Ukrainian Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Pathomorphological examination of dogs that died from gunshot wounds

Nataliia Kolych, Marina Skrypka, Yuriy Zhak
Download article
Abstract

The relevance of the study is due to the increase in the frequency of the use of firearms to kill animals during military conflicts. As evidenced by practice, most gunshot wounds are cases of animal cruelty. That is why a forensic veterinary expert must correctly assess not only the gunshot wound, but also the circumstances associated with the shooting. The purpose of this study was to identify and clarify the pathomorphological changes that occur in the organs and tissues of dogs in the area of a gunshot wound when shot with a firearm. As part of the forensic veterinary examination, a pathoanatomical autopsy was performed on two stray dogs that died from gunshot wounds. The first domestic dog received a penetrating wound to the abdominal organs during life, the cause of death of the second dog was a blind wound to the head. It was found that dystrophic and necrotic changes, and haemodynamic disorders, prevailed in the tissues of the gunshot wound. Focal and diffuse haemorrhages were recorded in skeletal muscle tissue, which were localised between stratified muscle fibres. Along with this, foci of haemorrhagic infiltration were noted. Massive thrombosis was detected in the lumen of largecalibre vessels, but the main changes were observed in the microcirculatory bed. Injuries that were recorded on the bodies of dead dogs were classified as serious bodily harm. They lead to pathological processes that are dangerous to the body and result in the death of the animal. The results obtained provide an opportunity to deepen the knowledge of forensic veterinary experts on the issues of animal damage by firearms, and the identified changes can serve to differentiate wounds caused by the action of such weapons from wounds of other origins

Keywords

forensic veterinary examination; entrance wound; exit wound; firearm; autopsy

Suggested citation
Kolych, N., Skrypka, M., & Zhak, Yu. (2025). Pathomorphological examination of dogs that died from gunshot wounds. Ukrainian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 16(4), 103-120. https://doi.org/10.31548/veterinary4.2025.103
References

[1] ARRIVE. (n.d.). ARRIVE guidelines. Retrieved from https://arriveguidelines.org.

[2] Bartlett, C.S. (2013). Clinical update: Gunshot wound ballistics. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 408, 28-57. doi: 10.1097/00003086-200303000-00005.

[3] Baruah, H., Pathak, B., Gogoi, H., Borthakur, A., Bhajoni, M., & Singh, N.M. (2021). Surgical removal of gunshots and wound management in dog. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 9(1), 1896-1898.

[4] Bradley-Siemens, N., & Brower, A.I. (2016). Veterinary forensics: Firearms and investigation of projectile injury. Veterinary Pathology, 53(5), 988-1000. doi: 10.1177/0300985816653170.

[5] Capak, H., Bottegaro, N.B., Manojlovic, A., Smolec, O., & Vnuk, D. (2016). Review of 166 gunshot injury cases in dogs. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 31(4), 146-151. doi: 10.1053/j.tcam.2016.11.001.

[6] Edwards, T.H., Scott, L.L., Gonyeau, K.E., Howard, E.H., Parker, J.S., & Hall, K. (2021). Comparison of trauma sustained by civilian dogs and deployed military working dogs. The Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (San Antonio), 31(4), 498-507. doi: 10.1111/ vec.13064.

[7] Fullington, R.J., & Otto, C.M. (2017). Characteristics and management of gunshot wounds in dogs and cats: 84 cases (1986-1995). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 210(5), 658-662.

[8] Grela, M., Panasiuk-Flak, K., Listos, P., Gryzińska, M., Buszewicz, G., Chagowski, W., & Teresiński, G. (2021). Post-mortem analysis of gunshot wounds to the head and thorax in dogs by computed tomography, radiography and forensic necropsy. Medicine, Science, and the Law, 61(2), 105-113. doi: 10.1177/0025802420971176.

[9] Lemishevskyi, V. (2024). Forensic veterinary examination of traumatic injuries in animals caused by airguns and firearms: Patterns, severity and consequences. In Prospects for the development and implementation of innovative technologies in veterinary medicine and animal husbandry (pp. 76-99). Riga: Baltija Publishing. doi: 10.30525/978-9934-26-454-2-4.

[10] Lewis, J.R., Boudrieau, R.J., Reiter, A.M., Seeherman, H.J., & Gilley, R.S. (2008). Mandibular reconstruction after gunshot trauma in a dog by use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 233(10), 1598-1604. doi: 10.2460/javma.233.10.1598.

[11] Linder, J., Daniel, J., Vadurro, F., Londono, L., Beasley, M., Garcia, G.A., & Carrera-Justiz, S. (2023). Ballistic trauma to the axial skeleton in 13 animals. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 33(3), 332-336. doi: 10.1111/vec.13287.

[12] Miller, L., Pacheco, G.J., Janak, J.C., Grimm, R.C., Dierschke, N.A., Baker, J.L., & Orman, J.A. (2018). Causes of death in military working dogs during operation iraqi freedom and operation enduring freedom, 2001-2013. Military Medicine, 183(9-10), e467-e474. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usx235.

[13] OIE/WOAH. (n.d.). Standarts. Retrieved from https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards.

[14] Perebetiuk, A.M., & Biktimirov, V.V. (2003). Vascular reactions in the area of a gunshot wound inflicted by a shot from a gas-operated firearm. Bulletin of Problems Biology and Medicine, 3,115-116.

[15] Pirgo, O.F. (2024). Cruelty to animals as an object of criminology research. Central Ukrainian Journal of Law and Public Management, 3(7), 161-169. doi: 10.32782/cuj-2024-3-18.

[16] Putra, B.B.A., Jola, R., Ah, E.B., Djoko, L., & Benjamin, C.T. (2017). Anatomical pathology and radiology appearance of ballistic wound result of cal. 177 air rifle with 4,5 mm pellets on extrimity of the dog (canis lupus familiaris) at different shooting distances. In 1st international conference Postgraduate School Universitas Airlangga: Implementation of climate change agreement to meet sustainable development goals (ICPSUAS 2017) (pp. 29-32). Dordrecht: Atlantis Press. doi: 10.2991/icpsuas-17.2018.7.

[17] Risselada, M. (2017). Perforating cervical, thoracic, and abdominal wounds. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 47(6), 1135-1148. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2017.06.002.

[18] Schrock, K., Kerwin, S.C., & Jeffery, N. (2021). Outcomes and complications associated with acute gunshot fractures in cats and dogs. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 35(03), 205-212. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1739238.

[19] Shrestha, R., Kanchan, T., & Krishan, K. (2023). Gunshot wounds forensic pathology. Orlando: StatPearls Publishing.

[20] Skrypka, M., Yatsenko, I., Panikar, V., & Sevasteev, A. (2020). Tranmatik pain shock as a subject of forensic veterenary examination. Agrarian Bulletin of the Black Sea Littoral, 96. doi: 10.37000/ abbsl.2020.96.01.

[21] Yatsenko, I.V. (2023).Theoretical and epistemological construction of the phenomenon of the severity of harm caused to animal health in forensic veterinary examination. Law Forum, 75(2), 65-88. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7699531.

[22] Zozulia, I.S., Volosovets, A.O., & Zozulia, A.I. (2021). Trauma, traumatic shock. Diagnosis and emergency care. Ukrainian Medical Journal, 4(144), 20-25. doi: 10.32471/umj.16803051.144.214030.