Basic Post Mortem Procedure
This is not
suitable for children
The following illustrates the basic procedure for a postmortem examination of a pig. The procedure described assumes the veterinarian to be right handed.
Normally,
however, in the pig it is also vital that the health of the herd (remaining
pigs) is determined. The production diseases/conditions to be noted are highlighted in
red.
The hyperlinks take you to a video clip of the procedure – if you have problems
downloading the video files please contact us for a training CD at [email protected]
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It may be necessary to euthanase 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. |
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Place the dead pig in lateral recumbency. Note the sex, body condition and weight.
Note any skin blood Swine Fever or jaw
swelling Anthrax |
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 – Atrophic rhinitis |
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Note the presence of wax in the ear.
Take samples for Mange |
Examine the eyes for dehydration and discharges Bowel Edema |
Examine the legs and feet. Look for any indication of Foot and Mouth |
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Examine the mammary glands |
Make deep incisions into the axilla on the left leg. Move to the left
hind leg and cut into groin area exposing the femoral joint V1 |
Detail of the cut femoral joint.
Note in young animals the femoral head may separate along the epiphysis |
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Continue to the right hind leg and the right axilla. Lay the animal
out as shown in dorsal recumbency.
Note the inguinal lymph nodes PMWS V2 3 4 5 |
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 |
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Continue the cut under the skin towards the groin area. Place the
sharp edge under the skin V8 |
Return to the chest the cut though the right caudal costochondral junctions V9 |
Carefully part the opened chest so that internal organs are not
penetrated with the knife. V10 |
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Cut carefully into the peritoneal cavity. Do not puncture any of the
abdominal organs |
Lay the ventral body wall over to the left side to reveal the
visceral contents |
Return to the chest and cut through the front ribs (x). Open up the chest by physical force
breaking the ribs V11 12 |
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Cut up the lateral side of the throat to the incisive part of the
lower jaw. V13 |
Continue the dissection through the hyoid bones and release the
tongue |
Note the condition of the tonsils Pseudorabies/
Aujeszky’s |
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Gripping the tongue pull caudally and release from the carcase by
cutting any dorsal attachments |
Pull the contents of the chest caudally to the diaphragm |
Continue the cut until the lungs and heart is removed from the
pleural cavity. Note any pleural adhesions |
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Carefully cut through the diaphragm and dorsal attachments of the
stomach and liver V15 |
Remove the viscera to a place of further investigation |
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Examine the pleura and peritoneal cavity for adhesions |
Examine the distal oesophagus. If there is no evidence of pathology
separate the lung and heart from the stomach and liver |
Examine the tongue and mouth check for Foot and Mouth |
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Examine the throat |
Cut along the length of the esophagus |
Open up the trachea, note the tracheal rings are incomplete |
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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 |
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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 |
Examine the lungs in detail. The particular diseases to note are Mycoplasma pneumonia, Pleuropneumonia,
Glasser’s, Pneumonic abscessation. |
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Trachobronchial lymph node PMWS PRRSv |
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Return to the abdominal viscera. Examine the gall bladder |
Examine the liver- White spot |
Examine the greater omentum and examine the spleen |
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Remove the stomach mid duodenum. Open the great curvature. Gastric
ulceration |
Examine the small intestines with multiple incisions – note lymph
nodes Salmonellosis |
Examine the distal ileum, caecum and colon. Ileitis, Swine Dysentery, Colitis |
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Return to the carcase. 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. The
from the kidneys to the bladder to retain the ureters intact |
Layout the urogenital tract on a separate surface |
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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 |
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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 |
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Return to the
carcase. Examine and open the elbow
and carpus joints of both front legs.
Open the stifle and hock joints of both hind legs. Arthritis |
Examine lymph nodes and incise – superficial inguinal lymph node PMWS |
Mandibular and parotid
lymph node Tuberculosis |
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The popliteal lymph nodes Note previous examined –
trachobronchial and mesenteric |
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 |
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Review your
postmortem and ensure that any samples taken are properly marked. |
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Section or remove the brain and examine the cranial cavity |
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