Necropsy Services Group - Products & Services

Performing pet autopsies for veterinarians and owners since 2008

We provide postmortem examinations (necropsies) to help determine the cause of death, assess disease, or investigate injury or suspected cruelty. Cases may be submitted directly by pet owners, veterinary hospitals, animal control agencies, or legal authorities. Our services are performed by a board-certified veterinary pathologist with extensive experience in diagnostic and forensic pathology.

Additional Services and Fees

Courier Service – Call for quote
Available for veterinary hospitals and clinics in certain areas. Availability depends on location and business hours.

Private Cremation (ashes returned) – Typically $300–$450, depending on size

Communal Cremation (no ashes returned) – Starting at $100

Toxicology Testing – Typically $350 per test
Cost varies depending on the specific test and laboratory used.

Other Specialized Testing
Available upon request or as recommended:

• - PCR testing for infectious disease
• - Microbiology (culture and sensitivity)
• - Radiology (typically for suspected fractures)
• - Immunohistochemistry

How to Request a Case

Please call (530) 297-0470 to speak directly with the on-call pathologist before arranging a necropsy. We will discuss the case history, transport options, and provide a cost estimate based on your needs. We do not accept cases from pet owners without prior discussion.

You may also be referred to our intake form, where you can submit information securely online. In most cases, we recommend that medical records be provided, especially if the pet was recently seen by a veterinarian.

Service Definitions

Necropsy Examination

Dissection of the animal’s body to evaluate internal organs and identify signs of disease, trauma, or other causes of death.

Cause of Death--REMOVE?

Refers to an official determination of conditions resulting in an animal's death.

Gross--REMOVE?

Refers to evaluation of the internal organs during the autopsy with the unaided eye (no magnification or microscope)

Histopathology (Microscopic Exam)

Laboratory analysis of tissue samples under the microscope, which allows for diagnosis of conditions not visible to the naked eye.

Toxicology

Refers to branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons. At NSG we can collect samples (usually urine or liver) and submit them to the toxicology lab at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory.

PCR

Polymerase chain reaction is a laboratory test that is a fast, and highly accurate, way to diagnose certain infectious diseases.

Microbiology

Refers to evaluation for the presence of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, etc). This can be performed through direct culture methods or evaluation of tissue samples collected during necropsy for specific genomic sequences using PCR.

Radiology

Refers to the use of X-ray imaging to detect disease. In the setting of post mortem pathology it is most useful in detecting bone fractures. Other soft tissue pathology is more easily diagnosed during autopsy.

Board Certified Pathologist

Refers to specialized training in pathology. Requirements include three years of residency training and passing a rigorous board examination.