TEXAS TECH U NIVERSITY
Office of the Vice President for Research
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee™
IACUC Policy 11: Veterinary Oversight & Animal Care
Policy Intent: The intent of this policy is to describe the Program of Veterinary Oversight and Animal
Care at TTU.
Revision No:
02
Authors:
Tiffanie Brooks
Paul Stonum
Table of Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
Purpose
Policy
Reports
References
Replaces: Date in effect:
01
9/10/2014
Responsible faculty:
(Signature/Date)
Phil Smith 9/10/2014
1. Purpose
a. To provide oversight to the clinical care and well-being of all animals covered by a Texas Tech University
Animal Care and Use Protocol to prevent the development of disease or behavior that could compromise research
studies.
2. IACUC Policy
a. It is the policy of the IACUC that all animals used in teaching, research, demonstration training or housed at a
TTU animal facility will be included in the TTU program of veterinary and animal care.
b. The program of Animal Care includes several levels of veterinary oversight and veterinary medical care,
including the following:
i. Daily Observation of each animal by animal care staff
ii. Individual records will be kept on animals receiving preventative or maintenance care (i.e. vaccinations,
deworming, etc.)
iii. Individual treatment records will be kept on animals requiring treatment including the outcome of treatment.
iv. If non-TTU animals are housed at TTU facilities,
a. Veterinary records will need to be available as requested by the IACUC.
b. Owners of non-TTU animals or the facility supervisor will be responsible for providing these records.
c. Massage therapy, Chiropractic therapy, dentistry or farrier work will not apply.
d. If a non-TTU animal’s welfare is compromised, the AV or IACUC will intervene.
v. Animal care or animal health issues will be reported promptly (within a few hours at most) to the Clinical or
the Attending Veterinarian.
vi. The IACUC and the Director of Animal Care Services (ACS) will be informed within 72 hours of significant
animal health concerns being raised.
vii. Each month, one or more members of the ACS will:
a. Observe and document animal health
b. Observe and document AUF protocol adherence will be documented.
c. Standard reporting forms will be used.
viii. Once per month the Attending Veterinarian, Clinical Veterinarian and ACS Facilities Manager will observe
each animal at each animal facility and a report will be generated to the Director of ACS, the IO and the
IACUC. Animal health and protocol adherence will be documented. Standard reporting forms will be used.
ix. The Attending Veterinarian will continually review preventative and therapeutic animal health programs.
x. The Attending Veterinarian will serve on the IACUC and will provide professional input directly to the
IACUC and directly to the PI’s.
Effective Date: September 10, 2014
IACUC Chair: Phil Smith
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TEXAS TECH U NIVERSITY
Office of the Vice President for Research
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee™
3. Reports
a. All reports will be entered in an electronic format and will be available to the IACUC, ACS, the Veterinarians
and the IO.
4. References
a. Public Health Service (PHS). 2002. Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
b. Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-544) inclusive of amendments; 1970 (P.L. 91- 579; 1976 (P.L. 94-279);
1985 (P.L. 99-198).
c. Animal Welfare Act Regulations, (9 C.F.R. 2.31) Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.
d. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Eighth Edition, National Academic Press, 2011.
Effective Date: September 10, 2014
IACUC Chair: Phil Smith
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