<%@LANGUAGE="JavaScript1.3"%> Swine Diseases - Clinical Exam - Post Mortem Exam
Basic procedure for a postmortem examination of a pig.
The procedure describes assumes the veterinarian to be right handed.
 
It may be necessary to euthanize the pig prior to the postmortem examination. See captive bolt. Select an area where the postmortem can take place where it is not too visible and biosecurity can be maintained. Above is not adequate. Place the dead pig in lateral recumbency. Note the sex, body condition and weight. Note any cutaneous hemorrhages suggestive of Hog Cholera/Swine Fever. Examine the anus and external genitalia for evidence of estrus or discharges.
Examine the external surface of the pig for evidence of fighting and septicemia. Note any skin lesions (Erysipelas). Note any distortions of the snout (Atrophic rhinitis). Note the presence of wax in the ear. Take samples for Mange Examine the eyes for dehydration, discharges, or conjunctival swelling (Bowel Edema). Examine the legs and feet. Look for any indication of Foot and Mouth.
Examine the mammary glands. Make deep incisions into the axial on the left leg. Move to the left hind leg and cut into the inguinal area exposing the femoral joint. Detail of the cut femoral joint. Note in young animals the femoral head may separate along the physis. Continue to the right hind leg and the right axial. Lay the animal out as shown in dorsal recumbency. Note the inguinal lymph nodes (PMWS).
Make a deep transverse cut into the throat just cranial to the manubrium. Stand on the left. On the right hand chest make a cut along the line of the costocondral junction cartilages. Continue the cut under the skin towards the groin area. Place the sharp edge under the skin. Return to the chest to cut though the right caudal costochondral junctions.
Carefully part the opened chest so that internal organs are not penetrated with the knife. Cut carefully into the peritoneal cavity. Do not puncture any of the abdominal organs. Lay or remove the ventral body wall over to the left side to reveal the visceral contents. Return to the chest and cut through the manubrium (x). Open up the chest by physical force breaking the ribs.
Cut up the lateral side of the throat to the incisive part of the lower jaw. Continue the dissection through the hyoid bones and release the tongue.

Note the condition of the tonsil Pseudorabies/ Aujeszky's.

Got tonsil pdf - keep some fresh/unfixed

Gripping the tongue pull caudally and release from the carcass by cutting any dorsal attachments.
Pull the contents of the chest caudally to the diaphragm. Continue the cut until the lungs and heart are removed from the pleural cavity. Note any pleural adhesions. Carefully cut through the diaphragm and dorsal attachments of the stomach and liver. Remove the viscera to a place of further investigation.
Examine the pleura and peritoneal cavity for adhesions. Examine the distal esophagus. If there are no lesions separate the lung and heart from the stomach and liver. Examine the tongue and mouth check for Foot and Mouth. Examine the throat.
Cut along the length of the esophagus. Open up the trachea, note the tracheal rings are incomplete.
 
Continue the cut down the bronchi to the end of the diaphragmatic lobe of the lung Remember to open the tracheal bronchus into the right apical/cranial lobe
Examine the lungs in detail.  The particular diseases to note are Mycoplasma pneumonia, Pleuropneumonia, Glasser's, Pneumonic abscessation. Examine the heart. Examine the pericardial surface for pericarditis (Glasser's). Examine the internal surfaces by opening up the right auricle, through the right AV valve.  Open the right ventricle along the interventricular septa.  Find the pulmonary artery and cut though the valve. Turn the heart over and repeat the same with the left. Examine the heart valves (Endocardiosis). Return to the abdominal viscera. Examine the gall bladder Examine the liver- White spot
Examine the greater omentum and examine the spleen. Remove the stomach mid duodenum.  Open the great curvature. (Gastric ulceration) Examine the small intestines with multiple incisions (Salmonellosis). Examine the distal ileum, cecum and colon. (Ileitis, Swine Dysentery, Colitis)
Return to the carcass. Split the pelvis to allow removal of the urogenital tract and remaining rectum can be removed. Remove the urogenital tract from the caudal end to the bladder - then from the kidneys to the bladder to retain the ureters intact. Layout the urogenital tract on a separate surface. Examine the kidneys, opening the pelvis from the lateral edge.
Open the kidney to examine the pelvis and ureter (Pyelonephritis). Open and examine the bladder from the ventral surface taking care not to cut into the ureterovesical junction (Cystitis). Remove and examine the rectum (Rectal stricture). Examine the genital tract noting phase of reproduction.  The left picture is the female reproductive tract the right male (Brucella).
Return to the carcass. Examine and open the elbow and carpus joints of both front legs. Open the stifle and hock joints of both hind legs. (Arthritis). Note any visible lymph nodes and incise (PMWS). Section the snout at the level of the lateral commissure of the mouth. Examine for evidence of (Atrophic rhinitis).
 
Incise the skin over the forehead and look for edema. (Bowel Edema)
Review your postmortem and ensure that any samples taken are
properly marked.
 
Section or remove the brain and examine the cranial cavity.