IACUC Guideline XX
Rodent Pain and Analgesia1

Policy

All animals that undergo a painful procedure such as surgery and are likely to experience post procedural pain, should receive preemptive analgesic medication. The Principal Investigator in consultation with the Attending Veterinarian should use their professional judgment to determine the need for analgesic medication. Procedures for analgesic administration and a plan for postoperative care should be prepared in advance.

Exceptions to this policy must be justified scientifically in writing and approved by the IACUC. Where doubt exists regarding the potential for interference with an experiment, consideration should be given to performing a pilot study designed to investigate the possibility of interference.

Note: Pain is more easily controlled by administration of analgesics before pain starts than after the animal is experiencing pain. Therefore, analgesics should be administered before the animal recovers from anesthesia.

Recommendations for managing post operative pain

Suggested Analgesic Medications

Recognizing Signs of Pain

Regulatory Support for this Policy

It should be assumed that a procedure that would be expected to cause pain in humans would also cause pain in animals.2

Procedures that cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to animals will be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia or anesthesia and will involve in their planning, consultation with the attending veterinarian.3

If appropriate sedation, anesthesia or analgesia is to be withheld, scientific justification should be provided in writing by the principal investigator and approved by the IACUC.3

1 For additional information the reader is referred to: Flecknell, Paul and Waterman-Pearson, Avril (2000) Pain Management in Animals, WB Saunders, London

2 US Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing Research and Training

3 Animal Welfare Act; Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Last Approved by the IACUC on 12/08/2008