| (1) | An animal hospital for equines shall, in addition to the requirements of rule 23 consist of— |
| (a) | one or more examination rooms or undercover areas equipped with hand washing facilities and diagnostic equipment for the physical, endoscopic, ophthalmic and cardiac examination of the patient; |
| (b) | a transportation system to be used in the transportation of equines to and from the area used during induction of general anaesthesia and for the recovery from such, and the operating room; |
| (c) | a separate room that is equipped as an operating room and has the following: |
| (i) | an adequate light source; |
| (ii) | a surgical table with an impervious operating surface that can be easily cleansed and disinfected; |
| (iii) | a gas anaesthetic apparatus; |
| (iv) | an adequate supply of oxygen; |
| (v) | a radiographic viewer; and |
| (vi) | adequate ventilation. |
| (2) | Aseptic conditions shall be maintained in the operating room, which include the use of sterilised gowns, gloves, masks, caps and drapes, and the sterilisation and re-sterilisation of all surgical instruments at least every three weeks. In case of routine surgery, that is not complicated abdominal, orthopaedic or cardio-vascular surgery, sterilised gowns may be dispensed with. |
[Subrule (2) substituted by section 16 of Notice 868 of 2009]
| (3) | Suitable scrubbing facilities shall be available. |
| (4) | Only final preparation of the patient shall be done in the operating room. |
| (5) | There shall be no thoroughfare through an operating room and it shall not be used as a storage room. |
| (6) | The operating room must be of adequate size and there must be an adequate supply of equipment and instruments at all times. |
| (7) | An area for the safe loading and off-loading of patients, as well as a crush pen with a waterproof and washable floor surface, shall also be provided at the examination area. |
| (8) | The stable in which patients can be kept shall be arranged in such a manner that each patient is kept separately and adequately ventilated. |
| (9) | An area in which patients can be exercised, and is designed and constructed in a manner which will prevent escape and promote the maintenance of hygiene. |
[Subrule (9) substituted by section 17 of Notice 868 of 2009]
| (10) | Any material, which poses a fire hazard for the patients at an equine hospital, shall be stored away from stables, and it is kept in an adjoining room, such room shall be separated from the stables concerned by means of a fire partition wall. |
