“Ain’t doin’ right”

The value of necropsy in diagnosis

Abstract

Veterinarians and producers often underestimate the amount of useful information that can be gained thorough necropsy of small ruminants that die or are euthanized following puzzling clinical signs. Necropsy is a valuable tool for identifying underlying health problems in the herd as well as discovering the cause of an acute or unexpected death. Thorough examination of the body as soon as possible after death allows for collection of multiple samples for diagnostic purposes, while information gathered about body condition, nutritional status, and subclinical diseases may alter management and treatment choices for cohorts on the same premise.