A necropsy (pronounced “NEE-crop-see” or “NECK-ruhp-see”) is the animal equivalent of a human autopsy. It is a detailed medical examination of a deceased animal, performed by a veterinary pathologist to determine the likely cause of death. In veterinary medicine, “necropsy” is the traditional term, but “pet autopsy” is perfectly acceptable — and we use both terms interchangeably. People request necropsies for many reasons — to understand an unexpected death, rule out concerns such as trauma or medical error, confirm a suspected diagnosis, or simply to gain peace of mind.

The cost of a diagnostic necropsy typically starts at $1,600 for small pets such as cats and small-breed dogs, and may be $2,500 or more for large-breed dogs. This fee includes both the gross examination and microscopic analysis performed by a board-certified veterinary pathologist. Additional charges typically apply for other services, including courier transport (depending on location), private cremation (usually ranging from $300–$450), and toxicology testing (often around $350 per test). Pricing also depends on the condition of the body and specific circumstances of the case. For the most accurate estimate, we recommend calling us directly to discuss your needs.

There are several ways to get your pet to us, depending on your location and circumstances:

Courier transport: If you are located within approximately 200 miles of Davis, we may be able to arrange a courier to pick up your pet. This service has limitations and includes an additional fee. Availability depends on your location and the day of the week, so please call us to confirm.

In-person drop-off: We do allow in-person drop-off at our facility in Davis, but only by prior arrangement. We do not keep regular business hours, and unannounced drop-offs cannot be accommodated. If you wish to bring your pet in person, you must speak with us first to schedule a time. This option is reserved for clients with confirmed appointments only.

Shipping remains: We routinely accept cases shipped from outside the region. If you plan to ship your pet’s body to us, please read our Shipping Instructions carefully. Proper packing, labeling, and prior coordination are essential to ensure respectful handling and timely arrival. We cannot accept unannounced deliveries.

If your pet has recently passed away and you’re considering a necropsy, one of the most helpful things you can do is keep the body cold. Ideally, place the body in a heavy-duty plastic bag and refrigerate it as soon as possible — within a few hours if you can. Refrigeration (34–40°F) is best if the necropsy will occur within a few days. If refrigeration isn’t available — especially for larger dogs — freezing is a reasonable option and often preserves more detail than allowing the body to warm.

Avoid leaving the body at room temperature, or in warm or hot conditions. Being left in the sun, in a backyard, or even in the back of a car can lead to rapid decomposition, which may limit what we’re able to learn or interpret during the necropsy.

You may see online sources suggesting the necropsy must be done within 24–48 hours, but that’s not necessarily true. If the body is kept well refrigerated — or frozen — the examination can often be delayed by several days without significantly compromising the results.

If you plan to ship the body to us, please refer to our Shipping Instructions for detailed packing and labeling guidance.

The pathologist performs a full external and internal examination of the body. Each organ system is examined, and representative tissue samples are collected for microscopic analysis (histopathology) and other tests if indicated. Gross and microscopic exams are included in the standard fee. If additional testing is recommended (such as toxicology or microbiology), we may collect samples at the time of necropsy, but no extra-cost testing will be performed without your prior approval.

We aim to perform the necropsy within 24–48 hours of receiving the body, depending on whether the animal is refrigerated or frozen. If the body is frozen, we will thaw it under controlled conditions, which may delay the exam.

A preliminary gross report is typically sent shortly after the procedure. If tissues are submitted for histopathology, the full case may take 3–6 weeks or longer to complete. Timing depends on factors like case backlog, histology lab processing, and whether additional steps are needed. We are a small team of board-certified pathologists offering a high-touch service, and some delay is expected.

Yes. You will receive a formal report prepared by a board-certified veterinary pathologist. It includes gross and microscopic findings (if applicable), a diagnostic interpretation, and a final conclusion or summary of the case. A PDF report is emailed to the address you provide.

Yes. One of the defining features of our service is that you can speak directly with the pathologist performing the necropsy. We believe in transparent communication and are happy to answer your specific questions, either by phone or email when possible.

Yes. Necropsies are performed by licensed, board-certified veterinary pathologists with professionalism and scientific care. However, the procedure is complete and not cosmetic. It is not an 'open-casket' procedure, and we do not offer cosmetic reconstruction. Please let us know if burial is planned so we can advise accordingly.

It depends entirely on what the cause of death actually was. Some conditions — such as a ruptured tumor or heart disease — leave very clear evidence and are easily diagnosed. Others, like certain cardiac arrhythmias or metabolic disturbances, may leave no detectable trace. We do not guarantee that we can determine a cause of death, but we do guarantee that you will have more information than you do now. A necropsy often helps rule out feared conditions, provides new insight, or simply helps guide the next steps in your decision-making.

Sometimes — if there’s physical evidence. A necropsy can identify disease, injury, internal bleeding, foreign material, or surgical complications that may support or refute concerns. But a necropsy cannot address decision-making, communication, or intent unless those resulted in physical harm. We offer expert medical opinions, but we do not assign legal blame.

In rare cases, yes — but usually only if the reaction caused visible organ damage or led to a chain of events we can identify.

A relatively common scenario we see is a pet that dies soon after receiving a medication or vaccine. Understandably, this raises concerns about a possible reaction. However, necropsy rarely shows direct evidence of anaphylaxis or overdose. Instead, we may discover an unrelated condition that better explains the death — or in some cases, we may find no definitive cause at all.

Some clients ask about toxicology testing. In human medicine, quantitative toxicology refers to laboratory tests that measure exact concentrations of drugs or toxins in the blood or tissues. Unfortunately, these types of tests are not routinely available or validated for use in animals — especially after death. Postmortem changes further complicate interpretation and reliability.

In veterinary medicine, we may be able to test for the presence or absence of certain substances (a “yes or no” result), but we usually cannot determine how much of the drug was present or whether it was at a harmful level. These limitations are important to understand when interpreting toxicology results.

If a drug reaction is suspected and the veterinarian is involved, the pharmaceutical company may sometimes cover the cost of the necropsy through internal reporting programs. We are still able to accept cases directly from pet owners, but involving the veterinarian may help support a formal claim.

Sometimes — but not always, and not as reliably as people often hope.

A relatively common scenario we see is a pet that dies shortly after receiving a medication or vaccine. It’s understandable to suspect a drug reaction. However, necropsy rarely shows direct signs of anaphylaxis or overdose. In many of these cases, we find an unrelated disease process that better explains the death — or we may find no clear cause at all.

Suspected poisoning raises similar challenges. Some toxins (like anticoagulant rodenticides) cause recognizable tissue damage, but most do not. Many poisons leave no visible trace, and necropsy alone often cannot confirm that a toxin was involved.

That said, necropsy can be incredibly helpful in ruling out other causes — such as trauma, internal bleeding, or undiagnosed disease — which may provide clarity even if the suspected substance is not identified.

Toxicology testing is available, but it is not automatically included in a necropsy.

We may recommend submitting toxicology samples if there is a known or suspected exposure, or if the findings suggest a toxic cause. In some cases, we may collect and freeze samples as a precaution.

However, toxicology is a separate specialty from pathology, and interpretation of postmortem samples is complex. Most veterinary labs can test for only a limited range of substances, and there is no single test that detects all poisons. In human medicine, "quantitative toxicology" refers to measuring exact drug or toxin levels. Unfortunately, those tests are rarely validated for animals — especially after death — and results may be difficult or impossible to interpret reliably.

Toxicology panels can be expensive and are not submitted without client approval. If you are specifically concerned about poisoning or drug reaction, please let us know — and be sure to discuss this with your veterinarian as well. In some cases, especially when the veterinarian is involved, the pharmaceutical company may cover necropsy costs through their internal reporting systems.

Often, yes — and that can be just as valuable as proving what did happen. One of the strengths of necropsy is ruling out suspected causes of death. If we find no evidence of trauma, internal bleeding, organ rupture, or surgical failure, we can confidently say those concerns are unlikely. Ruling something out means we looked carefully and found no evidence to support that diagnosis, which can offer reassurance even when we can’t say exactly what did happen.

We consider a case forensic when it is part of a formal legal process or investigation. This includes:

• Requests from law enforcement, animal control, or an attorney

• Ongoing investigations into suspected abuse, neglect, poisoning, or liability

• Situations where a legal chain of custody is required

In forensic cases, we follow strict protocols for documentation, photography, and evidence handling.

If you are a private owner with concerns — such as suspected poisoning, trauma, or veterinary error — but there is no formal investigation or agency involvement, we can still perform a thorough diagnostic necropsy. We will document findings carefully and stand behind our conclusions. However, these cases are not classified as forensic, and we may not collect certain types of evidence (such as trace material or toxicology samples) unless warranted based on the findings. If legal action is later pursued, we can discuss what role the report may or may not play in that context.

This is a common situation — and it doesn’t automatically make the case “forensic”. If you’re a private owner with concerns about possible trauma, poisoning, or negligence, we can still perform a thorough diagnostic necropsy to evaluate those concerns. However, unless law enforcement, animal control, or an attorney is formally involved, the case is not considered part of a legal investigation.

You are welcome to share the findings with your veterinarian or use the report however you see fit, but it is not conducted under forensic protocols unless outside authorities are participating in the process.

If needed, yes — but only if the case was approached and documented properly from the start. We are prepared to stand behind our reports in court, but we do not offer legal consultation or expert witness services in cases we feel fall outside the scope of legitimate forensic examination.

Yes. We do not offer every forensic service, such as:
- Collecting trace evidence (hair, fibers, soil)
- Electrolyte analysis of vitreous fluid
- Full toxicology screening without cause

We also do not accept cases for which law enforcement involvement is implied but not documented.

If you are a private owner, discuss your concerns with your veterinarian, animal control, or legal counsel. If they agree a forensic necropsy is needed, they should contact us directly. If you're unsure, we are happy to start with a diagnostic necropsy and advise you based on our findings. If something concerning is identified, you may then choose to involve authorities.