Although the Texas A&M Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, offers necropsy services, sending large bodies to the lab for examination may not always be feasible.
Field necropsies can be used as a tool to provide valuable information about an individual animal and herd health. Correctly and thoroughly collecting specimens in the field may increase the overall sustainability of an animal group and bring effective diagnostic workup.
Common findings from a necropsy
A necropsy is the systematic postmortem examination of animal tissues and organs to determine the cause of illness and death. Necropsies make crucial contributions to diagnostic testing as they provide direct information for navigating health within a herd, flock or pets. Some key findings include signs of infection, such as abscesses, abnormal fluid in body cavities or lesions in organs like the liver, lungs or intestines. Additionally, evidence of parasites, foreign objects, tumors, or even congenital abnormalities that were not noticed during an animal’s life.
The more, the better
Clients are encouraged to submit a variety of specimens in case the need for ancillary testing arises. TVMDL’s veterinary pathologist in Canyon, Katie Kleinhenz, DVM, MS, recommends that clients be thorough when conducting a necropsy.
“The only big way you can mess up is to simply not collect the samples needed,” Kleinhenz said. “It is very easy when you’re in the field to open up an animal, see the first lesion, and stop there.”
For multi-lobed organs like the lungs or brain, Kleinhenz recommends clients take a representative sample from each lobe. Samples should especially be collected from abnormal or infected areas but also from sections that appear ordinary. This provides additional options for ancillary testing and adds more detail to a diagnostic workup.
Document and record findings
An effective practice to consider for field necropsies is to routinely reference a checklist of key tissues and organs to collect for testing. TVMDL has compiled a checklist of samples and specimens for clients to use and keep track of what to collect when performing a necropsy. Additionally, Kleinhenz recommends clients keep their own record of findings from the necropsy.
“It doesn’t have to be in depth, but if you have that [record] and collect all of those tissues from that checklist, for the most part, you’re going to be able to breathe a sigh of relief,” Kleinhenz said.
If additional tests are needed, clients who follow a routine and keep a checklist, will most likely have the specific tissue available for examination that might not have been considered for a particular test at the time of a field necropsy. This pattern may optimize effective animal management.
What if the organs look too decomposed?
Sometimes, clients may be reluctant to conduct a necropsy in the field if the animal appears too decomposed or has been scavenged. Kleinhenz said that this should not be a limiting factor.
“Even if everything is slightly rotted when you open the animal, it should still be in place,” she said. “You can always call us and try. We might still be able to rule out things like toxins, nutrition, and other abnormalities. Information is still information.”
Fieldwork at its finest
At times, field necropsies may be the most practical option to provide producers and animal owners immediate information about the health of an individual animal or a larger population. Although lab necropsies are ideal, proper and comprehensive specimen collection during field necropsies can steer clients toward accurate diagnostic analysis.
“It’s always up to you, and I’m always willing to help and talk to people about what they can do and look for,” Kleinhenz said.
For more information about necropsies and testing at TVMDL, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu.
