I: Background and Purpose

This policy establishes standards and expectations for researchers performing food or fluid regulation in healthy animals for experimental purposes. This policy does not apply to animals restricted at the advice of the veterinary staff or in preparation for anesthesia.

 

II: Related policies

·         529-224 IACUC Review Procedures of Animal Use Protocols (AUPs)

·         529-271: Authority of the Attending Veterinarian

·         529-226 Alternatives to Painful Procedures

 

III: Policy

1.       All studies that include food/water regulation must be reviewed and approved by the IACUC. The IACUC evaluates the diet control parameters, the lab’s monitoring plan intervention criteria, and pain and distress categorization the animals will experience.

2.       The least restriction to achieve the scientific objective should be used. Refinement of these procedures should also be considered, such as positive reinforcement (i.e., restricted access to food for behavioral training can be minimized using a highly preferred food reward item).  

3.       Researchers must state in the Animal Use Protocol (AUP) the necessary level of regulation, potential adverse consequences of regulation or restriction, and methods for assessing the health and well-being of the animals.

4.       Investigators utilizing food or water regulation or restriction protocols must communicate with the animal care staff, by means of a special cage card, about periods of restriction and rest periods when full or supplemental water can be provided.

5.       Written records must be maintained for each animal to document daily food and fluid consumption, hydration status, and behavioral and clinical changes used as criteria for the temporary or permanent removal of an animal from a study.

6.       Body weights should be recorded at least weekly and more often for animals requiring greater restrictions. All records are subject to review by the IACUC or other regulatory agencies when requested.

7.       Even on feed or water regulation, adequate nutrition and hydration requirements should be met. Exceptions for scientific reasons and clear endpoints should be detailed in the AUP.

8.       On average, rats and mice given ad-lib access to water drink 10-12 ml per 100g body weight per day. Food consumption is typically 5-6 gm per 100 g body weight per day for rats and 12-18 gm per 100 g body weight per day for mice. These values may be used as a starting point to determine regulation or restriction parameters. However, individual variation in food and water consumption based on strain, sex, age, and health status must be considered when establishing food or fluid regulation or restriction paradigms. 

9.       The goal for body weight loss should be limited to the animal reaching no less than 80% of age- and sex-matched ad libitum-fed control unless scientifically justified in the AUP.

10.   Weight loss over 15% must be scientifically justified and approved by the IACUC.

11.   Investigators should consult with the veterinarian should adverse events related to water/food regulation procedures be observed with animals that cannot be euthanized.

12.   AUPs with water and food regulations that exceed 24 hours are reviewed by the IACUC Full Committee (FCR).

 

IV: References

1.       Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Eighth Edition). NRC (2003).

2.       Guidelines for the Care and Use of Mammals in Neurosciences and Behavioral Research. NRC (2003)

3.       NIH Guidelines for Diet Control in Laboratory Animals (2023)

 

Approved: 9/11/2023