what key history should be taken in a sudden death case?
- grazing/housing/feeding
- recent movement or handling
- treatments
- group size
- number of losses
what should be done before deciding on a post mortem examination?
triage the case to assess suitability
what information can a post mortem examination provide?
- gross findings
- culture and sensitivity
- viral testing
- trace elements
- biochemistry
- parasitology
- toxicology
what testing should ideally be done on live animals first?
- serology
- PCR on secretions
- parasitology
- culture and sensitivity
what is the key principle regarding dead animals?
never waste a dead animal
what key questions assess post mortem suitability?
- when it died
- scavenging
- sun exposure
post mortem time window for sheep?
< 24 hours
post mortem time window for lambs?
< 36 hours
post mortem time window for abortions?
< 48 hours - if refrigerated
post mortem time window for cows?
- < 12 hours (summer)
- < 18 hours (winter)
post mortem time window for calves?
- < 36 h (≤5 months)
- < 18–24 h (5–12 months)
post mortem time window for pigs?
< 18 hours
post mortem time window for poultry?
24 hours, if refrigerated
why are scavenged carcasses unsuitable?
internal contamination compromises bacteriology
why is autolysis a problem?
- bacteriology and histology unreliable
- pathology vs post mortem change unclear
what is autolysis?
where a cell breaks down its own tissues and components using its own digestive enzymes
what findings may still be useful in autolysed carcasses?
- gross lesions (abscess, foreign body, fracture)
- some parasitology
when should a post mortem not be performed due to disease risk?
suspicion of notifiable disease
what do scorch markings suggest?
electrocution/lightning strike
what might toxins look like externally?
toxic substances in the mouth
what do head abrasions or bruising suggest?
struggle or trauma
what does marked bloat indicate?
rapid death or ruminal gas accumulation
what does muscle swelling with crepitus suggest in cattle?
gas producing infection (e.g. costridial disease)
what causes of death have minimal gross pathology?
- cardiac arrhythmias
- hypomagnesemia
- lightning/electrocution
- clostridial infections
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intro to vet health16
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health and disease30
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trauma19
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notifiable and zoonotic diseases13
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exemplar diseases7
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sudden death in large animals30
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sudden death in companion animals12
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post mortem examinations35
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veterinary dermatology58
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the ear41
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vestibular system35
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equine diarrhoea31
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diarrhoea in livestock30
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infection control24
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biosecurity25
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respiratory diseases40
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equine lameness29
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livestock lameness25
