Low cost SimSpay - model for training of small animal ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy

Pros, cons & Future potential

The use of educational animal models in a skillslab offers a number of significant advantages:

• - Reduced use of laboratory animals and reduced discomfort for patients, as procedures can be practised on dummy models and simulators before performing them on a live animal.
• - Teaching of clinical skills in a quiet and safe environment, reducing anxiety and stress for the veterinary student.
• - Complex practical skills can be split into a number of small steps when practising them in the skillslab. When performing these elective surgical procedures, the model cannot be re-used. Therefore, a low-cost model made at home by the student works well in our skillslab as we work with a large number of students.

• - Clinical training on live animals needed as well.
• - Creating the model, although the instructions are quite clear, is quite time-consuming for inexperienced students. However, this process also helps them to repeat the anatomical knowledge they have obtained during earlier courses.

Further optimalisation of home-made models and purchasing available commercial models.

Training for lab animal surgical procedures.