The bonds between owners and their pets have progressed to a point that pet animals are no longer considered as mere pets but members of the household. This is particularly true for dogs and cats which have been elevated to a certain position in the society where their principal role is not just to provide companionship, but as part of the family. Society has changed and currently recognises the rights of these animals. Thus, in cases of unexpected death, the dead animal body is accorded equal respect. Accordingly, it is not uncommon to find pet owners objecting in part to have their pet be a subject for necropsy examination.

While it may be argued that pet owners do not object to the aim of the necropsy per se, what might be intolerable are the procedures employed in routine necropsy. As evident by now, routine necropsy accompanies dismemberment of body parts eventually turning the dead carcass into one heap of dissected bones and flesh. This obviously would be revolting to some pet owners who would most likely want to have their pet a decent burial in one piece.

Despite the development of techniques of post mortem examination in human medicine, the autopsy procedure itself being cosmetic in nature, description of the same technique in animals remains to be developed. While veterinary students are taught the procedures for routine necropsy, the incorporation of a suitable technique that will not hurt the sensibilities of pet owners received little attention. Thus, when confronted with such a case, students and practitioners alike hardly had the interest to pursue the necropsy examination.

Cosmetic necropsy, as the term suggests employs methods aimed at limiting the procedures that will disfigure the carcass while maximising the information gained during necropsy. As such, cosmetic necropsy requires carefully planned incisions and the methods for the restoration of the specimen into its original appearance after the examination. The proceeding sections attempt to define the basic procedure for cosmetic necropsy of domestic animals, with the dog as the animal model.

PRELIMINARIES

As in routine necropsy, the exterior of the animal should be carefully examined. Evaluate the clinical history and decide which organs of organ systems must be examined. Evaluate the conditions by which such organs will be made accessible considering the limitations of the cosmetic necropsy procedures. Should examination of the same will produce unsightly incisions and cuts, it is best to explore the alternatives and discuss these with the pet owner. If the intentions are discussed exhaustively with the pet owner describing the benefits of doing such an examination for the formulation of a diagnosis, consent may be sought with little difficulty. Under no circumstances that extra incisions and maneuvers be made without the owner's consent. Even then, the standard cuts that will be mentioned in the proceeding sections should be cleared with the owner to prevent possible misunderstanding and unfavorable outcomes.

NECROPSY PROCEDURES

The rule of thumb in cosmetic necropsy is to limit the number and the length of incisions to as few as possible. In planning the incisions, a few things must be considered:

1) The organs or systems that must be  examined;
2) The site for incisions that will  not disfigure the specimen, and  with due considerations that the  incisions would not be so  obvious once sutured back to  place;
3) The length of the incision  considering the accessibility of  the organs; and
4) The time that will be involved in  the examination.

The best approach is to position the animal lying on its back (dorsal recumbency). The head of the carcass should face the left side of the examiner. Sandbags or other objects placed at either side of the thorax would help to hold the carcass in place. Using a sharp knife, make a straight longitudinal incision on the skin only from the  xiphoid cartilage of the sternum and to the mid-abdomen. Dissect the skin towards the side taking care not to damage the hide, and expose the underlying tissues. Open the abdominal wall by cutting open the abdominal muscle at the exposed site. Note for the presence of fluid and try to assess the arrangements of organs.  Retract both sides of the opened abdominal wall and reach for the diaphragm. From this small opening, puncture the diaphragm and note for the presence of a negative pressure. Open the thoracic cavity by cutting the diaphragm close to the inner walls of the rib cage. Grasp the thoracic organs and free them from their attachments. Drag the thoracic organs en masse and reach for the oesophagus and trachea at the thoracic inlet. Cut free these structures and set them aside for examination later.

From the same opening at the abdomen, grasp the visceral organs out of the cavity and severe all attachments. Remove first the liver, and then the stomach with the spleen. Drag the segments of the intestine and cut the mesenteries close to the intestinal wall segment by segment. Remove the intestine and set them aside for examination.

 Figure 13. Illustration showing the lines
  of incision for cosmetic necropsy.

Reach for the kidneys at both sides and severe them from their attachments. Palpate the urinary bladder, and if required, reach for it and severe its attachments. After these, examine the visceral organs as with routine necropsy. After removal of most organs, it is recommended to drain the carcass of blood and other body fluids. If needed, the body cavities may be washed with saline or tap water. Examine the body cavities and allow the carcass to drain.
 

Figure 14. Illustration showing the
            procedures for opening the brain.

The examination of the brain should only be done if clinical history suggests neurological disturbance. To remove the brain from the bony calvarium, make a midline incision from between the eyes and towards the level of the first cervical vertebra (atlas). Dissect the skin and reflect all muscles covering the calvarium, cutting them towards the side.

The vault of the cranium is best opened using a mallet and a sharp chisel. With the skin and muscles reflected at either side, cut the bone starting from the frontal region and around the exposed portion of the vault of the cranium. Take care not to damage the enclosed brain. After removing the vault of the cranium, cut the meninges to expose the brain. Severe the spinal cord and lift the brain carefully. Cut all the nerves at the vase. Tilt the head upward and backward to simplify removal of the brain from the cranial cavity.

 POST EXAMINATION

One basic requirement of cosmetic necropsy is to restore the animal carcass back to its original state as much as possible. Sutures should close all incisions, and soiling of the hide by blood and body fluids should be cleaned. After examination of organs and before suturing back the incisions, the organs examined may be returned to the body cavities to give form to the carcass. Alternatively, the spaces may be stuffed with old newspapers that while giving forms to the hollow cavities, it also absorbs much of the remaining blood and body fluids. In closing the incisions made a continuous suture on the skin using heavy twine and surgical needle will be sufficient. In restoring the form of the head following removal of the brain, replace the chiseled vault of the cranium. Suture back the reflected skin at this site. Neat sutures and arranging the hair or fur will sufficiently hide many sutures.

Other organs and body parts may be examined when deemed required, planning all incisions and suturing them back is required. While cosmetic necropsy provides some ways by which dead animal carcasses may be examined without hurting the sensibilities of the owner, some organs or body parts (example, the spinal cord) may be difficult to reach using this method. As was previously discussed, it is best to discuss with the owner all the necessary procedures that will be done in the carcass. Doing so assure confidence and by that maximises the information gained during necropsy examination.