Prepping for a Necropsy: What do I need and what to look at?

[Cyprus]

A friend just called me up to do a necropsy tomorrow on a rooster that died tonight.
Heart attack is suspect.
I have already performed one home necropsy about 3 months ago. But without proper equipment.

I will restudy how to do a necropsy tomorrow. But I have a few questions.

1) What equipment should I bring? I know I need knives, gloves, and strong shears or scissors. What else?

2) What, specifically, should I look at? What is normal, what is not and why/what do some common abnormalities mean? Pictures would be very helpful.

I intend to take pictures and post the necropsy thread on here to seek better answers than I can give.

TIA
-Cyprus

 

[micstrachan]

Great questions. No idea here, but I will definitely be watching this thread. Awesome job taking this on. Have they refrigerated the body for you?

 

[micstrachan]

Also, lots and lots of photos of all stages (with the organs in place and then when removed) will help, I think. Post photos here for the more experienced to help with.

 

[Cyprus]

Great questions. No idea here, but I will definitely be watching this thread. Awesome job taking this on. Have they refrigerated the body for you?

Thanks.
Yes, they have frozen the body already and taken some post mortem pictures.

 

[Cyprus]

Also, lots and lots of photos of all stages (with the organs in place and then when removed) will help, I think. Post photos here for the more experienced to help with.

I intend to. I will be making a whole thread about it, very picture heavy.

My biggest concern is knowing what is normal and not, and why so that I can talk to him about it tomorrow instead of having to wait a day at least for any answers.

 

[micstrachan]

Well, shoot. I know refrigerated is better than frozen when sending the body on to a lab. When did they freeze it?

 

[casportpony]

Doing a necropsy on one that was frozen is not ideal but too late now, lol.

Read this, I think it has some good tips:

 

[micstrachan]

There are a few super experienced BYC members here who can help you with that, as well as many resources online. Good luck!

 

[casportpony]

My biggest concern is knowing what is normal and not, and why so that I can talk to him about it tomorrow instead of having to wait a day at least for any answers.

What were his symptoms before death?

 

[Cyprus]

Well, shoot. I know refrigerated is better than frozen when sending the body on to a lab. When did they freeze it?

It has not been frozen long. I will tell him to put it in the fridge instead.