3.1 Introduction 21
3.2 Weigh the Body 21
viii Contents
3.3 External Examination 21

3.4 Reflect the Skin and Right Limbs 22
3.5 Open the Abdominal Cavity 26
3.6 Puncture the Diaphragm 27
3.7 Open the Thoracic Cavity 27
3.8 Open the Pericardium 28
3.9 In Situ Examination of Organs 29
3.10 Remove the Adrenal Glands 30
3.11 Remove the Pluck 30
3.12 Remove the Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, and Spleen 32
3.13 Remove the Urogenital Organs 34
3.14 Remove the Head 35
3.15 Take Out the Eyes 35
3.16 Remove the Brain 36
3.17 Remove the Pituitary Gland 37
Bibliography 37
Part II Organ Systems 39
4 The Integumentary System 41

Jeanine Peters-Kennedy
4.1 Anatomy Review 41
4.1.1 External Ear Canal Anatomy 42
4.2 In Situ Examination and Removal 42
4.2.1 Primary Lesions 42
4.2.2 Lesions that May Be Primary or Secondary 43
4.2.3 Secondary Skin Lesions 43
4.3 Organ Examination, Sectioning, and Fixation 44
4.3.1 Cytology 44
4.3.2 Skin Scrapes 44
4.3.3 Hair Examination (Trichogram) 44
4.3.4 Examination of the External Ear Canal 44
4.3.5 Sampling the Skin 45
4.4 Common Artifacts and Postmortem Changes 46
Bibliography 46
5 The Musculoskeletal System 49

Teresa Southard
5.1.1 Bones and Joints 49
5.1.2 Teeth 51
5.1.3 Skeletal Muscle 52
5.2 In Situ Evaluation, Sectioning, and Fixation 52
5.2.1 Bones 52
5.2.2 Joints, Tendons, and Ligaments 54
5.2.3 Skeletal Muscle 55
Contents ix
5.3 Special Techniques 55

5.3.1 Postmortem Imaging 55
5.3.2 Cleaning Bones 56
5.3.3 India Ink Evaluation of Articular Cartilage 56
5.3.4 Examining the Intervertebral Discs 56
5.3.5 Submitting Muscle for Additional Tests 56
Bibliography 57
6 The Cardiovascular System 59

Kathleen M. Kelly
6.1.1 Right Heart 59
6.1.2 Left Heart 60
6.1.3 Vessels: Great and Small 60
6.1.4 Contextual Cardiac Embryology and Congenital Heart Malformations 62
6.2 In Situ Evaluation and Removal 63
6.4 Common Artifacts, Non-lesions, and Postmortem Changes 66
Bibliography 68
7 The Respiratory System 69

Elizabeth L. Buckles and Teresa Southard
7.3.1 Larynx and Trachea 72
7.3.2 Lungs 73
7.3.3 Nasal Cavity and Sinuses 74
Bibliography 75
8 The Alimentary System 77

Gerald E. Duhamel
8.1.1 The Oropharyngeal Cavity 77
8.1.2 The Salivary Glands 78
8.1.3 The Esophagus 78
8.1.4 The Stomach 79
8.1.5 The Small Intestine 79
8.1.6 The Large Intestine 81
8.1.7 The Intestinal Vasculature and Nervous System 82
8.2.1 The Esophagus 83
8.2.2 The Gastrointestinal Tract 83
x Contents
8.3.1 Gastrointestinal Tract 85

Bibliography 89
9 The Liver and Pancreas 91

Sean P. McDonough
9.1.1 The Liver 91
9.1.2 The Pancreas 93
9.2.1 The Liver 94
9.3.1 The Liver 96
9.4.1 The Liver 98
Bibliography 99
10 The Urogenital System 101

Teresa Southard
10.3.1 Kidneys 103
10.3.2 Ureters 104
10.3.3 Bladder and Urethra 104
10.3.4 Ovaries 105
10.3.5 Oviduct/Uterus/Cervix/Vagina 105
10.3.6 Testes/Epididymides/Ductus Deferens 105
10.3.7 Prostate Gland 105
10.3.8 Bulbourethral Gland (Cats Only) 106
10.3.9 Distal Colon/Rectum/Anus 106
Bibliography 106
11 The Nervous System 107

Andrew D. Miller
11.2.1 Brain 108
11.2.2 Spinal Cord 109
11.2.3 Peripheral Nerves 110
11.3.1 Brain 110
Contents xi
11.3.2 Spinal Cord 112

11.3.3 Nerves 112
Bibliography 113
12 The Eye and Ear 115

Sean P. McDonough
12.1 The Eye 115
12.1.1 Anatomy Review 115
12.1.2 In Situ Evaluation and Removal 115
12.1.3 Examination, Sectioning, and Fixation 117
12.2 The Ear 119
12.2.1 Anatomy Review 119
12.2.2 In Situ Evaluation and Removal 122
12.2.3 Examination, Sectioning, and Fixation 122
Bibliography 123
13 The Endocrine System 125

Sean P. McDonough
13.1.1 The Pituitary Gland 125
13.1.2 The Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands 125
13.1.3 The Endocrine Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans) 126
13.1.4 The Adrenal Glands 126
13.2.3 The Endocrine Pancreas 129
13.3.3 The Endocrine Pancreas 131
14 The Lymphoreticular System 133

Sean P. McDonough
14.1.1 Thymus 133
14.1.2 Lymph Nodes 133
14.1.3 Spleen 133
14.1.4 Bone Marrow 135
14.2.1 Thymus 135
14.2.3 Spleen 136
xii Contents

14.3.1 Thymus 138
14.3.3 Spleen 140
14.4 Incidental Findings 141
Part III Special Cases 143
15 Small Mammal Necropsies 145

Teresa Southard
15.1 Species Differences 145
15.2 Necropsy Technique 145
Bibliography 151
16 Fetuses and Neonatal Animals 153

Teresa Southard
16.1 Anatomy 153
16.1.1 Placenta 153
16.1.2 Umbilical Cord 153
16.1.3 Fetal Circulation 153
16.2 Necropsy Technique 154
Part IV Additional Testing 157
17 Cytology 159
Teresa Southard
17.1 Types of Cytology Preparations 159
17.2 Making a Touch Imprint 159
17.3 Making a Bone Marrow Smear 159
17.4 Other Preparations 160
17.5 Staining 160
17.6 Atlas of Normal Tissues 161
18 Histopathology 165
18.1 Necropsy Samples for Histopathology 165
18.2 Fixation 165
18.3 Practical Guidelines to Optimize Fixation 168
19 Infectious Disease Testing 171

Teresa Southard
19.1 Test Types 171
19.2 Aerobic Culture 171
Contents xiii
19.3 Anaerobic Culture 173

19.4 Fungal Culture 173
19.5 Fluorescent Antibody Tests 174
19.6 PCR 174
19.7 ELISA 174
19.8 Virus Isolation 174
19.9 Qualitative Fecal 174
19.10 Immunohistochemistry 174
20 Toxicology Testing 175

Teresa Southard
Bibliography 175
21 Packaging and Shipping Samples 179

Sean P. McDonough
21.1 Packing Samples to Send to the Lab 180
Bibliography 180
Appendix 1: Normal Organ Weights (Percentage Body Weight) 183

Appendix 2: North American Diagnostic Laboratories 187
Appendix 3: Tissue Collection Checklist 193
Appendix 4: Describing Gross Lesions 195
Index 197
xv
List of Contributors
Elizabeth L. Buckles, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP Andrew D. Miller, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
Department of Biomedical Sciences Department of Biomedical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University Cornell University
Gerald E. Duhamel, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP Jeanine Peters‐Kennedy, DVM, Diplomate ACVP,
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Diplomate ACVD
College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
Kathleen M. Kelly, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP
Department of Biomedical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
xvii
Foreword
“Internists know everything and do nothing; Necropsies are not performed for a variety of
Surgeons know nothing and do everything; reasons. The death of a companion animal is
Pathologists know everything and do every- always an emotional time and broaching the
thing, but it’s too late.” subject of a necropsy may seem insensitive.
This saying is popular among veterinary and However, input from the clinicians at the
medical students and reflects some common Cornell University Hospital for Animals sug-
stereotypes about the different disciplines in gests that if owners believe something positive
our professions. We will let the internists and can come from the death of their pet, espe-
surgeons speak for themselves, but as patholo- cially knowledge that could potentially help
gists, we like to think that our knowledge base is other animals, they are much more likely to
equivalent to an internist and our technical consent to a postmortem examination. Also,
skills rival those of a surgeon. And we concede many veterinarians, especially at tertiary care
that our efforts are not going to help the patient facilities, share the belief of physicians that the
on the necropsy table; however, the work of the advent of newer diagnostic techniques and
pathologist is not too late to make a big impact. powerful imaging modalities makes the nec-
A necropsy examination is a simple, cost‐effective, ropsy or autopsy obsolete. However, despite
broad spectrum diagnostic procedure that the advances in medical technology, the rate of
requires no advanced training or high priced diagnostic errors remains high. Up to 10% of
equipment and can provide information benefi- autopsies reveal a misdiagnosis that would
cial to the animal’s family and veterinary team, likely have affected patient outcome and the
as well our overall understanding of disease pro- cause of death is misdiagnosed in almost 25% of
cesses (animal and human), which could poten- cases. Our personal experience with necropsies
tially save other lives. reveals similar percentages of misdiagnoses in
Despite the benefits of a necropsy, this proce- veterinary medicine.
dure is rarely performed, and often not even The goal of this book is to provide veterinary
considered. Here at Cornell, only a small per- students and small animal practitioners, as well
centage of the animals that die or are euthanized as pathology residents and pathologists, a guide
in the small animal hospital are submitted for for performing a necropsy, including a step‐by‐
necropsy. In human medicine, the autopsy rate step tutorial of the basic necropsy procedure, a
has drastically declined over the past few dec- review of the anatomy and dissection tech-
ades. Before the 1970s, 30–40% of all human niques for each organ system, and information
hospital deaths were investigated by autopsy but on collecting tissues for additional testing. We
by 2005, the rate had fallen to less than 10%, with hope more veterinarians will take advantage of
almost no autopsies performed at hospitals that the unique continuing educational opportunity
are not affiliated with an academic institution. the necropsy affords them.
xix
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to everyone who helped make residents and necropsy students who were
this book a reality, particularly Jodie Gerdin, patient with us as we interrupted their work to
who got this whole project started; Karyn take pictures. Photograph contributors for this
Bischoff, James Morrisey, Ashleigh Newman, book include: Don Schlafer, Ana Alcaraz, Roger
Pamela Schenck, Belinda Thompson, and Panciera, Gavin Hitchener, May Tse, Nick
Jimmy Tran, who contributed their knowledge, Vitale, Jimmy Tran, Stacy Rine, Alex Molesan,
time and resources; and the Cornell pathology and Heather Daverio.
xxi
This book is accompanied by a companion website:
www.wiley.com/go/mcdonough/necropsy
About the Companion Website
Video of necropsy being performed.

The website includes:
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10.1002/9781119317005.fmatter, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781119317005.fmatter by Cochrane Czech Republic, Wiley Online Library on [24/10/2022].

DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP

DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP

Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data

Set in 10/12pt Warnock by SPi Global, Pondicherry, India

Part I Necropsy Fundamentals 1

Part II Organ Systems 39

4 The Integumentary System 41

Part III Special Cases 143

15 Small Mammal Necropsies 145

Part IV Additional Testing 157

Appendix 1: Normal Organ Weights (Percentage Body Weight) 183

Part I Necropsy Fundamentals 1

3 The Necropsy Procedure 21

3.3 External Examination 21

Part II Organ Systems 39

4 The Integumentary System 41

5 The Musculoskeletal System 49

5.3 Special Techniques 55

6 The Cardiovascular System 59

7 The Respiratory System 69

8 The Alimentary System 77

8.3.1 Gastrointestinal Tract 85

9 The Liver and Pancreas 91

10 The Urogenital System 101

11 The Nervous System 107

11.3.2 Spinal Cord 112

12 The Eye and Ear 115

13 The Endocrine System 125

14 The Lymphoreticular System 133

14.3 Organ Examination, Sectioning, and Fixation 138

Part III Special Cases 143

15 Small Mammal Necropsies 145

16 Fetuses and Neonatal Animals 153

Part IV Additional Testing 157

19 Infectious Disease Testing 171

19.3 Anaerobic Culture 173

20 Toxicology Testing 175

21 Packaging and Shipping Samples 179

Appendix 1: Normal Organ Weights (Percentage Body Weight) 183

This book is accompanied by a companion website:

Video of necropsy being performed.

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