At VPG, we understand that post mortem submissions can be an essential part of veterinary diagnostics, helping to provide answers in difficult cases and contributing to wider clinical understanding. Our Histopathology team is here to support you with a straightforward submission process and accurate interpretation of findings.

When to Submit Tissues or Cadavers

In some circumstances, transporting a full cadaver to our laboratories is not practical. To support you, we provide a flexible approach:

• Tissue submissions (PM1 – PMC 6+ tissues): for samples taken during a full or partial post mortem performed in practice.

• Small cadaver submissions (HPMC): we can accept cadavers no greater than 10 cm in length (e.g. fish, mice or invertebrates) for necropsy on site at our Bristol laboratory. These must be fully submersed in formalin before submission.

Both tissue and cadaver submissions can be sent through the same service you already use for histopathology work.

What Information to Include

To ensure our pathologists can provide the most accurate and valuable interpretation, we ask that you include as much relevant information as possible on the submission form. This should cover:

• A detailed clinical history, including presenting symptoms, observed lesions, and any treatment or medication given.

• If euthanasia was performed, the method used.

• Any recent changes in environment or housing.

• Whether other animals are affected.

• A short summary of the post mortem examination findings.

• Images (ante-mortem or post-mortem), or a complete post mortem report with relevant laboratory or imaging results.

• Clinical differential diagnoses you are considering.

• Please also note if there is any suspicion of mycobacteriosis or other potentially zoonotic disease.

This level of detail allows our laboratory technicians and pathologists to incorporate clinical and post mortem data into their interpretation, strengthening the diagnostic outcome.

New Post Mortem Form

We have introduced a new post mortem submission form, now available to download from our website. This ensures that all essential details are recorded consistently and can be incorporated into your case report.

📄 [Download the new Post Mortem form here]

If you are unsure about how best to proceed with a submission, or how a set of samples will be priced, our Histopathology team is happy to advise.

📧 [email protected]
📞 0117 951 1283

Our anatomical pathologists and laboratory staff are here to support you every step of the way.

💡 Excellence. Everywhere.