Vet School 101 The whys, whens and hows of necropsy for your pets

February 13th, 2009  

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We had a foal that was born weak, saw vets 4 times in 2 days, finally ended up at a clinic, but too late to save him (he seemed to be doing poorly, but was stable, then he suddenly went downhill).  Our vet tells us that we did everything right throughout the mare's pregnancy and after he was born, that there wasn't anything else we could have done.

I still wish we had asked them to do a necropsy.  We had been anticipating that foal for YEARS, and when he finally came, we were so happy to have him.  We hate that we lost him, and we don't even know why.  We have guesses, but we don't KNOW.  I wish we knew.

Galadriel February 13th, 2009 01:19:40 PM

When our first cat passed away, our vet asked us (nearly begged!) to allow him to perform a necropsy, as she had just been in for her annual checkup the week before and everything checked out just fine and he felt just awful that she had died.

IIRC, it turned out that she had cardio myopathy and the fact that she lived a fat and happy 13 years with it was quite unusual.

We had no problems at all letting him do it, as we understood that he very much wanted and needed to know what had gone wrong and what he may have missed in the exam.  (Which as I understand it was nothing was missed - she had no heart murmur and no odd sounds in her heart that would have indicated an issue.)

If any of my vets requested it again, I would agree - it helps them learn more, and I am all for that.

Cindy February 13th, 2009 01:25:09 PM

When my second cockatiel passed away, it was entirely unexpected, she'd had good health and was on a good (if not perfect) diet, so I decided to have a necropsy done. Unfortunately, the results came back inconclusive, which I understand is often the case - and which clients requesting necropsies should be warned about. Since an inconclusive necropsy and no previous warning signs is consistent with a seizure, I expect that's the actual cause of death, but even with the necropsy I'll never know for sure. It did ease my mind that I hadn't done anything grossly negligent in her care, at least.

zandperl February 13th, 2009 02:27:37 PM

We always had necrosies done at the exotic animal facilities I've worked at. Thanks for outlining the reasons and revealing the "fine print" aspect of this. I wouldn't have assumed that they would perform one and in the grief state people might miss that consent.

Find me bloggin at Ark Animals

Ark Lady February 13th, 2009 03:32:46 PM

I have only asked for permission to do this on a few occasions and it defitinetly fell into the catagory of we didn't know why the pet had died and wanted to know. The more memorable of the ones I had done was on a cocker spaniel that had been ill for at least a month, vomiting, breathing difficulty, not eating, losing weight. The owners were wonderful and despite tests and speicalist involvement we had to euthanize and at least at that moment we didn't know why. I felt I had a good working relationship with the owners and all the time through the illness they had expressed wanting to know what was going on...so I felt a little less trepidation about asking for a necropsy. They were all for it and let me look after she was gone. Turns out she had pancreatic cancer that had mets to the lungs and heart....even a lesion on her esophagus. Seeing what I saw I couldn't even believe how she had lived as long as she did looking as 'good' as she did. It brought a lot of closure for her owners and I - knowing that we had done all we could but were fighting a battle much greater than we could have ever known or overcome.

J.C. February 13th, 2009 06:48:47 PM

They're also very important if the dog or cat or whatnot is part of a breeding program or a first degree relative of animals which are.  

When we lost our seven year old bitch last year, there were two main possibilities. The first was that her liver had begun to fail because of  congestive heart failure. The second was that her heart had failed due to liver disease.

The general opinion of the specialists involved was that everything could be attributed to CHF, probably due to congenital heart disease. But I lived with this dog for seven years, knew the family very well, generations of clear echocardiograms and OFA cardiac clearances.

So we did the necropsy, there was nothing obviously wrong with her heart. Her liver was enlarged and enflamed but no obvious masses. Samples of the liver were sent to a pathologist. The result came back that she had a diffuse poorly differentiated hepatic sarcoma. She had been asymptomatic until too much liver had been replaced by the cancer, at which point she went downhill very quickly. The particular type of cancer she had died from was not known to be hereditary. As she was the mother of seven, it was a small comfort to know they are unlikely to suffer her fate.

JenniferJ February 13th, 2009 07:07:06 PM

I'm not sure if I would want any of my pets necropsied - maybe it's because I've seen lots of them done.  I can appreciate a clean, meticulous necropsy - but it's always been someone else's pet, and therefore much easier to remove myself from the situation and view it as a learning experience.  The thought of one of my pets being opened up post-mortem makes me a little squirmy, although I had no problem being at work during my adult dog's abdominal crypt neuter.  I'm pretty sure I especially wouldn't want it if I intended home burial, even if it was closed nicely.  Are there any legal implications w/performing necropsies without express consent?  I've seen lots of those done when the owner agreed to group cremation - the necropsy was done after the owner left and nothing was ever said to the owner. It always kind of made me wonder if it was crossing an ethical boundary, even if it was a learning opportunity for the vet. 

anna February 13th, 2009 07:14:15 PM

Hopefully, I'll steer clear of controversy with this one! The Scottish Terrier Club of America has undertaken an important research disease called Cerebellar Abiotrophy, that requires confirmation via necropsy of brain tissue. Jerod Bell, DVM of Tufts U. has been working very hard on behalf of a few breeds afflicted.

Since this is a particularly sensitive type (disfiguring) necropsy, some Scottie owners were reluctant to participate and understandably so. After attending a presentation by Dr. Bell & writing a subsequent article/report for our regional newsletter, I received a call from one of a diagnosed CA's owner and necropsy came up

With respect & kindness, I shared the experience of a necropsy performed many years earlier that surprisingly turned out to be a fibrosarcoma invasion from between the shoulder blades to the heart & lung. The "growth" had been removed several years earlier & was my first (and as yet unproven) suspicion that vaccines can cause cancerous tumors in dogs also.

This person eventually agreed, after the dog passed away, to the necropsy.

I wish that an "autopsy" was done on my Mom to have found her "primary cancer", of which we will never know about, or the questionable Parkinson's that remained mild & confined.

Barbara A. Albright/NH

Pocket's Story from NH February 13th, 2009 07:29:49 PM

Barbara,

could you post a link to the CA study? While it's rare in EBs there are a few lines it shows up in once in a while. I know that some of those folks would be wiling to send in tissue samples if Dr Bell felt that their inclusion might be beneficial to his research

JenniferJ February 13th, 2009 08:36:32 PM

When Molson passed away suddenly - an assumed cardiac incident given his breed (Golden) or possibly a stroke - I desperately wanted to know what had happened.  However, he went quickly - and was spry as a two year old right up until the moment he went.

I just couldn`t bear the thought of him being torn apart simply to satisfy my curiosity.  In this particular case, no good could have come from knowing what caused his early demise, aside from my peace of mind.  There are moments where I experience pangs of regret and desperately wish I had agreed to have one done... but the thought of his body being dessicrated in that fashion, particularly simply to have the Doc call me and say it was A or it was B - well, in my heart I know I made the right decision. 

He had a full workup run not a month earlier and everything was just peachy, so I know it wasn`t organ failure or anything we could have prevented.  I think in some cases (some... not many - particularly with my `gotta know everything` personality) it`s better NOT to know.

Had I felt for a moment that it was caused by something external or that someone was at fault, I wouldn`t have hestitated, however... I just didn`t feel that the gain outweighed the trauma I would have lived with.

Kim February 13th, 2009 09:58:46 PM

When I had my Malinois euthanized, I debated whether or not to have tissue samples taken for use in cancer studies. I did have blood samples taken a few days before her death and shipped those for research. Ultimately, I chose not to have tissue samples done. The timing of her death was a factor: she let me know the Friday before Labor Day weekend that it was time. Her regular vet was on vacation, and I chose to let my dog have a full last day (that Saturday) rather than set the timing by when her body could go to a vet hospital for samples (I wanted her to be euthanized at home). The in-home euthanasia vet did not have the facilities to take and store tissue samples until they could be shipped after the long weekend. I don't really regret it. At least not nearly as much as I regret that our time together physically is over.

kabbage February 13th, 2009 10:29:12 PM

JenniferJ: There apparently are breed affected, although more infrequently, than first thought. Dr. Bell is doing a wonderful job for us.

http://clubs.akc.org/stca/Wobbly-Uncoordinated.htm

Several articles w/ links, Barb A.

Pocket's Story from NH February 13th, 2009 11:11:26 PM

JenniferJ: OT, but Dr. Bell may remeber me & my article. He was horribly "bashed" at that presentation by the club member audience "in denial". I was appalled, embarrassed by the behavior, and wrote a scathing article which was printed & distributed. I put my "mouth & print" behind my principles, not stay silent & follow the crowd... Sorry, couldn't help myself!

Barbara A./owner of Sealyhams & Scotties

Pocket's Story from NH February 13th, 2009 11:20:36 PM

When my first Aussie, Sasha,  died suddenly when she was 8, I asked the vet if they could do a necropsy on her.  We'd known she was feeling bad, but didn't know that there was anything that serious going on.  She died in the vet's office.

I REALLY wanted to know what had happened to her.  The vet agreed to do the necropsy.  I was charged for it, which I agreed to, because I wanted to KNOW so I'd never mistake symptoms like she had for something non-life-threatening again.

We knew she'd be cremated afterwards, and we'd get the ashes back, so body damage wasn't an issue for US.  We said our goodbye to Sasha while she was still intact.

She turned out to have died from hemangiosarcoma in her heart and lungs.  I'm still glad I had the necropsy done on her. 

Our other two dogs that have passed since then were just old, and didn't need necropsy.

 

 

 

Janice in GA February 13th, 2009 11:24:43 PM

Thanks Barb,

I'll pass it on to some good people who I know will contribute when the time comes.

Dr Bell was very gracious when I spoke to him a few years ago, he let us reprint some of his articles in our national magazine.

We had a presentation on hyperuriscouria a few weeks ago. Those in attendance really learned a great deal and were very appreciative. No one bashed anyone in the room, but some people present in the hotel made loud and insulting remarks in earshot of the geneticists who had graciously donated her time. When I get confirmation on who it was, There Will Be Words.

After 20 years of showing/breeding and specialing a few dogs as an owner handler at the highest levels of breed competition, my skin is rhino thick! I really don't care if someone gets offended or snarky, the dog's welfare needs to be at the forefront.

 

JenniferJ February 13th, 2009 11:38:22 PM

I should have mentioned on the "fine print" that it's there because many official pre-printed forms for euthanasia consent have a statement attached to this effect. It's not that your veterinarian would perform a necropsy without asking you. Indeed, our forms include this OK-for-necropsy wording, yet I would never violate a client's trust without asking first. But it is something you should be aware of if you're truly against necropsy.

Same goes for teaching hospitals where sometimes you consent to necropsy on your intake forms...and where necropsy is a routine procedure used for [very important] teaching purposes. 

Dr. Patty Khuly February 14th, 2009 06:47:56 AM

Coming from a zoo animal background, I have had most of my pets necropsied.  Mostly because they have died of strange things, and I wanted to make sure that they were not something one of my other pets could get.  Luckily for me, the vets involved with each of them were curious about their deaths as well, and did not charge me for them.  The cockatiel had a tumor, and the vet offered to send it to histopath, but I would have had to pay for that, and it would not have made a difference to me to know what kind of tumor it was, so I passed on that.

In zoos, pretty much all animals are necropsied, so I am comfortable with the procedure.  It kind of facinates me.  I actually helped with my iguana.

teri February 14th, 2009 08:19:57 AM

Teri: I actually performed the necropsy on my own dog, Agatha. She died so suddenly. I knew she had osteosarcoma and I couldn't remove the leg due to her three other disaster-legs, but I didn't expect her to succumb so soon. When I opened her up I found she was full of a bleeding cancer (hemangiosarcoma)....very sad, but at least I knew she died quickly of blood loss, a non-painful way to go.  

Interestingly, I was able to maintain my clinical distance with Agatha (perhaps because I was in doctor mode undertaking a clinical procedure...not so with my Bruno, where the simple presence of the black bag for the deceased totally upset me. 

And when my Sophie dies, I'm sure I won't need a necropsy. The multiple MRIs and CTs have been more than enough, thank you.

Dr. Patty Khuly February 14th, 2009 08:49:10 AM

I have opened up two of my mice and one land hermit crab who died of old age/during a molt to take a look around inside them and learn how they are supposed to look, just out of interest and with the help of textbooks. It was weird, but certainly a useful experience. I have had necropsies done a few times when pets died of unknown reasons because I foster exotic animals (mostly rodents) for a rescue organisation and unexpected deaths can always be a sign of a disease that may well affect all my pets and the pets of the people who adopt animals from me - it could spread so fast and wide it's scary to think about.

Jennifer February 14th, 2009 02:49:08 PM

I'm with JenniferJ - apart from providing more info to the vet in order to hopefully improve procedures to benefit other pets, I think one of the most important reasons to do a necropsy is if the animal or any of his/her close relatives have been bred. 

I personally can't imagine, as a breeder, not wanting to be sure if the cause of my pet's death might be genetic.  But I know so many breeders - otherwise completely responsible and careful - who don't do necropsies.  I completely understand how difficult a decision it is when you've just lost a pet you adored, but if you are a breeder you also have a responsibility to all those future generations.

 

Barb February 14th, 2009 05:45:26 PM

Barb: I agree 100%. There is a responsibility as a breeder to know genetic or otherwise the predisposition for a disease, including cause of death. I have gotten a "cause" on every single pet "prior to death" via u/s, x-ray, or the obvious.

Except one, and at that point, I could no longer afford a necropsy, nor had the where-with-all left to even discuss or think of one. If one of mine should have had a necropsy, it was that one & I may have learned something that contributed to lack of development.

I just completed another rquest for participation in the STCA TCC (bladder cancer) study, since there was significant difficulty obtaining controls (unaffected). I had my 2 almost 12 yr. olds u/s scanned & submitted samples. The previous cut off was 7yrs. w/o TCC, but didn't pan out effectively.

Although I don't plan on any necropsies either. Barbara A./NH

Pocket's Story from NH February 14th, 2009 10:04:50 PM

This is something that I still struggle with... my Fletcher has acromegaly. A necropsy could prove very informative (hopefully) because this condition is so understudied and still believed to be "rare" (although at catacromegaly.com and felinediabetes.com we have over 40 confirmed cases).

However, since there is so little "interest" in feline acromegaly in the veterinary world... would it be worth it? Part of me says "yes." Even if it's years down the road, if it could help in the treatment it would be worth it. But what if that never happened? He is a unique acrocat... he has gone off insulin twice and is now looking to do it for a third time. He has problems from the tissue growth caused by the excess growth hormone (takes Prednisone daily due to tissue growth occluding the airway in his throat) and his nose is broader and discolored from growth.  So Fletcher wouldn't be the "typical" acromegalic cat and a necropsy could prove informative.

I also have a kitty with diabetes inipidus. It's possible a necropsy on her would show something useful. But again, so little is known about DI and there is no interest in the veterinary community to learn more... would it be worth it?

It's a very hard decision to make... especially when my heart feels one thing and my brain another....

Carolynn and Fletcher February 15th, 2009 09:24:49 AM

Carolynn, if you live near a teaching hospital (especially if Fletcher was/would be seen by a vet there), it is more likely that there would be interest in the students/teachers there. If your particular vet doesn't see much use for him/her personally, maybe checking out a cat only (if you're not at one now) vet might also be more helpful to the veterinary community.

This is another timely post for me, as I received an e-mail from a lovely woman I know from greyhound rescue, whose dog finally crossed the bridge yesterday. He had osteo and she has been working closely with Dr. Couto and the vets/students at Ohio State. (She's also active on Tripawds, to reference the previous post.) She is allowing a necropsy to help gain more info for Dr. Couto's study and to help further students education. She knows his spirit is free now, and hopes that with this use of his earthly shell that other dogs and owners will be helped in the future.

Also, yesterday's mail at the vet's brought the Jan/Feb issue of the Observer (OVMA), which, as I was walking past, had a title that caused me to grab it up. It was 'Tularemia found in two Ohio cats.' My moderate knowledge of wildlife illnesses was piqued. Tularemis is mostly a rabbit (and mice/other rodents) disease, usually a bigger problem in the southwestern US, and is transimmable to humans so I read the article with interest. Seems two indoor/outdoor cats in Mongomery county, Ohio (southwest, between Cincy and Dayton), had been presented to a local vet with fever, lethargy, anorexia, diarrhea and oral ulcers. They developed respiratory problems and jaundice, and both cats were euthanized a few days after presentation. It didn't say who requested the necropsy, but it was done at OSU and tissue samples were sent that came back positive for tularemia. In further reading I learned that Ohio has about 1 confirmed case (in humans) every 5 years, usually in rabbit hunters. Across the US, about 200 are diagnosed annually. (It can also be transmitted by biting flies and ticks.) It's a nasty bacteria, needing only a small number to cause disease, and is listed as a bioterrorism agent because the bacteria can be aerosolized and is highly infectious. As Dr. K. points out, necropsies can be a matter of public health. I wonder if the original vet had previous cats/dogs present with signs and how often, so that a need for the necrospy was seen because tularemia was suspected, or if rabies was suspected instead, as that seems to be the only time I've heard of necropsies being done, except when West Nile was/is suspected.

KateH February 15th, 2009 01:05:18 PM

Uh, that should be 'transmissable.'

KateH February 15th, 2009 01:07:31 PM

Uh, let's try 'transmissible.' I really do know how to spell.

KateH February 15th, 2009 01:09:31 PM

KateH: I'm going to amend my post to make it more plain that public health is a crucial reason to post pets. In many of these cases, a client's wishes may be disregarded...in the interest of public health. Sorry, but if your unvaccinated stray cat bites the child next door you may have no recourse depending on your municipality.

Dr. Patty Khuly February 15th, 2009 01:17:38 PM

If a pet dies suddenly at home, should an owner consult with their vet about necropsy before disposal?  If so, what's the time line/how should the body be dealt with in the interim?

What CAN'T be determined by necropsy?

I've had a couple of Vets specifically point out the necropsy provision in the euthanasia consent form.  I presumed that meant they anticipated it but, as I've said, the body is unimportant to me and left with the Vet, so I'm guessing they didn't feel the need to be more specific about it.  One in particular was a male cat who'd been on steroids for a couple of years  and who'd responded far better than expected in the early treatments followed by no response at all to the last two attempts; think that Vet wanted to know more.  He was a purebred Siamese with Purple Eater (sorry, don't know the medical term for that).

PJBoosinger February 16th, 2009 11:26:01 AM

I think a necropsy can be vital to the final diagnosis. Now, sadly of course the pet is dead, but if it is unknown why the pet died and there are no obvious gross findings, then a necropsy can be invaluable. It can tell you if inadvertantly you left something toxic around, so you can remove it and never have a pet or family member exposed again, it can tell you if your pet had a genetic defect, and it can also tell you if you are dealing with a potentially contageous disease such as FIP, so you can watch for signs of it in your other animals.

Animals who have lived a normal lifespan, then simply die one day don't need a necropsy, nor do animals that have suffered a long term chronic process. But from a scientific point of view, a necropsy can answer questions that the vet, or scientific community might want answered.

I've had a few necrospies done, and wish I'd had one or two additional ones. I wasn't charged much for them $30-$60, and because we were looking for something specific that could be observed without lab tests, they didn't include any lab testing. They did not provide peace of mind, they did however reaffirm a diagnosis and the thought that nothing more could have been done. They also brought fear with them, but that is not a usual result of a necropsy.

LorriM February 16th, 2009 11:54:15 AM

PJ Boo, you asked: "If so, what's the time line/how should the body be dealt with in the interim?"

I'd love to know the answer to this as well. I am pretty sure that freezing the body ruins it for lots of things. When people contact me about necropsy, I tell them to refrigerate but NOT freeze the body. I think you really have to get it done within 48 hours, too. But this is just based on hearsay from people who've contacted dept. ag and other hospitals and reported back to me.

Dr. K, can you elucidate?

Stefani February 16th, 2009 04:21:48 PM

You're right on the money, Stefani, however necopsies can still be performed after the body is frozen, if absolutely necessary. Sure, it's not great for histopathology but it's still doable for some toxicology and certainly for gross anatomy.

Dr. Patty Khuly February 16th, 2009 04:24:32 PM

When my seemingly 4 year old boxer just collasped and died very quickly I asked for a necrospy. We both wanted to know, my vet and I. It turned out to be a blood clot that went to her heart. It helped to know there was nothing I could do for her when she collasped.

Sharon February 21st, 2009 11:41:26 AM

Oops, meant to put seemingly healthy 4 year old boxer.

Sharon February 21st, 2009 11:44:20 AM

When tissue is frozen, the cells can lyse upon thawing, thus destroying microscopic lesions.  Like Dr Patty said, it can still be useful for toxicology, but generally not for any diagnosis needing microscopic lesions.  THe other reason for avoidance of freezing is simply the Thanksgiving turkey comparison, think of how long it takes a 16 lb turkey to thaw in the fridge.  Now make it a 75 lb labrador.  That tissue is going to decompose, even at refridgerated temperatures, by the time it is thawed enough for a necropsy.

 

Jackson February 25th, 2009 06:57:28 PM

I suspect the vet in which I took my cat for a so called "common" condition, of administering too much anesthesia- which resulted in a three hour stay before his death. I recieved a call from someone on staff which had no more to say to me than "What do you want us to do with him, he is not responding"

This Veterinarian Hospital which boasts on having their own IT Department is funded by charging huge amounts of money for the care of your animal and declining adequate care if you are not willing to swipe your credit card for a minimum of $3000.

Now, my friend lies in the freezer in peace, as I try and find the answer why? Many other people have had problems at this Hospital- Noah's Place.

What can I do?

 

 

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