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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE RESEARCH INITIATIVES
Procedure #:
Date Adopted:
Last Updated:
Prepared By:
Reviewed By:
Procedure Title:
02-005
7/28/2003
09/28/2011
Sarah Gilliam, Animal Facilities Manager
USM IACUC Committee
Pain and Distress Policy
1.0 Purpose: To prevent, minimize, and/or alleviate pain in animals that are involved in
approved surgical or procedural protocols in accordance with current regulations and
recommendations.
2.0 Responsibility: It is the responsibility of the investigator, technician, or student
performing the task to follow the procedures established in this document.
3.0 Applicable Documents:
2.1 Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals
2.1.1 NCR 1992
2.2 2007 Report of the AVMA panel on Euthanasia
2.2 Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
2.2.1 NRC 2011
2.3 Animal Euthanasia & Disposal Form (Appendix B)
2.4 SOP 03-008: Animal Euthanasia Policy
3.0 Policy Guidelines:
3.1 The assumption must be made that any procedure that causes pain in humans
can also cause pain in non-human animals.
3.2 The selection of the most appropriate analgesic or anesthetic should reflect
professional judgment. This judgment refers to what best meets clinical and
humane requirements without compromising the scientific aspects of the
research protocol. All drugs used as an anesthetic or analgesic MUST be
pharmaceutical grade. Refer to Appendix A for help in selecting agents.
3.3 Factors that should be considered in choosing the appropriate analgesic or
anesthetic are:
3.3.1 Species
3.3.2 Age
3.3.3 Type and severity of pain
3.3.4 Effects of the particular agent involved on specific organ systems
3.3.5 Length of the procedure involved
3.3.6 Safety of the agent being considered for the animal
3.4 Signs of pain and distress:
3.4.1 Abnormal vocalization
3.4.2 Escape reaction
3.4.3 Reluctance to move
3.4.4 Trembling
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3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.4.5 Hunched posture
3.4.6 Unwillingness to bear weight on a limb
Appropriate use of sedation, analgesic, & anesthetic agents should be done
whenever the need for them is suspected.
3.5.1 Use should be based on current literature and accepted veterinary
medical practice.
3.5.2 The USM consulting veterinarian will be available to, and shall,
advise on all sedatives, analgesics, & anesthetics used on any
animal involved in an IACUC approved USM research protocol.
Procedures/protocols must be designed and carried out in such a manner
as to avoid pain and distress in animals. When in doubt as to the presence
of pain in an animal, an analgesic should be administered and the animal
observed for signs of improvement.
If pain & distress are unavoidable, it needs to be minimized in both
duration and intensity as well as being justified through the IACUC.
Any animal observed to be in a state of severe pain or significant, chronic
distress which cannot be alleviated shall be euthanized as soon as possible
in accordance with the 2007 AVMA Report on Euthanasia.
3.8.1 The principal investigator, animal facilities manager, and/or the
consulting veterinarian will be contacted prior to euthanasia.
3.8.2 The principal investigator will fill out an Animal Euthanasia &
Disposal Form to be kept on file.
3.8.2.1 This form will give contact information and instructions on
what to do if an animal is found dead or found to be in need
of euthanasia.
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Appendix A
MICE
a.) Sedation
1. Diazepam, 5.0 mg/kg, IP injection
b.) Analgesia
1. Buprenorphine, 0.05-0.1 mg/kg, SC injection
c.) Anesthesia
1. Avertin (tribromoethanol), 0.2 ml of 1.2% solution/10g body weight or
240 mg/10g body weight, IP injection
2. Isoflourane, to effect, inhalation
3. Pentobarbitol (6 mg/ml), 50-85 mg/kg, IP injection, *avoid using
concentrations above 6 mg/ml to prevent excessive irritation of the
peritoneal membranes.
4. Ketamine + Xylazine + Atropine: 90-120 mg/kg of Ketamine, 10 mg/kg of
Xylazine, and .05 mg/kg of Atropine, IM or IP injection
RATS
a.) Sedation
1. Diazepam, 5.0 mg/kg, IP injection
b.) Analgesia
1. Buprenorphine, 0.1-0.5 g/kg, SC injection
2. Flunixin, 1.1 mg/kg, SC injection
c.) Anesthesia
1. Isoflourane, to effect, inhalation
2. Pentobarbitol, 30-50 mg/kg, IP injection
3. Ketamine + Xylazine + Atropine: 45-80 mg/kg of Ketamine, 5 mg/kg of
Xylazine, and .08 mg/kg of Atropine, IM or IP injection
FISH & FROGS
a.) Sedation
1. Tricaine/MS-222, 250mg/L, immersion in solution to effect
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Appendix B
Animal Euthanasia & Disposal Form
Date: ________ Principal Investigator: ____________________________
Email Address: _______________________ Protocol #: ______________
If an animal needs immediate attention/euthanasia, please contact:
Person:______________________ Phone #(s):______________________
Person:______________________ Phone #(s):______________________
Person:______________________ Phone #(s):______________________
If an animal is found dead or euthanized*, please do the following (check
one):
All animal carcasses can be directly placed into the freezer. _____
Please follow the instructions below. _____
Special Instructions:
Please do the following for: _____ All animals
_____ For these specific animals:
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
If animal is recently deceased, please take the following samples (check
all that apply):
a. Blood _____b. Liver _____c. Heart _____d. Lung(s) _____
e. Kidney(s) _____f. Spleen _____g. Brain _____
h. Tumor _____i. Other _________________________________
Place samples in: ____________________________________________
Other Instructions: ___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
*If a representative of the investigator’s lab cannot be contacted, then the decision
to euthanize will made by the consulting veterinarian and/or the animal facilities
manager.
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