Page 561 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

498 Samuel Sharpe

In all cases the pattern and area of distribution Vulva/penis
should be carefully described and noted and
ectoparasites collected into 70% ethanol to allow • Exudate or evidence of urine scalding should
for further identification. be noted.

Mucocutaneous junctions
Eyes
• It is very important to closely examine all
• Is there exudate (mucus/pus/blood) on the mucocutaneous junctions (palpebral margin,
ocular surface or more likely matted into oral cavity, nares, anus, vulva/penis and cor-
the periocular hair? onary band of the hooves). Many important
• Is the cornea clear so structures within the infectious diseases (for example, foot and
anterior chamber can be viewed? (See com- mouth disease) may produce characteristic
mon post-mortem artefacts.) lesions in these locations. Lesions can be
• Are there any masses in the anterior chamber? subtle and are rarely pathognomonic requir-
• Are the eyes sunken? This could indicate ing thorough examination and sampling for
severe dehydration or emaciation (see section histopathology and ancillary testing.
on estimating nutritional condition). • Are there any vesicles, plaques, warty
• If the globe appears abnormal it should be growths, areas of ulceration or trauma to any
removed and fixed in formalin for histologi- mucocutaneous junctions?
cal examination (see the section ‘Removing
the eye’).
Estimating nutritional condition
Nose and ears
Poor nutritional condition can result from sim-
• Is there exudate (mucus/pus/blood) coming ple protein-calorie malnutrition either as a result
from the nose or matted into the hair around of simple lack of food or impaired feeding as a
the nares or inside the pinnae? result of dental disease or orthopaedic problems
which impair foraging behaviour. In addition,
Mouth increased loss of protein either via damaged
gastrointestinal (GI) tract (protein losing enter-
• Examine the lip margin/mucocutaneous opathy) or kidneys (protein losing nephropathy)
junction, mucous membranes and teeth. or increased metabolic rate associated with
• Mucous membranes should be pale pink: chronic inflammatory processes or neoplasia can
common colour changes are similar to those also result in cachexia. Nutritional condition can
in the skin. be estimated in several ways.
• Note condition of the teeth: more complete
examination of dentition can be performed 1 Assessment of body condition by palpation of
after removal of the pluck (see later). bony prominences.
2 Examination of the eyes: sunken eyes are
associated with dehydration, but also can be
Anus
seen in emaciated animals as the retro-orbital
• If the animal has been recently scouring, fat pad is depleted.
faecal material is often matted into the fur 3 Subjective assessment of adipose tissue in
around the anus. subcutaneous tissues, pericardium, greater

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