From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-02-02 22:24:00 UTC
Subject: Post mortem guidelines for ferret owners
Mike reminded me of a post that I had placed on the FML a while back,
that may be of use to people who are faced with imminent demise of a
ferret for unknown reasons. It is not a recipe for doing your own
autopsy, but may will give you some general guidelines on how to
maximize the diagnostic information which you can
get from a post mortem. how to make sure if one is done, you get the
best return.
Many vets actually do not know much about doing
autopsies, so this information may be very important to you.
1. Have the post done as quickly as possible. From the moment of
death, a
ferret's body begins to decompose. The different tissues decompose at
different rates, based on their composition. As a general rule, the
digestive system, by its very nature, decomposes fastest - you might
say it
digests itself. The gall bladder which is filled with bile, a
digestive
compound, goes first - usually within 2 hours. Between six and
twelve hours,
the lining of the digestive tract, what I usually rely on to make a
diagnosis of ECE, is gone, due to the presence of bacteria, food, and
digestive enzymes. The pancreas, a storehouse of digestive enzymes,
also
decomposes fast. Generally, if you have an undiagnosed digestive
disease and
the tissues aren't in formalin within 12 hours, you have markedly
diminished
your chances of making a diagnosis.
2. The end point of decomposition is when the tissues are placed in
formalin, or another fixative, by the vet. Formalin immediately
halts all
decomposition by cross-linking proteins. What I see under the
microscope is
a picture of the tissue when it hit the formalin.
3. Refrigeration slows decomposition, but does not stop it. Freezing
damages
the tissues beyond all recognition under the microscope - all the
water in
the cells is frozen into ice crystals, and when they are thawed, the
cells
are destroyed. Never freeze tissues that are going to pathologists
for
microscopic examination. Freezing is only for tissues to preserve
pathogens
for later culture.
4. The ideal way to obtain a post mortem is immediately following
euthanasia. Have your vet block out time to euthanize and do the
post.
5. If you are doing a necropsy - take the widest range of tissues
possible -
even tissues you don't think are involved. One of the most
frustrating
things about being a pathologist is only getting two or three
tissues in an
animals in which a disease was not diagnosed ante mortem. If you are
not
sure what is going on, sample everything.
6. Don't due an "abdominal post" - sample the thoracic organs, as
well as a
range of lymph nodes, eyes, and the nervous system.
7. If the animal is showing neurologic signs, it is very important
to submit
brain and spinal cord.
8. Make sure to use 10 parts formalin to 1 part tissue for proper
fixation.
Throwing a large lump of tissue into a small amount of formalin
delays
fixation and allows the tissue to continue to decompose.
9. This is most important - if you don't post within 48 hours - you
probably
have missed the window of opportunity. The amount of diagnostic
information
that is lost after 48 hours probably will render an autopsy into a
frustrating and cost-ineffective exercise for the owner,
veterinarian, and
pathologist.
10. Remember that animals die at the least opportune moment -
usually 5
minutes after the vet has closed the clinic for the weekend. If you
have a
sick ferret that may not make it, and you want a necropsy done, make
your
wishes known to your vet before the moment comes. They will more
likely be
available after hours for you.
Just a couple of guidelines which may save you extra grief during at
a
difficult time.