Background
UCR is committed to its responsibility of ensuring the
humane treatment of animals used in biomedical research. As part of its ethical
and legal obligations, it adheres to the principles of avoiding, mitigating or
minimizing pain and distress in animals to the greatest extent possible.
Policy
Doses, route of administration, and frequency for any
anesthetic, analgesic or euthanasia agent must be specified in the AUP. Guidance for appropriate rodent anesthetic and analgesic
agents and doses can be found in 529-349, “Guidelines for Rodent Anesthesia and
Analgesia.” Investigators
are encouraged to consult with the Campus Veterinarian in the selection of the
most efficacious anesthetic and analgesic regimens for their study or on
appropriate anesthetic and analgesic agents and doses for other species. Standard
euthanasia agents and doses can be found in the AVMA Guidelines for the
Euthanasia of Animals (https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Euthanasia-Guidelines.aspx?utm_keyword=issue-animal_welfare-euthanasia-pdf).
Guidance for appropriate rodent euthanasia agents and doses can be found in
529-350, “Guidelines for Rodent Euthanasia.”
It is expected that all compounds
used in animals are pharmaceutical grade. See Policy 529-340: “Non-pharmaceutical
grade substances in animals” for information and exceptions.
In addition,
Guideline 529-268 “Guidelines for Compounding and Secondary Container Use for Injectable
Drugs” must be adhered to by laboratories.
Anesthetics
Any standard anesthetic agent appropriate for the
species may be used for a specific procedure. If more than one standard
anesthetic agent is listed for the procedure in the approved AUP, no
clarification is required as to when which agent will be used unless
clarification is requested by the IACUC.
Because anesthetic agents may cause cardiovascular and
respiratory disturbances, equipment (i.e., heating pad) needed to maintain
normal body temperature should be obtained and its use delineated in the AUP.
Analgesics
Any standard analgesic agent appropriate for the
species may be used for a specific procedure. If more than one standard
analgesic is listed for the procedure in the approved AUP, no clarification is
required as to when which agent will be used unless clarification is requested
by the IACUC.
Written documentation must be maintained for all analgesics
given, including name, dose, and date/time of administration.
Euthanasia
Any acceptable method of euthanasia, as defined by
the current version of the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, may
be used for a procedure when specified in the approved AUP. If more than one
method of euthanasia is listed in the approved AUP, no clarification is
required as to when which method will be used in a specific procedure. However,
conditionally acceptable methods may not be included in multiple option listings
and such methods require the IACUC’s review and approval.
Euthanasia via drug overdose or CO2 must be
confirmed by means of a secondary, physical method. Physical methods of
euthanasia are addressed in separate policies and guidance. See Policies
“529-331: Cervical Dislocation” and “529-332: Decapitation.”
Approved 4/6/15; approved as 529-341 9/16/2016