Unique educational tools have arrived at the university. The Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Welfare Department has received six mouse simulators, which were first tested in real-life situations by second-year students. Practical experience is essential for acquiring the necessary skills in veterinary education. The simulators considered the future of education, provide a safe environment for students to practice without risks before working with real animals.
“Each mouse simulator costs nearly half a million Hungarian Forints and they were imported from Japan to the university. Thanks to their acquisition, approximately 60-80 live mice in undergraduate education and up to 150-200 live mice in postgraduate education are saved from being used,” added Dr. Kinga Fodor, the head of the Laboratory Animal Science and Animal Welfare Department.
Although the artificial mice may appear roughly designed, they provide the same tactile sensation as live mice. The simulation models are crucial for students to practice and develop fine motor skills and fundamental techniques. Students can learn basic handling techniques, proper grasping of animals, and preparation for various interventions. The blood vessels in the tail can be filled with special artificial blood, simulating the process of blood collection realistically. The use of an oesophagal probe can be demonstrated and practised. The heads and throats of the artificial mice are designed to accurately imitate the sensation of the probe passing over the glottis. Thanks to their high quality, each mouse simulator can be used for many years, even up to a decade. The tail section, which may be damaged by needle punctures, can be easily popped out and replaced.
At the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, animal welfare is a key aspect of training future professionals. Part of this commitment includes reducing the use of live animals and, whenever possible, replacing them with simulators. Animals used in medical education are considered experimental animals according to the relevant legislation, even if their involvement is limited to non-painful educational demonstrations. Therefore, strict regulations govern their housing. The university’s animal facility is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, ensuring the well-being of these animals. Each cage, equipped with hiding places, nests, and toys, has a separate ventilation system and a humidity monitoring system that sends SMS alerts to the responsible party in case of any issues. The animals’ behaviour and fur clearly indicate their well-being, although most of them pass away due to old age.
