A Model to Help when Practicing Blood Sampling and Injections for Dogs Boosts Confidence in Veterinary Students 

A gray and black Thai dog model lies still on a table. Veterinary students from Chulalongkorn University are focusing on inserting a needle to practice their blood sampling skills. All of a sudden, a bark is heard, and a light blinks on the signal box. The students immediately realize that their needlepoint is not correct. They must try inserting the needle again. If there is no bark, this is a sign that they passed! 

If this were a real dog, both the dog and the new veterinary students would understandably be quite stressed. The barking can cause the students to lose their confidence in using the needle. However, when there is a life-sized dog model as a trainer, the veterinary students seem to be more relaxed and enjoy the challenge of practicing their blood sampling and injection skills. 

How it all came about  

When teaching anatomy and practicing blood sampling and injection skills in real-world settings, Assistant Professor, Veterinarian Pawana Chuesiri, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, noticed that her students looked somewhat heavy-hearted. Some were worried about whether they would pass the exam or not. Some were concerned about whether they would be able to inject the medicine in the right spot. Therefore, the teacher tried to invent new teaching media to help students have more fun and enjoy the learning process.  

An interactive dog blood sampling and injection training model made from recycled materials for self-learning is one of the innovative teaching materials that Asst. Prof. Pawana invented to create knowledgeable and expert veterinarians for society. 

“This training model solves several problems, especially blood sampling and injection of dogs, which are tasks that all veterinary students must be able to perform. If done incorrectly, it will cause a negative feeling towards the profession, making veterinarians lose their confidence,” Asst. Prof. Pawana talked about the inspiration for creating this contraption. “Students can use this model to practice and review their surgical skills, reduce injuries to real dogs if injections are not done correctly, and reduce the use of experimental animals.” 

The model also serves as a good helper in studying anatomy. Asst. Prof. Pawana reflected on the problems in studying that “Sometimes the cadavers used for teaching are not enough. The body may be too small or too large. Some dogs are sick with diseases. Some have been neutered. Some have organs that are not good enough to be used in teaching. We cannot control those factors. Students have to learn accordingly. In addition, when studying anatomy, dissecting animals requires that they be gradually cut. By the last period, there is almost nothing left to review. By the time students start their clinical study, they may forget what they have learned. Having a mannequin that can be disassembled to see the structure of muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and internal organs helps students review their knowledge of dog anatomy.”  Since 2023, Asst. Prof. has started developing this innovative training model through research and experimentation to be used as a “teacher’s cadaver” in learning and training the skills of veterinary students, which has been rated with a “very satisfied” response from the students. 

Crafted from Recycled Materials 

The model derives from a project that received funding from Chula’s Faculty of Veterinary Science with a budget of 100,000 baht and took only six months to complete.    

“This training model is made from recycled materials, which helps reduce production costs while also reducing waste and pollution. It can be reused many times and if damaged can be repaired. It is a teaching tool that can be reused,” Asst. Prof. Dr. Pawana explained the highlights of the innovation and the four main components of the dog blood draw and injection training. 

Part 1 The dog model has physical characteristics similar to a real dog.

The dog model has physical characteristics similar to a real dog. It is molded and modeled from a black and gray Thai dog. It stands on all fours and has a pointed tail. The size, weight, and height are the same as a real dog. The model is embedded with sensors made from soda cans to match the locations where blood is drawn and injections are given. Inside the model consists of polyurethane foam, foam beads, and plastic bottle caps, with special silicone as a binder. The outside is made of special fabric with fur on the outside, colored to look like a real dog. It has zippers and Velcro for disassembly. When opened, important physical characteristics such as muscles, blood vessels, and nerves can be seen, so that students can also learn about dog anatomy at the same time.   

Part 2 1 Signal Box 

1 Signal Box When blood is drawn or medicine is injected in the wrong place, the sensor in the robot will work with the alarm box, and the LED will flash and there will be a barking sound. 

Part 3 Audio Box 

Audio Box allows students to listen to the lecturer explaining the correct steps for drawing blood and injecting medicine. 

Part 4 Blood sampling and injection equipment 

Blood sampling and injection equipment consist of a pair of forceps, a needle, and a syringe that have signal insulators installed from the base of the needle and along the side of the syringe to notify the signaling box that the blood draw or injection is in the right or wrong position. 

6 Simulated Points to Test Accuracy 

Asst. Prof. Pawana explained the use of the model created for blood sampling and injection that the student user must unhook the model from the suspension and bring it down to lie on its left side. The blood sampling and injection training can be done at 6 points: 

1. Inject into the hip muscle (Hamstring muscle) for injection to reduce inflammation. 
2. Inject into the back muscle (Epaxial muscle) for injection to kill adult heartworms. 
3. Inject and draw blood through the large vein in the neck (External jugular vein) 
4. Inject, draw blood, and give fluids through the vein in the front leg (Cephalic vein) 
5. Inject, draw blood, and give fluids through the vein in the back leg (Lateral saphenous vein) 
6. Subcutaneous injection is suitable for vaccination and administering large amounts of IV fluids. 

In addition to practicing the correct blood sampling and injections, veterinarians, and assistants can also practice the correct postures for blood draws and injections, including holding and squeezing blood vessels to bulge them, to try finger placement, needles, and syringes. 

Looking to Increase Production of such Models in the Future   

The training model is merely a prototype and currently, there is only one available. In addition to it being used at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Asst. Prof. Pawana has brought this model to be used at the Rachakru Animal Hospital and the Vet Home Clinic in Lampang Province to allow new veterinarians to obtain practice before drawing blood and giving injections to real dogs. In the future, there is a plan to bring the model to use at the Clinical Skills Training Room (CUVET Skill Lab Center) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, where veterinary students and veterinarians can use the model to explain to pet owners where the doctor will inject or draw blood so that pet owners can better understand the treatment process. 

For the additional production, Asst. Prof. Pawana believes it can be done immediately because there is already a prototype in use and the cost of re-production will be cheaper than the prototype. However, the training model cannot replace all aspects of learning from the real body of the teacher’s cadaver. 

“This model is used to help with supplementary teaching. If students learn without going through the real body, it is like lacking observation or using the senses. They may not see all movements and responses other than barking, such as twitching and pulling the legs back, or skin twitching.  The use of cadavers and the model have to go together. But if the model can be produced to respond more, in the future, the use of the cadavers may be reduced.” 

In the future, Asst. Prof. Pawana says other dog breed models, including cats, exotic animals, and livestock, will be made to meet more clinical needs. 

A Never-Ending Process 

From the success of the dog blood sampling and injection training model, Asst. Prof. Pawana has received funding from the Chulalongkorn University Learning Innovation Center to further develop it into a simulating of the atmosphere of an animal examination room in hospital for veterinary students to practice, such as taking a history, performing a physical examination, hand washing methods, selecting equipment, practicing muzzle tying, practicing dog positioning, shaving, wiping with alcohol, practicing injections and drawing blood, which has now been used as an online lesson on CU myCourseVille Mooc, that veterinary students at Chulalongkorn University can use for their training.  

 “This new generation of students is ready to learn new things. In addition to models, we can learn new technologies such as Simulation, Hologram, or other techniques simultaneously. The professors themselves are trying to study new innovations, but some technologies we cannot produce ourselves. We have to expand our networks, such as finding people who work in engineering or architecture to help simulate different places like VR and to practice manual skills as well.” 

With over 25 years of teaching experience, Asst. Prof. Pawana continues to invent new teaching media for her students. 

“There is an element of fun in what we do. When students have fun, it makes me happy and this is a boost to our physical and mental health. I would like to continue doing this so that Chula students can become quality veterinarians in the future.”  

Any institution or agency interested in using the model in a workshop or exhibition can contact Pawana.U@chula.ac.th via email or call CU Vet Enterprise at telephone number 0 2218 9658 

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