Veterinary pathology and post-mortems are keys to problem-solving

Abstract

To many people the thought of doing a post-mortem (also known as a necropsy) on a dead animal or carcass brings up negative thoughts such as blood, guts, grossness, bad smells and even nausea. So, it begs the question: Why do veterinary pathologists perform post-mortems? There are many reasons but a simple answer is to determine the cause of death and/or the extent of a disease in the veterinary diagnostic process. Recently, Dr Michelle Lewis (photo below), veterinarian and lecturer in the Department of Paraclinical Sciences’ Pathology Section at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, used her experience with dolphin post-mortems to produce a video as a learning tool for students and veterinarians alike. The field of marine mammals is one of the highly specialized areas of veterinary research and medicine, with limited institutions available in South Africa where students may gain experience.