Veterinary students at Melbourne University are operating on healthy and sometimes pregnant dogs, then killing the animals.
The dogs are anaesthetised before the operation and then euthanised before they wake up.
Dr Hugh Wirth from the RSPCA says it is a cruel way of teaching.
"At the present time what's happening is an age-old custom where live animals that are perfectly healthy are operated on an never allowed to recover. We don't think that's right and proper."
One former student said she was given a pregnant bitch carrying seven pups for surgery practice. She said other students were given pups as young as two-months old.
Other students have claimed the laboratories were often unsupervised, meaning trainees had to leaf through text books as they operate.
Dean of Veterinary Science Professor Ken Hinchcliff says training on live animals is common practice.
"Use of live animals is a small but vital part of our surgery teaching program before clinical training," Prof Hinchcliff told News Ltd.
Prof Hinchcliff refused to reveal where the dogs came from, saying only they were "donated".
It is believed the university advertised for unwanted pets and former farm or breeding dogs.
Greyhound Victoria has admitted it provided dogs to the university.
