A four-year-old Doberman police dog was submitted for necropsy after exhibiting violent barking and sudden death. Post-mortem examination revealed abundant clotted blood in the thoracic cavity and a rounded, empty heart, indicating hypovolemic shock due to hemothorax. All visceral organs were noted to be pale, suggesting a critical condition at the time of death.

1. Hemothorax in a Doberman- Necropsy
Dake S.L., Gangane G.R., Kapse S.U., Kulkarni G.B., Musale V.B.,
Rathod P.R.,
Kondre B.M.
Department of Veterinary Pathology
College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Parbhani- 431402.
A four year old Doberman police dog was submitted to the Department
of Pathology, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences,Parbhani, for conduct
of Post mortem examination with the history of violent & consistent barking
and sudden death.
On Post Mortem examination of carcass, the thoracic cavity was with
abundant clotted blood as depicted in photograph (Plate 2,3.). The
roundening of heart was found and completely empty on opening, indicating
evacuation of blood. All visceral organs were found to be pale.
Considering the gross lesions noted, the dog might have died due to
hypovolumic shock as evidenced by hemothorax.

2. Plate 1. Carcass of Dobermandog.
Plate 2. Roundening of heart.

3. Plate 3. Thoracic cavity was with clotted blood.
Plate 4. Note the pale visceral organs.