Animal Care and Use

Two university committees have been established to oversee the care of research and laboratory animals. Efforts of these two committees have resulted in a more effective and efficient response to the ever-growing body of regulations established by various authorities. The two committees charged with these responsibilities, and their duties are:

  • University Laboratory Animal Care Committee (ULAC)

    The ULAC was established in 1971 in response to the Congressional Animal Welfare Act of 1970. The authority of the Committee is delegated by the President of the University to ensure that all research involving laboratory animals follows Federal, State, City and University regulations, standards and policies. Decisions by the ULAC may be appealed through the department heads, deans, and the Committee Chairman to the Vice President for Research. The duties of this committee include:

    • Monitoring use of lab animals, wildlife and agricultural animals used in biomedical research and teaching
    • Recommends and reviews protocols
    • Evaluates animal facilities and programs
    • Inspects animal study areas
    • Prepares USDA reports
    • Responds to observed violations of the Animal Welfare Act
    • Establish training procedures for scientists, research personnel, animal technicians and other animal care personnel



  • Institutional Agricultural Animal Care and Use Committee (IAACUC)

    The IAACUC was established to assure the appropriate welfare and care of agricultural animals used for research and teaching within Texas A&M University and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES). All Texas A&M and TAES research projects involving agricultural animals must be submitted for review.

    The IAACUC assigns the following duties to principal investigators and unit heads:

    • Be aware of animal care, use requirements and assure that policies and procedures are implemented as outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching
    • Assure review of all animal research prior to initiating work
    • Cooperate with the IAACUC in reviews of animals and facilities
    • Assure all animal care areas are identified as such
    • Assure that support staff understand and follow all procedures for animal care, and discuss any issues or concerns with the principal investigator
    • Understand and adhere to Ethics of Animal Experimentation

    IAACUC duties include:

    • Review and monitor use of agricultural animals
    • Review protocols and research projects
    • Report problems or con-compliance
    • Inspect facilities
    • Communicate with ULAC and unit heads
    • Members of IAACUC may not self-review projects




Animal Use Protocols, Procurement and Experimental Procedures

Guidelines for Submitting Animal Use Protocols

Animal use protocols must be submitted to the appropriate committee for review in any case involving the use of a vertebrate animal for teaching, testing or research.

  • Acquire forms from Research Foundation, TAES or the Office of University Research (OUR)
  • Return completed forms to the agency through which proposal is filed
  • Proposals reviewed for following items:
    • clarity and completeness regarding animal care and use
    • scientific justification for use of animals and the species chosen
    • justification of number of animals needed
    • documentation of appropriate veterinary care
    • description of procedures ensuring that discomfort, pain and injury is minimized or avoided
    • description of method of euthanasia and whether in compliance with AVMA Panel on Euthanasia; if not, justification must be provided
    • documentation of personnel qualifications
    • proof of adequate budgetary support for animal care
    • assurance that animals will be adequately housed
  • Deadlines vary with type of proposal submitted. 30 Days minimum should be allowed.

Preparation of Grant Applications

  • All grant applications involving vertebrate animals must be accompanied by a complete animal use protocol
  • Many grant agencies stipulate that NIH guidelines must be followed, with number of agencies adopting these guidelines increasing annually

Manuscript Preparation

  • Publications based on animal studies must give detailed description of animals used, sex, source, strain or breed, and health status
  • Detailed information about animal environment, husbandry practices, drug regimen and method of euthanasia should be provided

General Animal Selection Considerations

  • Selecting a model for research
    • Selection must be based on extensive familiarity with the problem or system to be studied. An animal model is a living organism in which normal biological processes can be studied, or in which a spontaneous or induced pathological process can be investigated. To be effective, the process modeled should closely resemble the analogous process in human beings or some other species in one or more ways.
    • Important criteria for model choice:
      • relevance to problem studied
      • accuracy which model reflects all or some important aspects of the problem
      • modelŐs predictability
      • modelŐs availability to researchers
    • Types of models
      • Whole animal models usually chosen when system studied can best (or only) be understood in context of its interactions with other systems in the organism
      • Isolation models study systems isolated in animal cells, tissue or organs, for instance biochemical and cellular processes
      • Non-animal models use computer simulation, though animal studies of some type are prerequisite for developing and verifying the model
    • Choice of Model Species
      • Life history parameters - developmental rate, reproduction age, gestation length, litter size and life span
      • Behavior - social organization, social and individual behavior
      • Diet - important to know enough about species to know how to keep it properly nourished
      • Genetics - must have well known background; in some species mutant or inbred strains have been developed with highly specific genetic properties. Information regarding these special strains is available through various sources (e.g., the NIH Rodent Catalog; the National Research CouncilŐs Animals for Research, 1979)
  • Ethical and humane considerations
    • Ethics and humane considerations are viewed as integral part of selection criteria. The use of animals in research has been hotly contested since the practice first began. The prevailing view is that animals can and should be used in research. Implicit in this view is that animals will be treated humanely. Essential to this end is that animals will be housed in clean, comfortable quarters, fed adequate diets, and maintained in good health.
    • Physiological evidence of a central nervous system have the potential to experience pain. Higher level vertebrates show signs similar to humans when experiencing pain - screaming, squealing, struggling.
    • One viewpoint is that captivity itself is cruel and causes suffering, especially when normally social species are housed in isolation. However, the counterview is that scarcity of food and water, predation, disease and aggression are factors in a wild environment that could be considered to cause suffering in the wild, but which are controlled and eliminated for captive animals.
    • It is important to recognize signs of distress in animals that are placed in new environments, especially physiological changes (hormone changes, increased susceptibility to disease, weight changes). Behavioral changes are not always a good indication of distress since many behaviors may be the response of adapting to the new environment.

Reduction of Animals Used

  • No experiment using animals should be performed without thorough review of the literature to eliminate possibility of needless repetition.
  • Key databases for conducting literature reviews
    • AGRICOLA
    • Cab Abstracts
    • Federal Research in Progress
    • Medline
    • Toxline
    • Zoological Record
    • Biosis Previews
    • Embase
    • Life Sciences
    • Psychinfo
    • Toxnet
  • Plan experiments to provide sufficient data points to determine statistical significance
    • Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions, 2nd ed., J. L. Fleiss
    • Biostatistical Analysis, 2nd ed., F. H. Zar
  • Use high quality, disease-free animals to reduce variables that may affect experiment
  • Sharing the organs and tissues of a single animal reduces number of animals used

Refinement

  • Design experiment so that there is an endpoint other than death
  • Anesthetics, analgesics or tranquilizing agents should be administered when the animal may experience more than minimal pain or distress

Alternatives to Animals in Research

  • Modification of existing animal use, i.e, substituting one species for another (lower vertebrate or invertebrate for higher vertebrate) if the results will still be meaningful
  • Use animal-derived material (cells, tissues, organs) instead of whole animals
  • Use chemical, physical and mechanical models to study living organisms, such as Resusci-Dog for canine cardiopulmonary resuscitator training
  • Mathematical and computer models have been developed to for biomedical and biochemical applications
  • Congress has provided funds to develop alternatives to animal use in research and the NIH has a funding program for development of methods to reduce or replace animal use




Facilities and Services

University Facility: Laboratory Animal Resources and Research Facility (LARR)

  • Centrally administered service for animal research and teaching programs
  • Available for all faculty who wish to use it
  • Investigators are billed for animal housing and supplies on a monthly basis. Charges accrued per animal or per cage, per day. Contact LARR at 845-7433 for information about billing.
  • Facilities available through LARR:
    • Surgical suites - maintains 2 surgical suites, surgical prep area and post operative recovery area. Equipped with surgical lights, tables, anesthesia equipment, electrocautery and suction apparatus. Autoclave and surgical instruments also available. Available at no charge to all researchers with protocol on file. 24 Hour reservation required. Technical support available on a fee basis.
    • Radiology - equipment includes Kodak RP X-OMAT automatic processor, an AMRAD Craig 1 X-ray unit, and fluorescent viewing boxes. Qualified personnel available for consultation. Charges are assessed on each radiograph processed. Contact Surgical Support Supervisor.
    • Necropsy - area available at all times for investigator use. Stainless steel table, directed lighting and carbon dioxide chamber for use by trained personnel for euthanasia of rodents. Necropsy instruments available upon request. Contact LARR Main Facility Supervisor for reservation of area.
  • Services available through LARR:
    • Procurement of animals
      • submit order request to LARR, a week in advance for rodents, 40 days notice for dogs and cats
      • ULAC approval required before order will be placed
      • LARR arranges transportation in most economic means safely feasible
      • investigator notified by phone when animal arrives
      • vendor list available form LARR
    • Procurement of supplies
      • feed, bedding and cleaning supplies available with 48 hour notice
      • charges processed through departmental accounts
    • Animal housing and care
      • LARR Main facility houses rodent species
      • LARR Support facility houses dogs, cats and rabbits
      • appropriate cages available for conventional animal studies, biohazard studies, and studies involving isotopes
      • monitors feed, water, bedding, lighting, temperature and humidity
      • health status monitored daily by trained animal health technician
      • changes in feeding habits or sick appearing animals are reported to and checked by the staff veterinarian
    • Specialized housing
      • Biosafety Level 3 Certified Biohazard animal facility available if strict guidelines followed
      • special precautions must be followed if hazardous chemicals are utilized
      • special rooms equipped to handle radioactively labelled experiments [Note: isotopes will not be stored in any LARR facility]
      • capability to house and maintain rodents involved in recombinant genetic studies
      • specialized holding area available for Specific-Pathogen Free (SPF), Viral Antibody Free (VAF) rodent studies
    • Clinical support
      • diagnostic facilities for hematology, microbiology, parasitology and urinalysis. Available to all investigators.
    • Veterinary care
      • preventative medicine of utmost importance; strict isolation/quarantine.
      • diagnosis, treatment and control of disease by LARR veterinarians
      • emergency medical care
      • anesthesia and analgesia consultation available at all times
        [Note: a qualified individual responsible for anesthesia must be present at all times during surgery. Anesthetic and post-operative care records must be kept on all animals and made available to the attending veterinarian]
      • surgery and post-surgical care adhere to strict sterile technique
        [Note: caps, surgical masks, shoe covers and clean surgical attire are worn at all times in the operating room. Monitoring during anesthetic recovery and post-operative care is the responsibility of the investigator.]
      • controlled drugs should be acquired commercially; non-controlled drugs and medications are available through LARR at cost plus 15%.
    • Technical support
      • LARR technicians will draw blood for investigators upon request with 24 hours advance notice to the LARR Support Supervisor
      • assistance may also be available for surgeries and anesthesia

College Level Facilities

  • College of Agriculture
    The Animal Science Department maintains multiple animal care facilities for teaching and research, including the Horse Center, the Beef Cattle Center, the Dairy Cattle Center, the Sheep and Goat Center, the Swine Center and the Poultry Center. Wildlife and Fisheries maintains the Small Ungulate Research Facility. Contact the Animal Science Department at 845-1541, or Wildlife and Fisheries at 845-5777.
  • College of Liberal Arts
    Department of Psychology animal facility houses rodents only and is maintained by LARR. The facility supervisor may be contacted at 845-2581.
  • College of Medicine
    Various departments have jurisdiction over their own animal rooms. Animal care services are provided by LARR.
  • College of Science
    The College of Science Vivarium maintains animal space for rabbits, birds, mice (domestic and wild-caught) and rats. In addition, an aquatic facility houses diverse populations of aquatic species. Both facilities are administered by the Biology Laboratory Animal Care Committee (BLACC). The BLACC chairman can be reached at 845-7796.
  • College of Veterinary Medicine
    The College of Veterinary Medicine maintains a wide range of animal areas. The Small Animal Clinic contains several wards for housing dogs and cats, the Large Animal Clinic maintains paddocks and pastures for larger animals, the Veterinary Medical Park houses research and teaching animals, and finally, the Exotic Wildlife Center is home to diverse populations of unusual animals. These facilities are used primarily for investigators within the College of Veterinary Medicine, though other researchers may utilize the areas on a space available basis. For more information all 845-5620.
  • Hyperbaric Lab
    Originally used for decompression studies related to deep sea research, these facilities are now available to all research personnel for projects and to physicians and veterinarians for therapy treatment with appropriate permission or prescription. For more information regarding these facilities contact the Texas A&M Hyperbaric Lab at 845-4027.

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) Facilities

TAES maintains facilities throughout the state (listed below). For information contact the TAES office at (409) 845-7800.

  • Amarillo - supports feedlot nutrition, metabolism and grazing studies
  • Angleton - centers on grazing trials and forage utilization
  • Corpus/Beeville - reproduction, physiology, surgery, forage use
  • Corpus/ La Copita - range land production and wildlife management
  • Dallas - forage utilization
  • Overton - beef cattle reproduction and forage utilization
  • San Angelo - grazing, management and pathology of disease in beef, sheep and goats
  • Sonora - grazing management of sheep, beef, goats and wildlife
  • Stephenville - grazing evaluation
  • Temple - grazing evaluation
  • Uvalde - grazing, nutrition and wildlife
  • Vernon - forage utilization and management

Support Services

  • Clinical pathology
    • Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL)
      Contact 845-3414 for more information.
    • Clinical Pathology Laboratory
      Contact 845-9180 for more information.
    • Lab Animal Resource and Research Facility
      Contact 845-7433 for more information.
  • Anatomic pathology
    • TVMDL
      Contact 845-3414 for more information.
    • College of Veterinary Medicine
      Contact 845-2651 for more information.
    • College of Medicine
      Contact 845-7235 for more information.
  • Electron microscopy centers
    • Main Campus Electron Microscopy Center
      Contact 845-1129 for more information.
    • TVMDL
      Contact 845-3414 for more information.
    • College of Medicine
      Contact 845-4913 for more information.
    • College of Veterinary Medicine Image Analysis Lab
      Contact 845-5927 for information regarding the following services:
      • Transmission Electron Microscopy
      • Scanning Electron Microscopy
      • Light Microscopy
      • Image Analysis
      • Support Equipment
  • Additional services offered by LARR
    • Serology
    • Endocrinology
    • Theriogenology
    • Toxicology
    • Virology
    • Bacteriology/Mycology
  • Photography, printing, copy and graphics services
    • Educational Information Services
      • prepares publications and coordinates special events at TAMU
      • design of brochures, flyers, posters and booklets
      • contact 845-4618 for assistance
    • Printing Center
      • able to print single and full color brochures, reports, letterhead, etc.
      • conventional type-setting or desktop publishing
      • contact 845-5841 for assistance
    • Photographic Services
      • provides slide processing, duplication, copy slides, copy negatives
      • professional photographers available for location or studio shots
      • contact 845-2044 for assistance
    • Copy Centers
      • three centers on campus - Evans Library, Reed McDonald Building, Oceanography and Meteorology Building
      • fully staffed to assist with all photocopy needs
      • contact 845-2427 for more information
    • College of Veterinary Biomedical Learning Resources Center
      • a support group to facilitate the communications needs in the College of Veterinary Medicine
      • six service areas provide services in art, photography, printing, television and audiovisual aids
      • contact 845-1780 for assistance
    • College of Medicine Biomedical Communications Center
      • communications support for research, teaching and administration
      • offers graduate courses in medical visualization and simulation
      • contact 845-1934 for assistance
    • College of Geosciences Cartographic Service Unit
      • drafting/illustration service
      • compilation and design of maps, charts, graphs and diagrams
      • for information contact 845-7144
  • Miscellaneous support services
    • Center for the Study of Cell Surfaces
      • coordinates University research efforts on the structure and properties of the cell surface and its proteins
      • facilities include laboratory for cloning and gene transfer, electron microscopy of cell membrane, fluorescence activated cell sorter
      • contact 845-7047 for more information
    • Food Protein Research and Development Center
      • specializes in processing and utilization of oilseed and industrial crops
      • facilities include solvent extraction pilot plant, oils and fats refining and processing pilot plant, food extrusion research pilot plant, seed cleaning/processing equipment, industrial crop extraction pilot plant
      • for more information call 845-2741
    • Center for Teaching Excellence
      • conduct workshops and disseminate information on effective teaching
      • services include training programs, workshops and seminars, and evaluation of teaching effectiveness
      • for more information contact 845-8392
    • Counseling and Assessment Center
      • provides psychological counseling for university personnel
      • contact 845-8021 for more information




Animal Maintenance and Management

Animal Housing

Environmental Monitoring

Animal Identification

Record Keeping

Research Involving Hazardous Agents

Sanitation and Waste Disposal

  • Carcass waste disposal
    • Carcasses must be incinerated, NOT placed in dumpster; small animals single bagged, large animals double bagged
    • Bedding may be placed in dumpster or incinerated
    • Items for incineration must be tagged with name of contributor, department or agency, nature of waste, and number of animals in container
    • Materials for incineration must be placed in plastic garbage bags. Animals or materials too large for bagging must be stored in disposal cooler. Disposal coolers are locked at all times. Other paper, glass, metal or cardboard containers will not be accepted for incineration. Bulk paper and waste may not be incinerated.
    • Radioactive waste may not be incinerated.
  • Hazardous waste
    • Radioactive waste must be picked up by Radiological Safety Office. Contact at 845-1361.
    • Chemical waste is very expensive to dispose. Bear this in mind when designing experiments. Chemically contaminated wastes must be picked up the Safety and Health Office (SHO) following their guidelines. For more information, contact SHO at 845-2132.
    • Infectious or radioactive waste must be red-bagged and properly autoclaved, chemically sterilized or incinerated. Laboratory personnel may then place materials in dumpster. Broken glassware should be properly secured prior to placement in the dumpster. Needles and sharps must be encapsulated prior to disposal.
  • Vermin control programs are required to control, eliminate or prevent insect infestations, and escaped or wild rodents. To schedule spraying call 845-4311 or if information is needed call 845-3383. This service is available at no charge except spraying of areas within the Veterinary Medical Complex.
  • Improper use of insecticides can be toxic to animals.
  • Cages must be cleaned of excrement and fouled bedding regularly. Cages and food and water containers must be sanitized, with all traces of detergents removed prior to re-use. Three standard methods of cleaning.
    • Wash with detergent and sanitize by washing or rinsing in water at a temperature of at least 180oC or 83oF,
    • Wash with detergent and, after rinsing, sanitize with live steam, or
    • Wash with detergent, rinse and sanitize using effective disinfectant.

Animal Bedding

  • Must provide bedding that is absorbent and free of toxic chemicals or other substances that may harm animals or humans
  • Must provide sufficient quantity to keep animal dry between changes

Food and Foodstuffs

  • Must provide daily access to adequate quantities and nutritionally balanced food unless restricted by experiment.
  • Feed must be stored in clean, cool, dry location and protected from contamination, insects and vermin. Bulk or bags of feed must be stored off the ground and used up within 6 months of purchase. If stored in animal areas, it must be sealed in plastic or metal containers with lids.

Water and Watering Systems

  • Must provide access to clean water at all times unless restricted by experiment
  • Automatic watering systems, if employed, must be inspected daily, flushed regularly, and checked for signs of contamination




Animal Care and Health

Animal Monitoring

All animals must be observed daily by trained personnel to assess their health and welfare. Any discrepancies must be reported immediately to the veterinarian.

Veterinary Care

  • Veterinary care must be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Injured or ill animals must receive prompt care or humanely destroyed.
  • Animals with injuries due to experimental conditions must be made as comfortable as possible and must be treated for unrelated injuries or illnesses that may arise.
  • Investigators must be prepared to show proof of adequate veterinary care.

Anesthesia and Analgesia

  • Definitions
    • Anesthesia - loss feeling or sensation
    • General Anesthesia - surgical anesthesia; state of unconsciousness brought on by anesthetic agents with absence of sensation over entire body and a greater or lesser degree of muscle relaxation
    • Local anesthesia - absence of sensation confined to a limited area of the body
    • Regional anesthesia - insensibility of a part of the body by interrupting the sensory nerve conductivity from that region of the body
    • Spinal anesthesia - absence of feeling produced by injection of a local anesthetic into the subarachnoid space around the spinal cord
    • Dissociative anesthesia - anesthesia produced by interruption of information flow from the unconscious to the conscious part of the brain
    • Analgesia - absence of sensibility of pain; relief of pain without loss of consciousness
    • Ataraxia - detached serenity without depression of mental facilities or clouding of consciousness
    • Narcosis - reversible condition characterized by stupor or insensibility
    • Neuroleptanalgesia - state of quiescence, altered awareness, and analgesia produced by administration of a combination of a narcotic analgesic and a neuroleptic agent (i.e., tranquilizer)
    • Sedation - tranquilization; mild degree of central nervous system depression in which an individual is awake, but calm
    • Hypnosis - an artificially induced passive or sleep state, resulting from moderate depression of the central nervous system
    • Euthanasia - painless death
  • Information on use of anesthetic, analgesic and tranquilizing agents
    • These agents should be used to control pain and distress. Approval of the appropriate animal care and use committee must be sought to withhold use of these agents when an animal will be inflicted with pain or distress during the course of an experiment.
    • Every effort must be made to maintain the circulation, respiratory blood gases and body temperature of anesthetized subject within normal physiological limits.
    • Endotracheal intubation should be done to ensure unobstructed airway
    • Hypothermia should be avoided by close monitoring of body temperature and steps taken to alleviate this problem (i.e. warm water circulator)
    • Investigators should be well versed in the appropriate route of administration of drugs. If it is suspected that a drug has been improperly administered, the investigator must promptly call for veterinary assistance.
  • Managing anesthetic depth
    • Stage 1: Apprehension
      • animal displays some signs of analgesia but is responsive to environment
      • capable of resisting restraint to avoid induction of anesthesia
      • rapid breathing or breath holding may occur
      • voiding of feces or urine may occur
    • Stage 2: Involuntary Excitement
      • consciousness is lost but reflex response to stimuli is exaggerated
      • respiration irregular
      • breath holding and struggling may be observed
      • jaw muscles are not relaxed and intubation at this stage can result in violent struggling, chewing and coughing
    • Stage 3: Surgical Anesthesia
      • Plane 1: palpebral and corneal reflexes present; breathing regular; analgesia present; muscle relaxation poor. Minor surgery can be performed.
      • Plane 2: preferred level of surgical anesthesia; palpebral reflexes are sluggish or have disappeared; corneal reflex present; respiration stable; muscle relaxation is adequate for most surgical procedures.
      • Plane 3: deep anesthesia; respiration uneven; increased respiratory rate with reduced tidal volume; muscle relaxation profound; corneal reflex weak or absent; eye centrally fixed between eyelid. Close observation critical at this stage since next stage precariously close to death.
    • Stage 4: Medullary Depression
      • animal approaching anesthetic death
      • pupil widely dilated with absence of all eye reflex
      • respiration is diaphragmatic, resulting in excessive abdominal movement
      • cardiac function fails rapidly
      • feces and urine is passively voided
      • if respiration and cardiac function are not rapidly supported, death is inevitable
  • Types of anesthesia and analgesia
    • Anticholinergics
    • Tranquilizers
    • Muscle relaxants
    • General anesthetics
    • Local anesthetics
    • Hypnosis
  • Species considerations

Surgery

  • Pre-surgery management
    • For rabbits and larger animals, the health status should be thoroughly investigated - heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature and packed cell volume, are the minimum components of pre-surgical evaluation.
    • A period of fast (no food or water) should be imposed on the animal at a sufficient length of time to ensure the stomach is empty. 12 Hours is sufficient for most mammals and birds. Very small mammals and birds should be subjected to much shorter fasts, 2 to 4 hours, due to their fast metabolisms. Ruminants should be fasted 36 to 48 hours.
    • Tranquilizers should be used to reduce anxiety, ease induction and reduce the use of anesthetics.
  • Survival surgery
    • Defined as any surgery in which the animal is expected to recover consciousness
    • Aseptic surgery techniques must be used for survival surgery and individuals performing survival surgery must be knowledgeable in these procedures and in treatment and care of the postsurgical animal
    • Minor surgery
      • may be performed in a suitably equipped laboratory using aseptic techniques
      • involves a clean workarea for preparing the animal for surgery, sterile equipment, sterile gloves and surgical mask.
      • defined as any invasive operative procedure in which only skin or mucous membranes and connective tissue is resected - vascular cutdown for catheter placement, implanting pumps in subcutaneous tissue, biopsies, placement of probes into a body cavity
      • Major surgery
      • any invasive operative procedure in which extensive resection is performed on a non-rodent species - a body cavity is entered, organs are removed, an extensive orthopedic procedure is involved, or normal anatomy is significantly altered
      • must be conducted in facilities specifically intended for that purpose; it must be uncluttered and contain all necessary surgical equipment
      • aseptic techniques must be used - sterile surgical gloves, gowns, caps, facemasks, supplies and instruments
    • Post-surgical care
      • Principal investigator primarily responsible for post-operative care, with appropriate input from qualified veterinarian
      • Care includes observation to determine uneventful recovery from anesthesia, removal of endotracheal tube when gag reflex returns or when animal begins to chew, no food or water until full recovery of consciousness, administration of antibiotics and analgesics as needed, and keeping surgical wounds dry and clean.
      • Animal must be monitored until it regains sternal recumbency is capable of holding its head up.
    • Non-survival surgery, where the animal is not expected to regain consciousness, may be performed in an appropriately equipped laboratory.
    • Multiple survival surgeries on a single animal are prohibited unless approved by the applicable animal care and use committee and the procedures are essential related components of a research project. Unanticipated additional surgeries to correct a surgical complication may be done as required if approved by the attending veterinarian.
    • Documentation of presurgical and postsurgical care is required by the USDA and Public Health Service.




Euthanasia

Definitions

Humane Considerations

Selecting a Suitable Technique

Other Considerations

  • Pain and distress
  • Human behavioral responses

Unconsciousness and Death




Special Considerations

Paralytic Agents

Physical Restraint

Unavoidable Pain and Distress

Guidelines for Antibody Production and Bleeding Techniques

Guidelines for Use of FreundŐs Adjuvant

Guidelines for Maintenance of Tumor Cell Lines and Hybridomas in Rodents




Provisions for Emergency Procedures

Power/Water Outages

Emergencies Related to Personnel

Emergencies Related to Animals




Inspections and Evaluations




Occupational Health

Human Behavioral Responses

Biological Hazards

Chemical Hazards

Physical Hazards




Response to Public Inquiries




Reference Telephone Numbers




Bibliography

Primary References

Animal Care and Use Handbook, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of University Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. First Edition. 1989.







This site under construction - sorry for the inconvenience!


Created and maintained by Nancy Magnussen
last revised 2 Aug 1997
nancy@isc.tamu.edu



Copyright © 1996 by College of Science, Texas A&M University