Animal experimentation has been pivotal in advancing scientific understanding and improving human well-being. To gain a deeper insight into veterinary students’ knowledge and attitudes toward laboratory animal welfare, as well as to evaluate and enhance pedagogical approaches in animal ethics education, a structured questionnaire was administered to both undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary students. The survey covered multiple areas, including students’ understanding of animal welfare principles, their attitudes toward laboratory animals, competence in conducting animal experiments, and opinions regarding instructional methods and course content. A total of 150 undergraduate and 148 graduate students participated in the study. Findings revealed that the majority of students demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility for protecting the welfare of experimental animals, although a small proportion exhibited limited empathy toward animals. Moreover, many students displayed insufficient foundational knowledge of animal ethics and lacked proficiency in essential experimental techniques. Despite this, most participants showed a strong commitment to advocating for animal welfare. While a significant number were unaware of regulatory bodies overseeing laboratory animal research, they expressed support for incorporating both education and supervision related to animal welfare and were receptive to diverse teaching strategies and content. In summary, this study underscores the need for targeted training and education in laboratory animal welfare and ethics to meet students’ specific learning needs. These findings provide a valuable basis for enhancing future animal welfare curricula and improving both the professional competence and ethical awareness of veterinary students.
