ABSTRACT
An outside force can be applied with sufficient impact to cause injury to an animal. In veterinary forensic science, two common types of forces and resulting traumas are blunt force trauma (BFT) and sharp force trauma. Studies have shown that blunt force trauma can have an effect on the coagulation abilities and processes of animals. Assessment of activated partial thromboplastin time should be considered in the evaluation of animals suffering severe traumatic injuries, as it may be altered in animals suffering from severe BFT. Fractures can be caused by falling or jumping, animal fighting, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and nonaccidental injuries, such as blunt force trauma and gunshots. Caution is advised in using this general guideline to assess the age of a lesion, as the effects of variables such as species variability, incidence of self-trauma, malnutrition, protein deprivation, and disease are not fully known and may be challenged in a court setting.
