necropsy_jake
WGSDCA, UKC GSD CH KOENIGS A JAKE, CD, OFA (H&E)
Sire: Hoofprint Marco Von De Goze
Dam: Regalwise Bo Koenig’s Calamity
Owner: Kitty Mohs
April 21, 1996 – March 1, 2007
9 years, 11 months
Checklist of common diseases:
| Yes | No | |
| Cancer Mammary Hemangiosarcoma Other |
X |
X X |
| Digestive system EPI IBD Perianal fistulas |
X X X |
|
| Endocrine System Addison's disease Hypothyroidism |
X X |
|
| Heart and Vascular system diseases | X | |
| Immune system diseases | X | |
| Skin diseases | X | |
| Liver/Pancreatic | X | |
| Skeletal diseases Elbow dysplasia Hip dysplasia Intervertebral disc disease Lumbosacral stenosis Panosteitis Spondylosis |
X X X X X X |
|
| Neurological conditions GSD degenerative myelopathy |
X |
|
| Ocular diseases Cataracts Pannus Corneal dystrophy |
X X X |
|
| Non-genetic symptoms/side effects of other conditions Arthritis (DJD) Bladder atony Megacolon |
X X X |
Jake
Interpretation of necropsy report:
The most significant finding on the report is the presence of hemangiosarcoma the spleen, heart, liver lung and adrenal gland. The hemangiosarcoma appeared to have originated in the spleen and heart and was high grade, or highly malignant. It metastasized (spread through out the blood stream) to the liver, lung and adrenal gland. The cancer in the liver was likely the immediate cause of death, as one of the masses in the liver had ruptured and caused all the blood found in the abdomen (hemoperitoneum.) Once this tumor ruptured, Jake would have expired quickly from the blood loss. There was also blood inside the protective sac around the heart (hemopericardium,) which results from the tumor at the base of the heart rupturing. While this can cause a fatal heart arrhythmia (cardiac tamponade) also, this does not appear to be the manner in which Jake died.
The hemorrhages in the muscles, subcutis (area under the skin) and lymph nodes are likely signs of a process called disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC.) This involves widespread clotting of the blood within the vessels, and carries a very poor prognosis for survival. There are many potential causes, but in this case it is most likely secondary to the cancer that Jake had, as hemangiosarcoma is one of the tumors known to be accompanied by DIC.
The changes in the thyroid gland and kidneys are chronic in nature, and likely associated with age. The thyroid contained small areas of mineralization throughout both glands. The kidneys had some mild narrowing of the filtration pathway (glomerulosclerosis) and some chronic inflammation of the kidney cells (lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis.)
Jake had paralysis of one side of his face (facial nerve paralysis.) There were no obvious lesions in the brainstem or facial nerve, but the entire path of the nerve was not available for microscopic examination, so there is the possibility of a blood clot or other lesion along the pathway causing the paralysis. This may have been associated with the hemangiosarcoma.
There is no evidence of primary disease of the digestive system, endocrine system, skin, skeletal system, neurological system, lungs, or eyes.