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Common Questions and Transparent Fees

Clear answers to common questions about Dr. Watson’s services and fees. Transparency and trust are foundational to each and every case.

Information for Pet Owners

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Information for Veterinarians and Clinics

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Information for Pet Owners

How do I contact Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology for an appointment?
  • Most often, your veterinarian will request to speak with you to discuss the pathology report after it is sent to their hospital. 
  • At your veterinarian’s request, Dr. Watson may be able to speak with you directly.
  • We do the animal autopsy at your veterinary hospital.
  • Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology works with many emergency hospitals and will be able to assist you in finding a hospital to allow us to perform the autopsy.
  • The veterinary hospital will coordinate with you to help facilitate aftercare.
  • Base fees (as of 2025):
    • Canine, Non-Forensic necropsy start at $800.00
    • Feline, Non-Forensic necropsy start at $650.00
    • Canine, Forensic necropsy start at $1200.00
    • Feline, Forensic necropsy start at $750.00
  • Additional fees may be applied for travel, priority processing, additional diagnostic testing, cosmetic necropsies, etc.
  • Payment is made directly to the veterinary hospital. 
  • Non-forensic pathology report turnaround time is approximately 3 weeks.
  • Forensic pathology report turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks.
  • The pathology report for your animal will go directly to the veterinary hospital. 
  • If requested, the pathology report can be directly be sent to you.
  • A forensic pathology report will be requested if you are potentially pursuing litigation. 
  • An external hard drive that contains all documentation from the animal autopsy.
  • If you are seeking answers regarding the death of your animal and you are not pursuing a legal case.
  • A detailed external and internal visual examination.
  • Detailed documentation written and photographic.
  • Standard histopathological examination of the major organs (microscopic evalutaion of tissue samples from major organs).
  • Additional diagnostics such as bacterial/fungal culture, virology, etc.
  • Additional diagnostics such as bacterial, virology, fungal culture, PCR, special stains, immunohistochemistry, PARR, toxin testing, or other toxicology testing.
  • Stat/rush requests.
  • Cosmetic animal autopsy is examination of your animals’ tissues through one incision in the abdomen (similar to a spay incision), then closed by suture. Cosmetic animal autopsies allow the animal’s body to be returned to the owner for personal/cultural/religious reasons.
  • Cosmetic autopsies do not allow to examine tissues above the shoulders including the thyroid glands, head, and brain.
  • Cosmetic autopsy incurs an additional fee of $300, which will be added to the necropsy cost.
  • Toxin testing can be performed at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory or human forensic laboratory.
  • Special stains and immunohistochemistry can also be performed.
  • Bacteriology, Virology, and Infectious disease testing
  • Canines — approximately 2 hours.
  • Felines — approximately 1 hour.
  • Unfortunately, attendance of the animal autopsy is not possible.

Dr. Watson and team diligently strives to provide an extensive examination and collect and analyze all data to help you understand your pet’s death (approximately >80% of the time). In most circumstances we are able to provide helpful answers regarding cause of death. However, it is important to note, in a small percentage of cases, we may be able to rule out causes of death and yet the exact cause of death may remain unclear.

Information for Veterinarians and Clinics

How do I contact Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology for an appointment?
  • Our on-site necropsies are performed before or after your appointment schedules, so not to disturb your team. If the necropsy request is at a specialty/emergency hospital, necropsies can be performed at any time.
  • We do necropsies on the weekend too.
  • If there is an office refrigerator then you can place small animals in the fridge. 
  • If there is no refrigerator, then animals (all sizes) can be double bagged in thick plastic bags (such as West Coast Pet Memorial bags) then place ice packs in between the two plastic bags. This works well for large breed animals. Storage of large breed animals can be kept cool this way for up to a week, if the ice packs are rotated. 
  • Do not freeze the body if possible.
  • At any convenient location in your veterinary hospital.
  • Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology works with many emergency/specialty hospitals and will be able to assist you in finding a hospital to allow us to perform the autopsy.
  • The veterinary hospital will coordinate aftercare with the owner directly.
  • An invoice will be sent to the hospital for payment. An email or contact with a hospital manager (veterinarian or lead technician) or accountant will be needed.
  • We do have the capabilities of sending the invoice directly to the client, if desired by the hospital.
  • Non-forensic pathology report turnaround time is approximately 3 weeks.
  • Forensic pathology report turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks.
  • Forensic necropsies:
    • If the owner talks about litigation of any sort.
    • If a client states :
      • “I am going to sue your hospital.”
      •  “I think my neighbor (insert other individuals) killed my animal.”
      • If a client states “I am going to sue my veterinarian.”
      • “I think my animal was given a toxin.”
  • Non-forensic necropsies:
    • Owner is looking for an answer on the death of their animal.
    • The veterinarian at your hospital is looking for the cause of death of the animal.
    • If a non-forensic necropsy turns into a forensic case, additional charges will be added.
  • An email for the point of contact from the hospital.
  • Emailed or a print out of the animal’s history and signalment.
  • A space to perform the necropsy.
  • Approximately 3 towels.
  • We bring everything else!
  • Flat-fee costs (as of 2025): 
    • Canine, Non-Forensic necropsy: $800.00
    • Feline, Non-Forensic necropsy: $650.00
    • Canine, Forensic necropsy: $1200.00
    • Feline, Forensic necropsy: $750.00
  • Macroscopic examination 
  • Macroscopic photo documentation
  • Histology processing fees up to 10 tissues/slides.
  • Slide evaluation and pathology report writing.
  • (Forensic only) Legal consultation, thumb drive of all information, and any other necessary legal documents.
  • Rush/stat or priority processing with expedited shipping. 
  • More than 10 tissues/slides for histology.
  • Additional diagnostics such as bacterial/fungal culture, virology, PCR, special stains, immunohistochemistry, PARR, toxin testing, or other toxicology testing (veterinary or human forensic laboratory.
  • For travel within an hour of the Shoreline, WA area, there is no additional travel fee. Travel outside an hour will incur a $30.00/hour travel fee.
  • Yes, we can perform cosmetic necropsies as per the desire of the owner.
  • An addition $300.00 charge will be added to the necropsy cost. 
  • Organs above the shoulders will not be examined. 
  • One “spay-like” incision will be made and sutured closed.
  • Toxin testing can be performed at a veterinary diagnostic laboratory or human forensic laboratory.
  • Special stains and immunohistochemistry can also be performed.
  • Bacteriology, Virology, and Infectious disease testing
  • Canines take about 2 hours.
  • Felines take about 1 hour.
  • Dr. Watson works with a very skilled necropsy technician and may have the technician perform the necropsy when Dr. Watson is away. Only if ok’ed by the hospital.
  • Yes, please contact Ledgerock Veterinary Pathology for costs.
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