Postmortem biochemical changes in canine blood

Antemortem and postmortem blood samples from 60 dogs were evaluated for sodium, chloride, potassium, urea nitrogen, glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, total protein, albumin, and carbon dioxide levels. Temperatures were 4, 20 and 37 degrees C. Postmortem intervals were 3, 6, 12, and 48 h. Blood urea nitrogen, calcium, and protein values remained stable after death, indicating diagnostic significance. Potassium, creatinine, and phosphorus levels increased with time and sodium, chloride, and total carbon dioxide levels decreased with time; therefore, determining these chemical values could be beneficial in estimating time of death. Glucose values were of limited value.