• Amputated limbs may be submitted intact to the VDL for gross description of the limb/margin and histologic evaluation of a mass and lymph nodes. Disposal of the limb is also included.
• Fresh tissue should be shipped on ice.
• Formalin fixed limbs are also accepted. Large limbs can be wrapped in paper towel drenched in formalin and shipped in a sealed plastic bag.
• The entire limb will be examined grossly by one of our pathologists. Any regional lymph nodes will be identified, excised, trimmed, and processed for histopathologic examination.
• If the area of concern is in the soft tissue of the limb, a representative section will be trimmed and it will be processed immediately and submitted to the pathologist for histopathologic examination the next day.
• Proximal soft tissue margins will also be trimmed and processed if indicated.
• A preliminary report will be issued for a fast turn-around time if a diagnosis can be made from the soft tissue section.
• If the area of concern is not in the soft tissue, the limb will be band sawed to obtain thin longitudinal and/or cross sections through the diseased area of bone.
• A cross section will be cut with the band saw through the proximal bone for margin evaluation if indicated.
• The bone sections will be decalcified and routinely processed for histopathologic examination. Decalcification requires a minimum of at least one extra day.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If the area of concern is in the soft tissue, it will be processed immediately according to our “Standard Trimming Method” and submitted to the pathologist.
• A preliminary report will be issued for a fast turn-around time if a diagnosis can be made from the soft tissue section.
• If the area of concern is not in the soft tissue, the whole case will be submitted to the pathologist after decalcification and no preliminary report will be issued. Decalcification generally requires a minimum of at least one extra day.
• A cross section will be cut through the proximal bone (depending on the location also the distal bone) for margin evaluation and a cross section will be cut through the area of concern to show bone involvement and any surrounding tissue.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

Bone biopsy is essential to differentiate between neoplasia and infectious etiologies (bacterial or fungal). Obtaining diagnostic bone core biopsy samples can be difficult, especially when there is significant periosteal reaction. Often, the core biopsies we receive are not taken from deep enough in the bone and are non-diagnostic. In these cases, we typically recommend additional and/or larger bone biopsies from multiple sites and varying depths, including areas of lysis, and/or consultation with a veterinary radiologist. Interpretation of bone biopsy samples ideally should always be performed in conjunction with radiographic interpretation. It is also extremely helpful if the location of the bone biopsy is indicated on the radiograph.

• All bone marrow biopsy cores will be processed through a short decalcification step.
• The whole sample will be processed, stained with PAS and giemsa, and assigned to a clinical pathologist who specializes in bone marrow biopsies.

• If a whole brain is submitted, it will be examined grossly by one of our pathologists.
• Sections will be trimmed by the pathologist according to the presenting alterations.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If the globe and not the surrounding tissue is the only tissue of interest, we recommend that the submitter removes any surrounding tissue prior to fixation and submission.
• For eyes with tumors we bi-sect the eye to demonstrate the tumor.
• For eyes with no obvious tumor we follow the procedure below:
  • We locate the large vein on the back of the eye.
  • We cut the globe perpendicular to the vein offsetting the globe from the optical disc and or nerve.
  • We cut a small window in the top of the globe for better processing and submit this portion of the globe for further processing.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• Cross sections through the lesion (if recognizable) will be cut to demonstrate the muscle layer and mucosal layer along with any areas of interest.
• Cross sections from proximal and distal margins of the sample will be trimmed.
• Endoscopic biopsies should be submitted in a cassette with foam inserts (we can provide these to you) and will be processed as submitted (the histotechnician will attempt correct orientation in the block).
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If the whole heart is submitted with the large vessels attached, we can perform a Turk’s test (upon request) to determine an underlying cardiomyopathy.
• Representative sections of each chamber, that include the papillary muscles in the ventricles, will be trimmed for examination.
• Valves are not routinely trimmed unless specifically requested.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for 2 weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• The hoof needs to be softened in 5% potassium hydroxide solution prior to processing, which requires extra time.
• Longitudinal sections representing the area of interest will be cut.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• Ovaries, testes, placentas and uteri will be examined grossly by a specialist in reproductive tract pathology prior to trimming.
• Sections will be trimmed by the specialist according to the presenting alterations.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If punches are 3 millimeters or smaller they will be processed as submitted.
• If punches are larger than 3 millimeters, they will be bisected along the direction of the hair (if able to determine).
• The pathologist will receive a written comment from the histotechnician trimming the sample for any given description of location of submitted samples on the body of the animal (sample site) and any identification used for samples by the referring veterinarian (use ink or suture material to indicate orientation, e.g. cranial and lateral).
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• We will cut cross sections through the spleen in the area of interest as well as through healthy tissue.
• For splenic nodules a cross section through the nodule that includes adjacent normal appearing tissue, is trimmed.
• Splenic masses often require large numbers of samples to exclude a hemangiosarcoma. Ideally, it is best to submit the entire spleen. If this is not possible it is important to submit sufficient normal appearing tissue along the margin of the nodule to improve diagnostic capabilities.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If the area of concern is in the soft tissue, it will be processed immediately according to our “Standard Trimming Method” and submitted to the pathologist.
• A preliminary report will be issued for a fast turn-around time if a diagnosis can be made from the soft tissue section.
• If the area of concern is not in the soft tissue, the tail will be decalcified and the whole case will be submitted to the pathologist after decalcification and no preliminary report will be issued. Decalcification requires a minimum of one extra day.
• A cross section will be cut through the proximal bone for margin evaluation.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If the area of concern is in the soft tissue, it will be processed immediately according to our “Standard Trimming Method” and submitted to the pathologist.
• A preliminary report will be issued for a fast turn-around time if a diagnosis can be made from the soft tissue section.
• If the area of concern is not in the soft tissue, the tooth will be decalcified and a longitudinal section will be cut to show the tooth root associated with any surrounding tissue. Decalcification requires a minimum of one extra day.
• The whole case will be submitted to the pathologist after decalcification and no preliminary report will be issued.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.

• If the area of concern is in the soft tissue, it will be processed immediately according to our "Standard Trimming Method" and submitted to the pathologist.
• If the area of concern is the NAIL BED, then soft tissue will be cut along the nail and bone edge.
• A preliminary report will be issued for a fast turn-around time if a diagnosis can be made from the soft tissue section. For every submitted toe, we will cut a cross section through the proximal bone for margin evaluation and a longitudinal section through the length of bone to investigate bone involvement.
• These bone sections will be decalcified for further processing, which requires a minimum of one extra day.
• If the area of concern is not in the soft tissue, the whole case will be submitted to the pathologist after decalcification and no preliminary report will be issued.
• Any untrimmed tissue will remain for two (2) weeks in formalin for additional sections if needed.