Guidelines for Implementing a Low-Cost Volunteer Desexing Skills Training Program for Veterinary and Veterinary...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Surgical Education

Background:

• Traditional veterinary curricula face challenges in providing sufficient desexing surgery training.
• Desexing surgeries are a fundamental clinical skill for small animal practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative extracurricular student-led teaching program for desexing procedures.
• To provide guidelines for implementing similar programs in other veterinary schools.

Main Methods:

• An extracurricular volunteer program where senior students train junior students in desexing procedures.
• Structured roles assigned based on year level, from first-year administrative tasks to fourth/fifth-year spay surgery.
• Detailed discussion of practical implementation aspects: curriculum mapping, patient recruitment, facility setup, and SOP development.

Main Results:

• The program successfully enhanced student confidence and competence in surgical skills.
• It provided a valuable, low-cost desexing service to the local community.

Conclusions:

• Student-led teaching models can effectively supplement traditional veterinary surgical training.
• This program offers a scalable and beneficial approach for veterinary education and community service.