POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION REPORT
Case number: 23-20226
Date and time of death: 9:30am, 14/09/2023
Date received: 14/09/2023
Died or euthanised: euthanised
Post-mortem storage: ambient
Animal: Rodney Britton
Owner: Mr Tony Britton
Practice: Kingswood Vets
Referring Veterinary Surgeon: Helen Klein
Species: Canine
Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Age: 10y
Sex: Male
Microchip: 956000001368127
Date and time of PME: 15/09/2023, 13:10
Weight at PME: 20kg
SUMMARISED HISTORY
Submission: was brought into the practice, dead on arrival. Refrigerated overnight before post-mortem was
performed.
History: 4-day history of lethargy & inappetence, struggling to pass faeces, vomited once. Last veterinary
examination July 2023. No history of heart disease. No travel history. Received DHP + L4 + KC vaccine 2 nd
June 2023, received 2nd L4 vaccine (Nobivac) July 23rd 2023. The other dog in the house is NAD.
GROSS DESCRIPTION
External examination
There is appropriate coverage of muscle over the body on external examination, with a BCS of 3.5/5. Several
knots of matted fur are noted across the body, and a single dead tick is found engorged and attached to the
skin of the left flank. The conjunctival and oral mucus membranes are pale yellow (jaundice). The marginal
gingival tissue is dark pink-red, most notably in relation to tooth 206 (gingivitis). All canines are eroded at the
crown tips, and marked tartar is noted on said canines and the carnassials. A section of fur was clipped on
the left forelimb at the point of the radius (IV cannulation site). Upon removing the skin, mild yellow
discolouration is diffusely within the adipose tissue and subcutaneous fascia. A moderate amount of redbrown discharge from anus is noted.
Internal examination:
Abdominal cavity
Inside the abdominal cavity, approximately 30ml of dark red, watery, thin fluid is present. The liver weighs
830g, and is diffusely enlarged, mottled dark-red, firm, friable and mildly covered in reducible protein
strands. The right lateral lobe has a 5x6x4cm mass on the diaphragmatic surface, with a red-pale tan,
mottled appearance. The left lateral lobe has a 3x3x3cm mass on the visceral surface with a red-pale tan,
mottled appearance. On cut surface, multifocal-coalescing disseminated, irregularly sized nodules are
present throughout the liver with the same appearance as previously noted liver masses. The intestinal tract
is mottled, pink-brown on the serosa throughout (hyperaemia). Upon opening the GI tract, the contents are
diffusely dark-red, and gelatinous (melaena), except for a small amount of undigested grass in the stomach.
Segmental sections of variably sized, dark-red poorly demarcated, un-raised serosa are present throughout
the intestinal tract, some found extending into the mural tissue of the intestine (transmural haemorrhage).
The proximal large intestine/ascending limb of the colon has a nodular, circular, well-demarcated, dark-red,
gelatinous mass on the serosal surface. The spleen weighs 146g, is diffusely enlarged, red-crimson, nodular
in texture, with firm, rounded edges. Additionally, an approximately 2cm, intermittently raised, goldentinged, firm area is noted at the centre of the hilus. On cut surface, the spleen displays the same colour as
the external surface, with a meaty, firm, rubbery texture. The pancreas has two distinct nodular,
approximately 2x3x1cm, poorly demarcated, flat, lobulated, dark-red, smooth masses. One being located at
the distal end of the right lobe, the other situated close to the pancreas’ body.
Thoracic cavity
Upon opening the thoracic cavity, a moderate amount of thin, watery, orange-red fluid is present. 98% of the
right lung is mottled dark red/pink, with the same findings found on 80% of the left lung. The middle lobe of
the right lung has focal, locally, extensive fibrosis on its visceral surface. On the cut surfaces of both lungs,
moderate bloody discharge is noted in addition to multifocal, approximately 1x1mm pale white mildly raised
foci. These foci are also noted throughout the visceral surface of the lungs. The mediastinal pleura is
markedly raised from the mediastinum in several locations with a ‘bubble-like’ appearance
(pneumomediastinum). On the internal surface of the left thorax, extending from the 4th-8th rib, a 4x3cm
poorly demarcated, soft, gelatinous, dark-red lesion is extending into underlying musculature (haematoma).
On the internal surface of the cranial sternum, a focal 2cm x 3cm x 1cm, irregular, poorly defined, dark red,
soft, gelatinous mass is noted (haematoma).
Neurological and musculoskeletal
The brain and spinal cord were not examined.
MORPHOLOGIC DIAGNOSES


Liver: moderate, chronic, disseminated, suspected hepatic neoplasia (histiocytic sarcoma vs
lymphoma vs leukaemia)
Intestinal tract: acute, diffuse, severe malaena + acute, severe, diffuse necro-haemorrhagic
gastroenteritis + lymphangiectasia




Chest wall: pneumomediastinum + acute, severe, focal haematomas
Lung: severe, acute, diffuse, congestion + chronic, multifocal suspected pulmonary neoplasia +
moderate, chronic, focal fibrosis
Spleen: moderate diffuse splenomegaly + infiltration
Pancreas: severe, acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis
COMMENT
One of the main findings suspected of contributing to death would be the disseminated suspected hepatic
neoplasia. Though histopathology is yet to be performed to gain the definitive diagnosis, it could possibly be
a form of histiocytic sarcoma, lymphoma, or possible leukaemia due to its presentation and pattern
(Sapierzyński, 2018). This is further supported by the presentation of splenomegaly (specifically with
firm/meaty features), which can be associated with lymphoma, histiocytic sarcoma or IMHA in the literature
(Zachary, 2017). However, a histopathological examination of both liver and spleen will need to be
performed to definitely rule in/out neoplasia and relevant metastases.
Another main finding is the necro-haemorrhagic gastroenteritis with associated melaena. The main causes of
this can include canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) or clostridium perfringens, as both are well known to cause
such damage to intestinal tissues in an acute time-frame, in addition to C. perfringens often being a culprit in
haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) cases (Schlegel et al., 2012)(Zachary, 2017). Though unlikely that
parvovirus is the cause due to the vaccination history, it’s possible for vaccinated adult dogs to still contract
the virus (Rolim et al., 2014). Therefore, it remains a possible cause until ruled out in/out by PCR and/or
histopathology of both small and large intestine (primarily investigating for depleted Peyer’s patches and
other lymphoid tissue).
The pattern shown by the foci found in the lungs, in addition to the fact that the animal in this case is a dog,
suggests the suspected neoplasia is metastatic rather than a primary neoplasia, possibly from the liver
(Stonzi et al., 1974)(Zachary, 2017). However much like with the liver, until histopathology rules in/out
neoplasia, the aetiology of the lesions are uncertain.
Regarding the supposed acute pancreatis: though less common in dogs than cats, the condition is still noted
to occur more in cocker spaniels compared to other canids (Zachary, 2017). Though an exact causative factor
isn’t immediately apparent, it could be assumed that the acinar cell injury leading to the presenting signs
could be due to a direct insult to the pancreas, or perhaps a blockage of the pancreatic duct due to
disseminated neoplasia (Zachary, 2017). Furthermore, the several haematomas located throughout the
thoracic cavity may be linked, due to relationships between acute pancreatitis and coagulation abnormalities
being present in the literature (Xenoulis, 2015). Future histopathological examinations of pancreas samples,
as well as a complete blood count and serum biochemistry of fresh blood serum samples will aid in
confirming the aetiology of said lesions.
PATHOLOGIST
Signed and dated
Mr Murphy Dewson
BVMSci Undergraduate, University of Surrey
Date Reported: 06/10/2023
References
Rolim, V.M., Sonne, L., Casagrande, R.A., Souza, S.O., Pinto, L.D., Terezinha, A., Wouters, B., Wouters, F.,
Wageck Canal, C., Driemeier, D., 2014. Enteritis Caused by Type 2c Canine Parvovirus in a 5-Year-Old
Dog 42.
Sapierzyński, R., 2018. Histiocytic sarcoma in dogs - the own observations and literature review. Życie
Weterynaryjne 93, 103–109.
Schlegel, B.J., Dreumel, T. Van, Slaví, D., Prescott, J.F., 2012. Brief Communication Communication brève
Clostridium perfringens type A fatal acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in a dog. CVJ 53, 555.
Stonzi, H., Head, K.W., Nielsen, S.W., 1974. I. Tumours of the lung. Bull. Org. mond. Sante 50, 9–19.
Xenoulis, P.G., 2015. Diagnosis of pancreatitis in dogs and cats. J Small Anim Pract 56, 13–26.
https://doi.org/10.1111/JSAP.12274
Zachary, J.F., 2017. Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease.