What follows are signs that you should be aware to help you judge if an animal is in pain. An animal in pain, regardless of species, usually displays one or more of the following signs: In compiling general guidelines it has become clear that there are species-specific signs of pain, which should be taken into account when making a practical assessment. Such signs are often associated with what is
believed to be a painful condition, although no sign can by itself be regarded as diagnostic of pain and may also occur in conditions in which pain is unlikely to be a feature. Although a comprehensive description of species-specific signs has not been produced, the following notes and comments might be helpful. FerretsRodentsBirdsFishAdditional Resources and InformationRecognition_and_Prevention_of_Pain,_Suffering_and_Distress Recognition_and_Alleviation_of_Pain_in_Laboratory_Animals Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) Recognizing Post-Operative Pain in Animals: Assessing the Health and Welfare of Laboratory Animals (AHWLA) American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Learning Library Below are the forms and policies you will likely need. To quickly find a form or policy in this list please use the Find Function: command+f (mac) or control+f (pc). Or view the full forms and policies libraries under Forms & Policies in the main navigation. Please download and fill out PDFs using Adobe—Acrobat Reader DC is available for free.
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Guideline Sections 4446.1 Background 4446.2 Assessment of Pain, Distress and Discomfort in Mammals 4446.3 Assessment of Disease in Mammals 4446.4 Pain and Disease in Amphibians and Fish 4446.1 BackgroundMany species can mask clinical signs of pain, distress and disease, and signs can vary by species (with individual variation as well). Therefore, it is imperative to have an understanding of normal behavior for that species/animal and to closely observe for clinical signs and behaviors that may indicate pain or disease. The descriptions below describe species-specific clinical manifestations of pain and/or disease, though it is important to keep in mind that many of these signs are nonspecific or may occur due to general ill health. The presence of any of these clinical signs may be useful for determining pain categories and setting criteria for experimental and humane endpoints. 4446.2 Assessment of Pain and DistressThe following is a list of clinical signs and behaviors that may indicate pain: Rats and Mice*
*Although there is little information in the literature regarding specific signs of pain in other small rodents, use of the signs in the table above is recommended as a guideline for pain assessment; particularly: decreased activity, piloerection, ungroomed appearance, abnormal posture, and changes in respiration. Ground Squirrels
Guinea Pigs and Hamsters
Rabbits
Dogs
Ferrets
Sheep and Goats
Pigs
Birds
4446.3 Assessment for Disease in MammalsSpecific clinical signs of disease are dependent upon the system that’s affected and may or may not be associated with pain. The following list provides examples of clinical signs that may be seen when disease affects specific body systems.
4446.4 Pain and Disease in Reptiles, Amphibians and FishThe topic of pain in reptiles, amphibians and fish is controversial; these species demonstrate avoidance behavior in response to noxious stimuli, but whether this is truly considered pain is widely debated. Therefore, for these animals, a general assessment of health should be made if there are any concerns regarding potential pain, distress or disease. The following list provides examples of clinical signs that may be seen in these animals. Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
The official version of this information will only be maintained in an on-line web format. Any and all printed copies of this material are dated as of the print date. Please make certain to review the material on-line prior to placing reliance on a dated printed version. What features are best interpreted as indications of pain or distress in rodents?Rodents. Pain in rodents usually results in decreased activity, piloerection and an un-groomed appearance, or there may be excessive licking and scratching. They may adopt an abnormal stance with ataxia, but rats and mice may become unusually aggressive when handled. Acute pain may cause vocalization.
How do you measure the pain of a rodent?Pain cannot be directly measured in animals; instead pain is inferred from “pain-like” behaviors, such as withdrawal from a nociceptive stimulus, which is the most commonly used method to quantify nociception in animal studies.
How do the US government principles address animal pain and distress in research quizlet?How do federal regulations address animal pain and distress in research? Animal pain and distress must be avoided or minimized when consistent with sound scientific practices.
What can I give my mouse for pain?Most analgesics used for mitigating pain in rodents fall into one of a few classes: opioids (or opioid-like), NSAID or local analgesics. Commonly used agents include buprenorphine, tramadol, meloxicam, carprofen, ketoprofen, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, lidocaine, and bupivacaine. Table 1).
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