Necropsy Report

Caitlyn Lennon - Western

V:50 I:4 Cases/Abstracts 1st Place

NECROPSY REPORT

Pet’s Name:        Patient X

Sex:                    Castrated male

Age:                    14 years

Species:              Canine

Weight:               26 lbs       

HISTORY 

Patient presented for evaluation after sliding down the stairs. A grade III/IV heart murmur, laxity of left stifle, moderate obesity, and significant periodontal disease was appreciated. Radiographs revealed mild cardiomegaly, mild left atrial enlargement, an otherwise unremarkable geriatric thorax (mild bronchointerstitial pattern), joint effusion in the left stifle, and mild DJD of the left tarsus. Pre-operative bloodwork revealed mild hyperalbuminemia, elevated ALP, and thrombocytosis. A lateral suture repair was performed the next day. Patient became hypotensive during surgery, but an increase in the fluid rate improved it slightly. At 11:20am the day after surgery the patient had a temperature of 104.5, was panting, had tacky mucous membranes, and was 6-7% dehydrated. His temperature decreased to 101.7 at 1pm after therapy initiated. By 8pm the temperature had increased to 103.1. The next day the patient was found deceased in his cage at 6:45am and his body was placed in the freezer at 12pm.

GROSS EXAMINATION

The animal submitted for necropsy is Patient X, a castrated male terrier mix canine.

Integumentary System:

The carcass has a body condition score of 4/5 with prominent fat stores. An oval mass was found in the right inguinal region, measuring 2.5cm by 1.5cm, and consisted of adipose tissue (lipoma). There was marked hyperemia of the skin in the inguinal region. No other significant lesions were observed in the skin or subcutaneous tissues. 

Musculoskeletal System:

The right hip joint was opened and revealed mild fibrillation, roughening, and erosion of the head of the femur, consistent with mild degenerative joint disease. A 10cm long incision was noted on the lateral aspect of the left stifle region (Figure 3). Staples were removed and sutured layers were incised, revealing strong, nonabsorbable sutures extending from the lateral fabella to the cranial aspect of the tibial crest, extracapsular to the stifle joint (Figure 4). This is consistent with a lateral suture repair technique for a rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. The stifle joint was opened and no gross lesions were appreciated (Figure 4). The left tarsal joint was also opened and no gross lesions were revealed.

Gross Diagnosis:

1)     Mild degenerative joint disease of the right hip joint

2)     Lateral suture repair surgery of the left stifle

3)     Grossly normal left stifle and tarsal joints

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EPDC Grant at work at UC Davis

Editor's note: The SAVMA Education and Professional Development offers a grant every spring to a veterinary school looking to fund an extracurricular activity, such as a wet lab or a lecture.  Last year's winner was UC Davis. Please read on to hear their summary of the event, and if you would like to know more information about funding an event at your own school, email the committee at savma.epdc@gmail.com

UC Davis Students at the Veterinary Pathology Club lab sponsored by SAVMA's EPDC Committee

On May 11th, 2011 the Veteinary Pathology Club at UC Davis held its first cow necropsy lab. The lab started with a small talk about safety during necropsies, common findings during necropsies and incidental lesions found during necropsies. The latter portion of the lab involved students necropsying cows with guidance from residents and a facultly member. Each cadaver was assigned an organ system to be focused on. For UC Davis Students at the cow necropsy labexample, one cow had the reproductive tract removed and the students were debriefed on normal structure, possible abnormalities seen in these organs, and possible findings you are looking for in these organs. The Veterinary Pathology Club will be using the EPDC grant from SAVMA to cover food for the pre-laboratory discussion and lab related expenses for the cow necropsy lab in this May 2012. Thank you SAVMA for your support!