This document provides guidance on performing necropsies (animal autopsies) on small ruminants such as sheep and goats. It lists potential causes of abortion or illness in neonates including prematurity, starvation, hypothermia, trauma, naval illness, pneumonia, septicemia, and congenital malformations. For older animals, it describes examination of the exterior body and organs as well as common diseases that may be identified including toxic mastitis, blackleg, pneumonia, pregnancy toxemia, and parasites. Tools and resources for the necropsy are also listed.

1. Small Ruminant Necropsy Notes
Dr. Susan Kerr, WSU-Klickitat County Extension
Precautions About 25% of abortions can be diagnoses through
Wear gloves and protective clothing laboratory tests. Talk with your veterinarian or
Disinfect tools and surfaces diagnostic lab about what samples to submit and
Dispose of carcass carefully how to submit them. Use extra precautions when
Wash hands dealing with aborted tissues.
Necropsy of Neonates
Premature? (immature placenta, small size, immature fleece)
Stillborn? (never took a breath?—see if lung sample floats; epicorium present)
Starvation? (poor body condition; no fat; empty stomach)
Hypothermia? (hand-in-hand with starvation)
Trauma? (bruising, fractures, bleeding, wounds from mother or predators)
Navel ill? (infected navel, bladder, liver and/or joints)
Scours (fluidy contents in colon; check fecal staining; color, smell, amount)
Pneumonia (lung tissue may sink; discolored lungs; feel consolidated)
Septicemia (small internal hemorrhages possible)
Congenital malformations (atresia coli or ani; others)
Evidence of human intervention (medications in stomach; injections)
What does placenta look like?
Is dam ill?
Necropsy of Older Lambs/Kids and Adult Sheep/Goats
Conduct necropsy ASAP to avoid confusion by post-mortem changes (bloat, etc.)
Carefully examine exterior of body first; check body condition and all orifices
Develop a system and stick with it
Avoid opening intestines and chest cavity when opening abdomen
Don’t forget to look at free fluids within abdomen and chest
Look into at least two joints
Look, smell, touch and listen
Ask vet how to submit samples for specific diseases
Wash inner intestinal walls and look carefully for parasites
Look at intestinal lymph nodes for enlargement from Johne’s Disease
Look at tongue, heart and hind quarter muscles for signs of White Muscle Disease
Avoid opening intestines and chest cavity when opening abdomen
Look for medications (injections, oral medications) that indicate treatment for a disease
Don’t forget to look at udder/milk
Learn to recognize normal tissue shapes, textures and colors
Ask your veterinarian how to submit samples for specific diseases
Tools Resources
Hand saw www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/necropsy/notes/table.html
Medium-sized sharp knife www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/necropsy/notes/calfnecropsy.htm
Scalpel blade Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Sheep and Goat
Pruners or hedge trimmers
Water
You Can Often ID These Diseases Yourself
Toxic mastitis Blackleg Pneumonia
Toxic metritis Overeating disease Pregnancy toxemia
White muscle disease Water belly/urinary calculi Choke
Parasitism C.L. Some plant toxicities
Johne’s Disease Cancer Atresia ani and coli
Practice! To know the abnormal, you must know the normal

2. Necropsy Check List
Adapted from www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/ilm/proinfo/necropsy/notes/checklist.html
Date of death __________ Date of necropsy _________ Date of birth _____________
Animal ID _____________________________________________________________
Pen number or other location ID____________________________________________
Point in lactation, gestation, growth or other stage______________________________
Herd size ________________________ Recent weather ________________________
Was this animal euthanized? If so how? _____________________________________
History (vaccinations, deworming, handling, transportation, birthing, etc.) ____________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Other animals similarly affected ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Discharge from nose, rectum, vulva, eyes, etc… _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Body condition_________________________________________________________
Systems Review and Findings
Oral cavity _____________________________________________________________
Heart_________________________________________________________________
Lungs_________________________________________________________________
Kidneys_______________________________________________________________
Liver__________________________________________________________________
Intestines______________________________________________________________
Rumen________________________________________________________________
Reticulum______________________________________________________________
Omasum______________________________________________________________
Abomasum_____________________________________________________________
Bladder_______________________________________________________________
Uterus________________________________________________________________
Udder_________________________________________________________________
Muscles_______________________________________________________________