Special Veterinary Pathology

EXAMINATION OF OTHER VISCERAL ORGANS

• Examine the intact and cut surfaces of the liver and note for colour, texture, consistency, changes in the acinar patterns, abnormal masses
• Make several slices of the liver for closer inspection
• Cut open the gall bladder and note the quality and colour of bile, and the appearance of the mucosa
• Examine the adrenal glands which are located above the anterior pole of both kidneys
• Cut them open longitudinally and note the relative thickness of the cortex in relation to the medulla
• Carefully remove the kidneys from their attachments without severing the ureters
• Grasp the kidney gently between one hand and cut it into halves longitudinally
• Examine the kidneys for haemorrhages, areas of necrosis and/or infarcts, evidence of mineralisation, and compare the thickness of the cortex to that of the medulla
• Trace the opening of the ureter and cut it open until it enters the urinary bladder
• Puncture the urinary bladder and collect the urine and measure the volume
• Cut open the urinary bladder and note for areas of haemorrhages, necrosis, presence of stones, and fibrosis
• For male animals, slice and examine the prostate and cut open the urethra up to the penis
• Look for possible small calculi that usually lodge at the urethral flexure
• In female animals, free the vulva and the vagina from their attachments in the pelvic cavity
• Cut them open and examine
• Lymph nodes are examined whenever they are encountered during dissection
• In cases of suspected malignancy, it is imperative to examine the regional lymph node and look for evidence of metastases