Post-mortem injuries by a dog: A case report

Despite its unlikely occurrence, post-mortem animal depredation is not unknown to forensic pathologists.
In the case at issue, the corpse of a dead woman presented extensive facial wounds, which were
then traced back to the dog she owned. A small specimen of injured tissue was subjected to species diagnosis,
and came back positive for human and canine antigens, which confirmed the presence of biological
material of canine origin on the body. The less than usual post-mortal injury pattern described herein
clearly highlights the possibility that animal depredation on a corpse may occur soon after death, and
underscores the diagnostic potential posed by commonly available and low expensive testing methods
such as serological species diagnosis.