Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals

Excerpt

This report on the Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals was prepared to help scientists, veterinarians, research administrators, institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs), and animal care staff understand the basis of animal pain, recognize and evaluate its presence and severity, and appreciate means to minimize or abolish pain, according to the charge to the committee that prepared this report: "The … report will update information based on the current scientific literature on recognizing and alleviating pain in laboratory animals. The report will discuss the physiology of pain in commonly used laboratory species. Specific emphasis will be placed on the identification of humane endpoints, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic principles to control pain, and principles to utilize in minimizing pain associated with experimental procedures. As with the first report [on Distress], general guidelines and examples will be given to aid IACUC members, investigators and animal care staff in making decisions about protocols using laboratory animals under current federal regulations and policies."

Copyright © 2009, National Academy of Sciences.