Performing a Post Mortem (for all livestock except poultry)

23.2.1 Performing a Post Mortem (for all livestock except poultry):

1. Take a complete history.

1. Examine the outside of the animal carefully (e.g. for wounds, diarrhea, external parasites).

Preparing the animal 1. Position the animal on its right side.

1. Cut through the skin of the animal in a line down the middle of its belly, from the sternum to the groin. Be careful not to cut through the muscles and into the internal organs. Carefully separate the skin from the muscles underneath it (a knife may be necessary for this).

1. Cut the skin and muscles which hold the left front leg close to the body in its normal position, and lay the front leg back, away from the ribs.

1. Similarly, cut into the groin and hip joint, and also lay back the hind leg.

1. Make a sort of shelf on top of the animal using the skin that has been pealed back as well as the front and back left legs. This “shelf” can be used to place organs and tissues for examination.

1. Cut the belly muscles from the sternum to the groin, being careful not to cut into the intestines or stomach.

1. Insert a knife between the ribs and cut from near the backbone to the sternum. Then cut along the cartilage which connects the ribs to the sternum.

1. Separate the ribs from each other and push them up and back, causing them to break near the backbone.

Examination of the animal’s insides 1. Examine the spleen first. If it is enlarged, soft, bloody purple color, and the animal died suddenly, it may have been anthrax. Stop the post mortem immediately. Take a blood smear and bury the animal. Send the smear to the lab for examination. Begin taking antibiotics (e.g. penicillin or tetracycline) yourself.

1. Cut the tissues which hold the internal organs in place and remove them carefully. Place these organs on the shelf made with the skin and legs. Do not pierce the stomach.

1. Tie the esophagus at the stomach and cut above the tie.

1. Tie the rectum at the level of the pelvic bones and cut it below the tie.

1. Remove the stomach and intestines and lay them to one side.

1. Remove liver, kidneys and any lymph nodes which look swollen.

 Also look at the testes or ovaries & uterus, and the urinary bladder.

 Examine the liver for flukes near the bile ducts. Cut the liver into strips and see if it is hard. (Normal liver is not hard and can be easily crushed with fingers.)

 In all of these organs, look for bleeding (hemorrhage).

17. Remove and observe the diaphragm, heart and lungs. Cut open the trachea and the main bronchi and observe. Are there worms in the bronchi, etc.?

17. Fresh samples of any organ or lymph node which looks abnormal can be cut off and sent to the lab. See below.

17. Normal lungs are pink in color. Bad lungs will be a dark color (like the color of the liver). Test the lungs by cutting a small piece and putting it into water. Good lungs will float; bad lungs will sink.

17. For circling disease (gid) open the skull and look for cysts.

17. For rabies, the skull should be opened and the brain removed. Be careful and wear gloves or plastic bags on your hands. If near to the laboratory, one half of the brain should be packed in ice and sent to the laboratory; the other half in 10% formalin and also sent.

17. Cut open the rumen, stomach, and the intestines and observe for worms.

 Sometimes the worms look like tiny pieces of thread in the abomasum or intestines. They can be seen on the surface of the abomasum if one looks closely.

 Also, one can take some stomach contents from the surface of the abomasum and put them on a window screen. They can be washed with water and examined for worms.

 Any presence of blood on the lining of digestive system, or in the digestive system itself, should be noted.

17. If the joints are swollen, they should also be cut open and examined. Is there pus or fluid in them?

17. Bury the animal.

17. Clean all other instruments with water and then disinfectant.

17. Wash your hands thoroughly and carefully.

17. All abnormal findings should be carefully recorded, along with the history, in a report.