Emergency Procedures for Deceased Pets

In the case of the sudden death of your pet you should:

  • Keep the deceased animal in a sanitary, cool environment at refrigerated temperatures from 35° to 45°F (2° to 5°C) until tissue samples are collected.
  • DO NOT FREEZE.
  • DO NOT BURY.
  • Contact PERPETUATE immediately at 508-641-7775.
  • Please follow the instructions below as it is too late to order and ship a tissue collection kit:

 

 

Emergency instructions for Harvesting and Shipping Tissue from Pets

 

Step 1: Obtain three or more sterile bottles for preserving and transporting the tissue samples. Bottles may be plastic or glass approximately 10 ml or 1 oz. size. Bottle size may vary if tissue is submerged in saline solution. Each bottle needs a screw cap that can be securely tightened to prevent leakage.

 

Step 2: Prepare the transport media from standard 0.9% isotonic saline solution.

 

Step 3: Collect muscle tissue samples that are approximately 1/4 inch in diameter and at least 3/8 inch long.

 

Step 4: Place each muscle piece in a separate bottle and keep refrigerated until shipped. Secure the lids on the bottles firmly.

 

Step 5: Repeat the procedure described in Steps 3 and 4 above until at least three sets of tissue samples are collected.

 

Step 6: Label each vial as follows:

 

a. Owner name

b. Pet name

c. Species

d. Date samples taken

 

Step 7: Place the tissue bottles in a Styrofoam box or insulated cooler with one frozen ice gel pack (NOT DRY ICE). The samples need to be kept cold but not frozen. Place the ice gel pack on the bottom of the container. Separate the bottles from the ice gel pack with a layer of corrugated cardboard or Styrofoam to prevent bottles' direct contact with the ice gel pack. The container should be capable of keeping the contents at temperatures between 35° and 45°F (2° to 5°C) for 72 hours. Check with your courier such as Federal Express or UPS for assistance and shipment times. Please do not ship by the US Post Office.

 

Step 8: Immediately ship the package by overnight courier for next day delivery to:

 

Raymond Page, PhD

PerPETuate, Inc.

Life Science and Bioengineering / WPI

60 Prescott Street

Worcester, MA 01605

USA

508-641-7775

 

Step 9: Please provide PERPETUATE the courier's tracking number by email (info@perpetuatelab.com) or telephone (508-641-7775).

 

Step 10: Ship at least two bottles of tissue samples. Keep one bottle in a refrigerator until your shipment arrives at the laboratory in satisfactory condition.

Ice Gel Packs

Styrofoam and Cardboard Boxes

Insulated Cooler

Ice Gel Packs