Horse Necropsy/Dissection

[BriannaWV]

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Hi everyone! I figured that I'd post this because some of you, I'm sure, will find this quite interesting. Yesterday one of the university horses had to be put down due to severe lameness and I was invited to go to the dissection of him. It was a complete dissection, I don't think we left too many stones unturned, and from what my professor told me it seems to be rare that vet students get to completely dissect a horse like this and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

At first I thought it was going to be really disgusting and saddening, but once it started I was all into it!!! I want to dissect something else!! 😛

Here are some pictures of it:

Hope you all enjoyed the pictures, and I hope they weren't too gross because I posted them on Facebook and everyone thought it was the most disgusting thing ever!!!

 

[168135]

I posted a picture from my owl necropsy on FB and people were FREAKING OUT. You couldn't really see anything... just a wet bird with a gaping hole in its chest.

That looks like it was SO COOL. One of our bio classes gets to do a horse limb... but gah, this is so much cooler!

 

[BriannaWV]

I posted a picture from my owl necropsy on FB and people were FREAKING OUT. You couldn't really see anything... just a wet bird with a gaping hole in its chest.

That looks like it was SO COOL. One of our bio classes gets to do a horse limb... but gah, this is so much cooler!

People freak out over the smallest things, I don't think they realize that this is pretty much what happens to them (not THIS bad, but you know what I mean) when they die and get an autopsy.

It was very cool, I have a picture of me posing with the leg...

It was so cool, I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did but it was really really great. And the fact that the horse was fresh and not filled with gross smelly liquids made it so much better.

 

[ImaJerseyGirl]

Thanks for sharing and I agree necropsies are really cool but... be careful what you post on facebook/ forums. Did you get your instructor's permission to post photos? We had a problem a few years ago at my U when a few students went to a necropsy, took photos, and posted them on facebook. When our prof found out he was VERY mad. Just a heads up!

 

[BriannaWV]

Thanks for sharing and I agree necropsies are really cool but... be careful what you post on facebook/ forums. Did you get your instructor's permission to post photos? We had a problem a few years ago at my U when a few students went to a necropsy, took photos, and posted them on facebook. When our prof found out he was VERY mad. Just a heads up!

She was fine with it, they never said not to and everyone was talking about putting them on Facebook and what not and the two professors didn't care or say anything. I think it's fine.

 

[BlacKAT33]

I also worry about what others will say or if i will get into trouble posting dissections/surgeries online. But it is nice your prof is letting you because I really enjoyed these photos. So amazing. I dont have much LA experience and Ive def never come close to a horse necropsy. This makes me really excited for anatomy lab next year! I dont think i will ever lose my fascination with anatomy of organisms, its just so insane how complicated things are and how they all come together to form a living body.

 

[168135]

I asked my lab instructor if I could take a few pictures and she encouraged me to do so.

I love this kind of stuff!

 

[BriannaWV]

I also worry about what others will say or if i will get into trouble posting dissections/surgeries online. But it is nice your prof is letting you because I really enjoyed these photos. So amazing. I dont have much LA experience and Ive def never come close to a horse necropsy. This makes me really excited for anatomy lab next year! I dont think i will ever lose my fascination with anatomy of organisms, its just so insane how complicated things are and how they all come together to form a living body.

I'm really excited to take an anatomy class whenever it may be! The anatomy professor was the one who was doing a lot of the cutting, and my professor for my equine class was the one explaining a lot of the stuff. It's really nice to finally see everything that you have learned in person and having that "oooooohhh" moment. I never thought a body was as complicated as it really is, and to see it on such a large scale is crazy.

One thing that really shocked me, I'm sad I don't have a picture of it, is that when we took the GI tract out and we saw the intestines, it looked like there was MAYBE 4 feet of small intestine but I learned that there was 70 feet in a horse. Once the muscle that holds it together was cut and it was all stretched out it looked closer to 70 feet. I still can't wrap my head around how that happens 😛

 

[nohika]

Cool pictures!

..but not so cool to see right before breakfast for the uninitiated (like me). Least it was only Cocoa Krispies and not like meat or anything...

 

[eringobraugh]

Hey Brianna, do you go to WVU? I grew up in Morgantown and went there for grad school! Is that Margie in the first pic in the red striped shirt? I love her! She wrote on of my LORs.

 

[BriannaWV]

Hey Brianna, do you go to WVU? I grew up in Morgantown and went there for grad school! Is that Margie in the first pic in the red striped shirt? I love her! She wrote on of my LORs.

Yes, I do go to WVU!!! I'm not sure of her first name but she's the anatomy teacher (Minsh is her last name I believe), she's sooo nice. This took place at the Reedsville farm. This is so exciting! I didn't think anyone on here went to WVU!

 

[flagirl2014]

Yes, I do go to WVU!!! I'm not sure of her first name but she's the anatomy teacher (Minsh is her last name I believe), she's sooo nice. This took place at the Reedsville farm. This is so exciting! I didn't think anyone on here went to WVU!

Awesome pics!!! My parents are WVU alumni - beautiful area in Morgantown. Are you going to apply to Auburn for the contract spot they have with WV?

 

[purplesaurus]

Cool! Thanks for posting this!

I know horses are big and all, but when I see their organs, I'm still always AMAZED at how huge they are!!!

I saw some vet students doing a necropsy on a horse once, and looking at the empty chest cavity, I was just thinking, "Wow! I could crawl inside there!"

... I didn't, though. 😉

 

[eringobraugh]

Yes, I do go to WVU!!! I'm not sure of her first name but she's the anatomy teacher (Minsh is her last name I believe), she's sooo nice. This took place at the Reedsville farm. This is so exciting! I didn't think anyone on here went to WVU!

Yeah! Dr Minch, she's awesome. What year are you? Are you in the college of ag or are you doing a bio major? If you're in Ag I'm sure you know Inskeep, he was my savior in school. If you get a chance to take a class from him do it, he's the best.

 

[david594]

It was a complete dissection, I don't think we left too many stones unturned, and from what my professor told me it seems to be rare that vet students get to completely dissect a horse like this and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Pretty sure every first year vet student will have to dissect a horse. And I can assure you we do it to an infinitely greater amount of detail.

 

[BriannaWV]

Cool! Thanks for posting this!

I know horses are big and all, but when I see their organs, I'm still always AMAZED at how huge they are!!!

I saw some vet students doing a necropsy on a horse once, and looking at the empty chest cavity, I was just thinking, "Wow! I could crawl inside there!"

... I didn't, though. 😉

I thought the same exact thing!! I told my friend "a person can take refuge in that thing!!" 😛

Yeah! Dr Minch, she's awesome. What year are you? Are you in the college of ag or are you doing a bio major? If you're in Ag I'm sure you know Inskeep, he was my savior in school. If you get a chance to take a class from him do it, he's the best.

I'm a sophomore right now, I'll be a junior next spring. I am going for Animal & Nutritional Science with a minor in Equine Management. I've heard of Inskeep before but I've never took any of his classes, I'll definitely look into it though. Do you remember what he taught? I've heard pretty good things about him.

Pretty sure every first year vet student will have to dissect a horse. And I can assure you we do it to an infinitely greater amount of detail.

Perhaps she was just saying that or maybe I misunderstood her when she was talking. Maybe she meant "unless you go to vet school, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity", who knows since it was really loud with all the talking. If I get accepted to vet school I am SO EXCITED to do it myself. Wow! I will be extremely happy!!

 

[eringobraugh]

He teaches a part of the reproductive physiology class which is awesome. He's really great and if you want to go to vet school he can give you a lot of good advice. Have you taken classes from Dr. Spooner yet? I took her horse science class in spring of '09. It was a good class too, I really enjoyed.

 

[Lissarae06]

At Ok-State, I got to go to Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostics Lab (OADDL) as a pre-vet intern. I got to watch a horse, alpaca, and lamb necropsy. They were all going on at the same time and I was allowed to observe all of them. It was really cool and I can't wait to be the one doing the actual cutting!

 

[No Imagination]

I thought the same exact thing!! I told my friend "a person can take refuge in that thing!!" 😛

The Empire Strikes Back

 

[chyactnate]

These are awesome pictures!!! Thanks for posting them 🙂

 

[Whyevernot55]

Sweeeet.

The day I decided to pursue vet med was in the fall of my senior year of college, when I got to help my vet (who I worked for/shadowed) do a necropsy on a Belgian mare. Her heart was MASSIVE. It was epic.

 

[Tricolorbadness]

These are awesome pictures!!! Thanks for posting them 🙂

I agree totally!!! 👍

 

[BriannaWV]

Awesome pics!!! My parents are WVU alumni - beautiful area in Morgantown. Are you going to apply to Auburn for the contract spot they have with WV?

I don't think I responded to this... My first choice would probably be Ohio State because I'm from Ohio and therefore I'd be "in-state", I think. Auburn is #2 and then St. George University is an "I wish I could go there but it's never going to happen" choice. 😛 To be honest, I didn't even know that this thing between WVU and Auburn even existed!!! Now I'm going to have to look into it!

Cool! Thanks for posting this!

I know horses are big and all, but when I see their organs, I'm still always AMAZED at how huge they are!!!

I saw some vet students doing a necropsy on a horse once, and looking at the empty chest cavity, I was just thinking, "Wow! I could crawl inside there!"

... I didn't, though. 😉

Yeah! Dr Minch, she's awesome. What year are you? Are you in the college of ag or are you doing a bio major? If you're in Ag I'm sure you know Inskeep, he was my savior in school. If you get a chance to take a class from him do it, he's the best.

He teaches a part of the reproductive physiology class which is awesome. He's really great and if you want to go to vet school he can give you a lot of good advice. Have you taken classes from Dr. Spooner yet? I took her horse science class in spring of '09. It was a good class too, I really enjoyed.

I haven't had any physiology classes yet, but I'll be sure to take one of his just because you say!!!

And I have Holly's class right now (that's who was doing the necropsy with Minch). She's awesome! I had one class last semester and another this semester. Because of her I decided to minor in Equine Management!!

Off topic, but she's having a baby girl!!!!!!!!

 

[lyndaelyzoo]

WOW!!! I cannot wait to start vet school so I get to dissect a horse!!! Thanks for posting!!!

 

[eringobraugh]

I don't think I responded to this... My first choice would probably be Ohio State because I'm from Ohio and therefore I'd be "in-state", I think. Auburn is #2 and then St. George University is an "I wish I could go there but it's never going to happen" choice. 😛 To be honest, I didn't even know that this thing between WVU and Auburn even existed!!! Now I'm going to have to look into it!
I haven't had any physiology classes yet, but I'll be sure to take one of his just because you say!!!

And I have Holly's class right now (that's who was doing the necropsy with Minch). She's awesome! I had one class last semester and another this semester. Because of her I decided to minor in Equine Management!!

Off topic, but she's having a baby girl!!!!!!!!

Aw I think I had heard she was having a baby girl, that's so cute! Yeah def try to take a class from him if you can. If you ever have any questions about any of the classes in the program PM me and I'd be glad to help, I took all my classes in Animal Sciences when I was there!

Also, WV has contracts with Auburn, Georgia, Tuskegee and Mississippi now. They used to have contracts with Ohio but they got rid of that 2 years ago I think?? But, if you aren't a resident of WV I'm not sure you would apply, they have weird residency requirements there. 🙂

 

[Armymutt25A]

The Empire Strikes Back

I was thinking the same thing. This should not surprise anyone who is familiar with a Tan tan.

 

[Tricolorbadness]

I was thinking the same thing. This should not surprise anyone who is familiar with a Tan tan.

 

[clairbear]

Those pictures are so cool. Their organs seem massive even in the pictures😱

I posted a picture from my owl necropsy on FB and people were FREAKING OUT. You couldn't really see anything... just a wet bird with a gaping hole in its chest.

I showed some people pictures of a goat birth before and they weren't that bad (just the kids while they were still wet and had some blood on them), but people were freaking out over them.