A practicable approach to providing horses in a standing position for teaching gross anatomy and surgery

Abstract

Lifelike simulation of surgical procedures as well as whole body dissections of horses in a natural standing position are superior as they show the normal topographic visceral interrelationships between organs, their ligamentous associations, vasculature and innervation. This short technical communication reports on the fixation of small-frame horses in a standing position on a mobile frame. Animals are euthanased using standard veterinary protocols and heparinised to facilitate exsanguination. All steps including the embalming procedures/ protocols, the support of the body with fabric body harnesses, and additional means to place and hold the body in an as natural position as possible are described in detail. Following these procedures, animals were dissected over a time period of three-months and exposed tissue surfaces were swabbed weekly to determine their ongoing microbial status. No adverse effects, such as aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, yeast, or mould growth were found