Abstract: Provided is a method for diagnosing a disease or pathological condition in an animal. An ion mobility spectrometry measurement (IMS) or a differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) is carried out on a body sample from the animal to determine an amount of ions formed by at least two biogenic amines contained in the sample. A ratio is calculated of the amounts of ions formed by the different biogenic amines in the sample, wherein the ratio is indicative of the presence or absence of the disease or pathological condition. Also provided is a device for collecting a body sample from an animal and a method for obtaining a body sample from an animal.