Abstract

Background:
The use of ultrasound imaging in veterinary forensic medicine is a growing field that offers a non-invasive and efficient method for assessing postmortem chang-es in dogs.
Aim:
This study aimed to explore the usefulness’ of ultrasound image modality to identify the PMI and distinguished between antemortem and postmortem fea-tures in euthanized dogs.
Methods:
This study investigates the utility of ultrasonography for estimating the postmor-tem time interval (PMI), which is a critical factor in determining the time since death in forensic cases involving canines. Traditional PMI estimation methods rely heavily on external signs such as rigor mortis, livor mortis, and body tem-perature, which can be influenced by environmental factors.
Results:
Ultrasound provides a more consistent and objective tool by allowing internal visualization of soft tissue and organ changes over time. Ultrasound examina-tions were performed on canine cadavers at specific intervals postmortem to monitor internal decomposition processes. Key ultrasonographic markers such as the presence of intra-organ gas, fluid accumulation, and changes in organ echogenicity were analyzed and correlated with the elapsed time since death. These internal indicators were found to progress in a predictable sequence, of-fering a reliable framework for PMI estimation. The study demonstrated that ul-trasound could detect subtle internal changes especially liver not as it maintains huge amount of blood and echogenicity as it present in lower part of abdomen, thereby enhancing the accuracy of forensic investigations.
Conclusions:
The findings support the integration of ultrasonography into standard forensic protocols for veterinary cases. Its ability to differentiate antemortem from post-mortem changes and estimate PMI non-invasively makes it a valuable tool for veterinary pathologists, legal authorities, and animal welfare investigators. As a rapid, repeatable, and ultrasound imaging holds significant promise in advanc-ing the field of veterinary forensic science.

Key words: Euthanised dogs, ultrasound imaging, antemortem, postmortem, PMI