Eternally Vulnerable: The Pathology of Abuse in Domestic Animals

Abstract

Animals are amongst the most vulnerable of all sentient beings. Animal neglect and abuse may involve a single animal and one person, or hundreds of animals and many people. Animals and people are victims of the same types of fatal injury and severe neglect; however, the anatomy and physiology of different animal species and even breeds of animals are a unique challenge for veterinary pathologists. Identifying and describing external lesions of blunt force trauma and projectile wounds requires that the entire skin be reflected from the animal because fur and feathers partially or totally mask the injuries. Because quadrupeds or birds may react differently to the same traumatic force applied to bipedal humans, extrapolating from medical forensic pathology must be done with caution. Animal abuse, however, does not occur in a vacuum. An established link exists between animal abuse, interpersonal violence, and other serious crimes. Using examples, this paper describes specific injuries in abused and neglected animals in the context of domestic violence, interpersonal violence, mental illness, and drug addiction. Medical examiners should be aware that animal abuse affects not only the animal, but individuals, families, and society as a whole.

Keywords: Animal abuse; Animal neglect; Forensic pathology; Veterinary.

Image 1

The fur or hair coat of an animal often prevents identification of traumatic lesions.

Image 2

The same dog as in Image 1. Multiple contusions and abrasions are visible after the hair was shaved. The perpetrator confessed to beating the dog during grooming.

Image 3

Edema, contusions, lacerations, and a cruciform puncture wound in the oral cavity of a dog. The puncture wound is due to a tooth penetrating the upper lip.

Image 4

The same dog as in Image 3. A deep excavating ulcer on the large metatarsal pad of the hind limb.

Image 5

The same dog as in Images 3 and 4. Brain with dura partially reflected. Cerebral cortices were covered by a thick, diffuse, subdural hematoma due to blunt force trauma.

Image 6

Multiple incision and stab wounds in the neck of a dog. The coat is matted with dried blood.

Image 7

The same dog as in Image 6. A gaping sharp force injury in the ventral neck of this dog exposed the trachea. The ventral neck muscles, right jugular vein, and left maxillary vein were transected.

Image 8

Slight blood staining of the coat and clumping of the hair in tufts over the head, neck, and thorax compared to the hind limbs and pelvic region. The small dark specimen in the photograph beneath the dog's chin is a section of desiccated tongue that was submitted with the animal.

Image 9

The same dog as in Image 8. After shaving the hair, a ligature mark of compressed hair became evident on the ventrolateral neck. The fenestrated submandibular muscle is due to sharp force injury.

Image 10

The same dog as in Images 8 and 9. The skin must be reflected to see traumatic injuries in animals. This dog was strangled and the congested, edematous tissues cranial to the ligature are sharply contrasted with the tissues caudal to the ligature.

Image 11

Histological section of anorectal junction from a cat. The black pigment adjacent to the perirectal skeletal muscle is from a permanent marker that was inserted into and perforated the rectum (H&E, x20).

Image 12

Sagittal section of porcine femur with serous atrophy of fat in a case of neglect.

Image 13

Horse, lateral recumbency. The hooves are severely overgrown and distorted in this animal. Multiple cutaneous ulcers are on the skin of the right fetlock joint.

Image 14

Emaciated dog with prominent ribs, pelvis, vertebrae, and femur. There was no evidence of intercurrent disease that would cause emaciation in this animal.

Image 15

Dorsal aspect of medium breed dog with ligature and shotgun wound. The wadding was recovered from the wound and the rectangular tan material in the wound was a piece of plywood.

Image 16

A gamecock with wattles, earlobes, and comb removed to prevent injury during fighting.